REDSTONE ARSENAL, ALA. -- U.S. Army Contracting Command hosted its first Women's Equality Day Empowerment Seminar, here August 25.Organized by Tora Henry, ACC Equal Employment Opportunity Office, the seminar brought together seven women from the local area to participate in the panel. Topics included personal and professional development, effective communications, balancing work and home, and 'sit at the table.'John Lyle, deputy to the ACC commanding general, provided the opening remarks. He began with a discussion of the history of women's rights and Women's Equality Day."This day has grown to mean much more than women having the right to vote" Lyle said. He added it is about true equality, wage equality, and equal opportunities in the workforce. Lyle then discussed the women's equality advances made within the military and U.S. government service."ACC leads the entire command in women in making up the workforce," Lyle added. "The national civilian labor force is comprised of about 48 percent women, but Army Contracting Command is 56 percent women. By far the largest percentage of women of any command in AMC."The panel consisted of military and civilian members from the Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville area; Deborah Barnhart, chief executive officer and executive director, U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Maj. Kari Hadley chief of administrative law, ACC, Lt. Col. Bernita Hightower, deputy commander for administration, Fox Army Health Center, Lisa Williams, president, Soldier 1 Corporation, Sgt. Maj. Wanda Vereen, deputy chief of staff, human resource sergeant major, U.S. Space and Missile Defense Command, Janeice Thomas, inspector general, ACC and Kim Tycer, chief counsel, U.S. Army Materiel Command Legal Center.