Col Gary Packard
USAFA Behavioral Sciences Department Head

Abstract: The 1950 guidebook for military officers titled “The Armed Forces
Officer” states “the nature of loyalty requires that (the commissioned
officer) will use his force toward the righting of those things which reason
convinces him are going wrong.” How does one “right the wrongs” without
compromising one’s Oath? Col. Gary Packard will share his personal
journey, experiences as a writer on the DoD study of the DADT repeal, to
include a summary of the process and major findings, and lessons he
learned along the way to walk the walk on difficult social issues with
integrity.
The views expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily
represent the policy of the United States Air Force Academy or any other
government agency.
Featured presenter: Col. Gary Packard, Permanent Professor and Head of
the Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership at the USAFA. A
USAFA graduate, he has served our nation in the Air Force for close to 30
years, over ten years of that as an instructor at the Academy. Col Packard
will present on this topic for about 45 min, as he has done at various
campuses. There should be close to an hour for Q&A with the audience.
Sponsors: PFLAG Colorado Springs is the organizing sponsor. Other local
co-sponsors include the Colorado College Chaplains’ Office, The Pride
Center, The Diversity Forum, Citizens Project, and the Blue Alliance.
PFLAG point of contact: Bill Oliver, gnarlybill@hotmail.com