Afternoon General Session – Supporting Communities

We’ll head to Minot, North Dakota, the third of our 2025 Great American Defense Communities, then dive into “What It Takes to Be Great: Leading Our Great American Defense Communities,” a leadership conversation hosted by USAA. We’ll present ADC’s President’s Award and close with a special appearance by former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, whose service spans Congress, the CIA, the White House, and the Pentagon. From guiding Monterey through the Fort Ord transition to expanding IGSAs nationwide, Secretary Panetta helped redefine how communities partner with their installations.