It was my sincere privilege to present the Women in Defense, 2020 Service to the Flag Award in Industry to Joanna Speed at the 2021 SpeedNews Conference in Beverly Hills. Since 2013, I have had the pleasure of serving on the Women in Defense, Greater Los Angeles chapter, Board of Directors in various Director positions and as former President. Women In Defense is an affiliate of NDIA which engages, cultivates and supports the advancement and recognition of women in all aspects of national security. This organization provides women a business environment for professional growth through strategic networking, mentoring, education and career development.
As part of our efforts to honor exceptional work in national security and defense, beginning in 2013, Women in Defense has recognized three high-achieving women; one in government or military, one in community and one in industry, who cultivate and support the development and recognition of women in all aspects of national security through our Service to the Flag Award.
Each year, these awards are presented at a beautiful waterfront brunch celebration. However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic we were unable to gather to recognize our 2020 honorees. I was delighted to have the opportunity to present the 2020 Service to the Flag Award in industry, in-person at SpeedNews – which was both the final aerospace conference to take place before the COVID shutdown in March 2020 and has now served as a pandemic exit milestone in 2021.
Joanna Speed is the very accomplished and highly regarded Managing Director of SpeedNews Conferences and Subscription Services. Joanna began her informal education in aerospace and defense at SpeedNews and studied business in the Pepperdine University graduate program. Joanna streamlined the company, created new marketing programs, refined and expanded marketing strategies for conferences including – but not limited to – the Speed News Defense Chain Conference which provides unparalleled insight and information on Defense trends and supply chain issues.
Congratulations again to our dear friend and colleague, Joanna Speed, for being awarded the 2020 Women In Defense Service to the Flag Award in the Industry category.
