NCMA DC is excited to announce a special, only-in-DC event for Women’s History Month taking place on Wednesday, March 26. The event will be held at the Military Women’s Memorial, located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery. Retired two-star Rear Admiral and former Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) Allie Coetzee Leslie will be our speaker. Your ticket price includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine.
There has never been a more important time to expand your professional network! This special, lower-cost event is the perfect opportunity to meet new people while learning about the more than three million women who have volunteered to serve this country since the American Revolution.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PARKING AND SECURITY: The Military Women’s Memorial is located on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). All attendees are subject to security screening before entry. Visitors must present a valid state or federal photo identification. If you are not a US citizen, you must present your valid passport or State Department-issued photo ID.
The ANC parking lot will NOT remain open late. The preferred method to reach the venue is either by Metro (blue line) or taxi/ride share. Street parking on Memorial Avenue IS NOW CLOSED as the noon deadline on Monday, March 24 has passed.
*Image Copyright - Karen Saunders Photography
ABOUT THE SPEAKER: The Honorable Althea (“Allie”) Coetzee Leslie offers an exceptional career that spans nearly four decades, combining distinguished military service and extensive civilian expertise. Allie graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985 and retired from the Navy in 2017 as a 2-Star Rear Admiral. She received her MBA (Law) from National University, where she was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award (Criminal Law).
Allie transitioned into the Navy Reserve and the private sector in 1993. In her civilian capacity, she has worked in the public sectors, including municipal, state, and federal government agencies; and the Department of Defense. In the private sector, Allie worked in retail distribution, contracting, and medical device manufacturing; and was a small business owner.
In 2011, Allie was recalled to active duty and from then until her 2017 retirement she served in a variety of acquisition leadership positions at the Pentagon. These included Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Expeditionary Programs and Logistics Management); Executive Director, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Acquisition & Procurement); Acting Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy; Commander, U.S. Central Command Theater Support Contracting Command; and Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L).
After serving in uniform for over 36 years, Allie was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2017 and served as Deputy Administrator in the U.S. Small Business Administration. In this capacity, she championed the causes of entrepreneurs and small business owners optimizing the SBA’s resources to start and grow small businesses. Later, leveraging a lifetime of diverse personal and professional experiences, Allie started a consulting firm to deliver strategic solutions.
ABOUT THE VENUE: The Military Women’s Memorial is a one-of-a-kind tribute to America’s Servicewomen, past and present. The Memorial features an education center, interactive exhibits, and a world-class collection of military women’s stories. Since the American Revolution, more than three million women have served this nation. All of them volunteered to serve.
As the only historical repository documenting all military women’s service, the Memorial educates and inspires through innovative and interactive exhibitions, world-class collections, and engaging programs and events for all generations. The Memorial is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.