Defense institute gets new home

  • Published
  • By Army Master Sgt. Christopher Calkins
  • Special to American Forces Press Service
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  The new home of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute officially opened here Jan. 14.

Dr. Davis S. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, cut the ribbon to open the two-story, 92,000-square-foot facility.

A new-campus task force was established in the early 1990s, construction began in April 2002, and DEOMI's students will begin class in the new Mediterranean-style structure later this month.

Doctor Chu commented on the factors that led to DEOMI's emergence more than 30 years ago.

"Years ago, our military was deeply troubled with racial unrest, and turmoil plagued several military installations and ships. None of the military services was exempt," said Doctor Chu, who left the U.S. Army as a captain in 1970.

"In some cases, these civil disturbances directly interfered with the military's ability to execute its mission and fight effectively," he said. "It's not what we have today; it's a totally different picture."

To counteract these disturbances, an interservice task force was formed to examine the causes and find possible cures for the racial strife within the services.

Maj. Gen. Lucius Theus was chosen to head the task force, which resulted in a Defense Department directive establishing a race relations board, and, in 1971, creating the Defense Race Relations Institute, the original name for DEOMI, which was renamed in July 1979.

Since its first seven-week course, the institute has expanded to meet the needs of field commanders and agency heads. As a result, DEOMI now addresses a wide array of issues, including sexism, extremism, religious accommodations and anti-Semitism.

Along with the institute's 15-week Equal Employment Advisor's Course, several workshops, seminars and courses have been added, including senior leader seminars designed for newly selected generals, admirals and senior executive service personnel.

The road outside the facility was renamed to honor a group of World War II-era pilots, America's first black military airmen.

"We have renamed it Tuskegee Airmen Drive," said Brig. Gen. Gregory Pavlovich, 45th Space Wing commander. "What a fitting tribute to the DEOMI mission, and it was absolutely the right thing to do, for Patrick Air Force Base and DEOMI."