CAMP ROBINSON, Ark. – Nearly 140 Army inspectors general from all components and across the world gathered at the National Guard Professional Education Center from May 21 to 24 for the Worldwide Inspector General Conference. It was the first in-person WWIGC since April 2019.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Retaining Talent and Upholding Army Values.”
Lt. Gen. Donna W. Martin, the Inspector General, and Sgt. Maj. Larry Orvis, the Inspector General Sergeant Major, hosted the conference and honored numerous IGs for their accomplishments in the past year.
“Having IG leaders together in person to discuss the IG strategy, process improvements and ways to support each other daily is vital to our success as an enterprise and strengthens our support to Soldiers and families,” Martin said.
Guest speakers included Gen. Gary Brito, commanding general of Training and Doctrine Command, and Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, director of the Defense Health Agency.
Brito discussed the role of inspectors general in developing Soldiers and well-functioning commands.
“The IG is a combat multiplier for the command,” Brito said.
Brito also touched on the IGs role in reducing harmful behaviors in the Army and the vital relationship between command inspectors general and their directing authorities.
Crosland briefed attendees on the priorities of the military health system, including day-to-day care for service members, training, combat medicine and overall responsibilities.
She also noted the role of IGs in guiding DHA leaders.
“What you (IGs) do is allow us to be credible in our position and in society.”
Other briefing topics included an overview of the Army IG strategic plan, improvements to the inspections process, mentoring new command IGs, outreach to allied and partner nation IGs, extremism reporting requirements, and allegations processes.
Col. Brad Culligan, command inspector general for Army Materiel Command, lauded the in-person gathering.
“WWIGC provided an excellent opportunity to meet other command IGs, share best practices and collaborate on issues,” he said. “The larger audience this year benefitted the ability to broaden the knowledge and depth of command IGs across the spectrum.”
Kevin Elliott, command inspector general of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, described the event as “a wonderful venue to bring the enterprise up to speed on policy and regulatory changes as well as Army statistics.”
Martin and Orvis honored the five winners of the coveted Inspector General of the Year award for their respective categories.
“Every person who competed is among the best in our IG enterprise, and it really was a close contest across the board,” Martin said.
The winners were:
- Dept. of the Army Civilian IG of the Year (GS-14/15): Robert Faucher, 8th Army, Camp Humphreys, South Korea
- Dept. of the Army Civilian IG of the Year (GS-12/13): Linda Nogle, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
- Dept. of the Army Civilian IG of the Year (GS-9/11): William Foster, Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
- IG Officer of the Year: LTC Brett Jordan, 316th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
- IG NCO of the Year: SFC Dariana Baric, U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Jackson, South Carolina
Each of the winners received a plaque as well as the Army Civilian Service Commendation Medal or the Army Commendation Medal.
Martin additionally administered the IG Oath to Sgt. Maj. Delia Quintero, who replaced Orvis as the Inspector General Sergeant Major on June 12.
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