JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
Conflict at Joint Base San Antonio is no longer viewed as a disruption, but as an essential leadership tool for mission success.
The base hosted the Strength Through Unity Tour, a Department of the Air Force initiative from June 9–13 at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston. The program is aimed to build conflict-competent, mission-ready teams across all three JBSA installations.
Directed by the Secretary of Defense and led by the Department of the Air Force Negotiation and Dispute Resolution manager, Kimberly Mlinaz, the five-day tour focused on improving organizational cohesion, emotional intelligence, and trust across the force
The event opened with a senior leader session led by Shannon Ann McGuire, the Air Force’s principal legal adviser, who emphasized the connection between conflict competence, readiness, and resilience.
“A force that resolves conflict effectively is a force that innovates faster, adapts quicker and executes flawlessly,” McGuire said.
Over five days, more than 400 Total Force members attended six workshops and engagement sessions. The content, developed in collaboration with Senior Master Sgt. Piankhy Richberg, 502d Air Base Wing equal opportunity superintendent and Mlinaz, reframed conflict as an opportunity to lead with composure, build trust under pressure and navigate uncertainty with integrity.
“These aren’t just soft skills — they're essential to the warrior ethos,” Mlinaz said. “Leaders who master emotional intelligence and conflict resolution build stronger, more cohesive teams.”
The Strength Through Unity Tour supports Department of the Air Force priorities and reinforces the chief master sergeant of the Air Force’s First Principles, which call for Airmen and Guardians to thrive under pressure, maintain accountability and build cultures rooted in trust and discipline.
A strategic stakeholder session brought together key agencies — including legal, equal opportunity, employee relations and civilian personnel — to align on early intervention strategies. The goal is to reduce formal complaints, limit legal risk and drive mission-focused outcomes.
The tour concluded with a capstone session attended by more than 70 senior leaders across JBSA. Led by Mlinaz, the session explored how workplace culture, operational risk and leadership integrity are tightly interwoven — reinforcing that conflict competence is not just a skill, but a mission-critical leadership responsibility.
As the Department of the Air Force invests in emotionally intelligent teams, every leader is encouraged to embrace conflict as a catalyst for trust, cohesion and operational excellence.