IPCC Virtual March Luncheon with Ivan Thompson

International Press Club of Chicago March 2021 Program:

DATE:  Thursday, March 18, 2021

LOCATION: Zoom

TIME: 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

SCHEDULE: Link opens at 11:45 a.m. Guest Speaker Program followed by Q&A: 12:00 p.m.-1:00p.m.

GUEST SPEAKER:  Ivan Thompson

PROGRAM:  "Building Senior Leader Diversity in the US Air Force."

The growing need for diversity in leadership roles is one of the most important topics in our society impacting all types of organizations. The United States military is one of the most notable. one of the least diversified branches of the military is the United States Air Force and this has been focal point of our guest speaker's career. To address and directly impact the succession opportunities provided to those men and women of diverse backgrounds in the USAF.

Ivan Thompson is St. Louis native, father of five and a 1986 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He graduated with military distinction and as the Outstanding Cadet in Organizational Behavior. He retired from the Air Force in 2010 with 24 years of active duty and reserve service in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. He served for one year as a government civil servant as the Deputy Director of the Defense Business Practice Implementation Board (DBB). The DBB was composed of senior executives drawn from the business community to make recommendations to the Chiefs of each Military Service, the Secretary of Defense and his key staff on effective strategies for implementation of best business practices of interest to the Department of Defense (DoD). As the Deputy DBB Director he facilitated and at times participated in the Task Groups chartered by the Defense Business Board. As it pertains to this book he co-led a complex and sensitive study of Minority Representation in DoD's flag officer ranks, assisting CEO team leaders in interviewing 20 of the nation's leading diversity strategy companies, distilling research from interviews, site visits and publications into succinct, feasible recommendations. He also led a segment of the research into the diversity of the senior leaders of the Armed Forces, interviewing top minority general officers and DoD leaders.

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About Thompson:

Ivan Thompson is a 1986 graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He graduated with military distinction and as the Outstanding Cadet in Organizational Behavior. Ivan has over 25 years consulting senior military and civilian leaders. He has conducted senior leadership off-sites, strategic planning sessions and served as the Deputy Director of the Defense Business Practice Implementation Board. As the Deputy, he helped facilitate and lead Task Groups for the Secretary of Defense comprised of senior DoD civilians and retired and active Fortune 500 CEOs.

Ivan Thompson is the CEO of Launch Productions. He is a singer/songwriter, actor, author, business consultant, and inventor. He is a retired Air Force officer with five adult children and resides in Brooklyn, NY.

As a singer/songwriter, he has performed the National Anthem for the Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, LA Kings, St. Louis Rams, LA Sparks, NASCAR, NCAA, and was a guest soloist on the Bobby Jones Gospel show and Tom Joyner show. He has performed across the US and Europe as Tour Director of the Air Force’s Tops in Blue traveling entertainment team and The Color Purple national tour.

Ivan’s books and audiobooks include multiple Christian titles and two exceptional books about diversity in the Air Force--“The Air Force’s Black Ceiling” and “The Air Force’s Black Pilot Training Experience.” Ivan’s books have garnered rave reviews and are available on Amazon and Audible--several are also available in Spanish.

Ivan’s most recent significant accomplishment was leading a team to gain an honorary promotion to brigadier general for 100-year-old Tuskegee Airman, Col Charles McGee Jr.

Please RSVP here on the IPCC website. Zoom meeting details will be sent via email only to those that have registered for the event via the RSVP button.