Brig. Gen. Michael R. Taheri, commander of the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland welcomes commanders to the Wing Commander Fly-in November 18, 2014. The 2-day meeting brings together commanders from 89 wings throughout the ANG to discuss challenges facing the total force. (Air National Guard Photo by Master Sgt. Marvin R. Preston/Released)

Dave Thomas, senior advisor and Highly Qualified Expert for the U.S. Air Force in the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) office, addresses commanders during the Wing Commander Fly-in November 18, 2014. The 2-day meeting brings together commanders from 89 wings throughout the ANG to discuss challenges facing the total force. (Air National Guard Photo by Master Sgt. Marvin R. Preston/Released)

Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau and member of the Joint Chiefs, addresses Air National Guard commanders during the Wing Commander Fly-in November 18, 2014. The 2-day meeting brings together commanders from 89 wings throughout the ANG to discuss challenges facing the total force. (Air National Guard Photo by Master Sgt. Marvin R. Preston/Released)

Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, addresses commanders during the ANG Wing Commander Fly-in November 17, 2014. The 2-day meeting brings together commanders from 89 wings throughout the ANG to discuss challenges facing th

Maj. Gen Gina M. Grosso, director of the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR), Office of the Vice Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, addresses commanders during the Wing Commander Fly-in November 18, 2014. The 2-day meeting brings together commanders from 89 wings throughout the ANG to discuss challenges facing the total force. (Air National Guard Photo by Master Sgt. Marvin R. Preston/Released)

Air National Guard hosts Sexual Assault Prevention and Response summit

Published Nov. 21, 2014
By Maj. Mary L. Harrington
Public Affairs Advisor to the Director of the Air National Guard

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- Wing commanders from the Air National Guard attended a day-long Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) summit on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at the Air National Guard Readiness Center at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

"The Air National Guard takes sexual assault very seriously," said Brig. Gen. Dawne Deskins, Special Assistant, Sexual Assault Prevention to the Director of the Air National Guard. "This SAPR summit gave us a forum to relay improvements to policy and reporting, while identifying trends. Most importantly, it helped our commanders to better understand how to provide help and support to victims, and also how to recognize indicating behavior of potential assailants."

The agenda included sessions on policy, predator identification, reporting, neurobiology, prevention, legal services, as well as senior leadership perspectives.

In addition to Deskins, other guest speakers included Gen. Frank J. Grass, Chief of the National Guard Bureau; Lt. Gen. E. Stanley Clarke, III, Director of the Air National Guard; Maj. Gen. Gina Grosso, Director of SAPR, Office of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Mr. Dave Thomas, SAPR office, Pentagon; Dr. Kimberly Dickman, Chief of Training and Development Branch, SAPR, Headquarters Air Force; Col. Christian Rofrano, Chief Council, Office of Complex Investigations, NGB; Brig. Gen. Michael Taheri, Commander, Air National Guard Readiness Center (ANGRC); and Chief Master Sgt. Tony Whitehead, Command Chief, ANGRC.