— eMilitary Mentoring —
Professional
Development Summit
A full-day summit built for sea service officers, connecting
mentors, peers, and leaders who are advancing the mission together.
Countdown to the Summit
Day(s)
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Hour(s)
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— When —
— Where —
Arlington, Virginia
Arlington, VA 22201
— Who —
— FULL PROGRAM —
Summit Schedule
One full day of connection, learning, and growth, Starting with a Friday evening reception leading to a power-packed Saturday program.
Friday, July 31, 2026
6PM EST
Welcome Reception
Kick off the weekend with fellow sea service officers in a relaxed setting designed for real conversation. Meet mentors, reconnect with colleagues, and get a head start on the relationships that make Saturday's programming count. Light refreshments provided.
Saturday, August 1, 2026
8 AM EST
Seminars & Networking
Maximize your summit experience: Connect with leadership for an opening organizational brief, setting the stage for a full day of strategic professional development seminars.
See schedule below.
Morning Sessions
0800
Breakfast & Registration
Arrive, check in, and fuel up before the program begins. Use the time to connect informally with early arrivals and browse the day's agenda. Networking tables will be organized by community and career stage.
0830
Welcome
0840
Year in Review
A candid look back at the past year — membership growth, scholarships awarded, advocacy wins, and moments where the community showed up for one another.
0900
Foundation Update
The Foundation update will cover giving priorities, fund performance, and how to get involved in the next chapter of the growth.
0945
Strategic Plan Briefing
Where are we heading — and how do you fit in? Leadership presents the organization's multi-year strategic framework, including priorities around recruitment, retention, community engagement, and advocacy. Q&A follows.
1045
Chapter Leadership Feedback Session
An open, structured dialogue between chapter leaders and national leadership. Bring your ideas, surface the challenges your chapter faces, and help shape organizational priorities from the ground up. This session is member-driven — your voice is the agenda.
Lunch Keynote
1215
Luncheon Keynote Address
Over lunch, our featured keynote speaker will deliver a message on leadership, service, and what the next generation of sea service officers must carry forward. Expect substance, candor, and a story worth repeating.
Afternoon Sessions
1315
Political Skills for Military Officers
Influence without authority. Navigate institutional dynamics, build cross-functional relationships, and make your voice heard in rooms where decisions get made — without compromising your integrity or your commission.
1415
Mental Wellness in the Sea Services
Operational tempo, separation, and the silent weight of leadership demand more than physical fitness. This session offers practical frameworks for managing mental health, normalizing help-seeking behavior, and sustaining peak readiness throughout a military career.
1515
Navigating VA Benefits
VA benefits are among the most underused and misunderstood entitlements available to service members. Whether you're mid-career or planning your transition, this session cuts through the complexity — covering healthcare, disability claims, education benefits, home loans, and what to start now rather than later.
1545
reLAUNCH: Career Transition Strategies
Military skills transfer — but translating them takes a strategy. The reLAUNCH program walks you through resume repositioning, network activation, and the mindset shift required to move from uniform to civilian success. Whether transition is years away or weeks out, the time to prepare is now.
1615
Entrepreneurship & Business Ownership for Veterans
The discipline, risk tolerance, and mission focus that define military service are also the foundations of successful entrepreneurship. This session explores how veterans are building businesses, accessing capital, and finding purpose beyond the fleet — with real examples and actionable first steps.
1700
Closing Remarks & Send-Off
Leadership closes out the summit with key takeaways, announcements, and a charge to carry the energy of the day back into every command, chapter, and community you serve. The mission continues after the last handshake.
— ARLINGTON, VA —
Accommodations
Below are three hotels at which you can book your hotel room for the upcoming 2026 summit (July 31st and August 1st). They all offer the government rate. Please do so sooner than later and forward me a copy of reservation when made.
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Hyatt Place and Hilton Garden Inn are accessible by metro (metro stop Court House Metro Station - distance for both are about 0.2mile)
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For those who are 'local' but are more than 50 miles away, overnight parking ranges from $30 - $35 per night)
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No rental car authorized; you can either take the metro or Uber/Lyft/taxi from the Washington Reagan Airport (DCA)
**Recommended
**Hyatt Place Arlington/ Courthouse Plaza
2401 Wilson Blvd., Arlington VA 22201 (703) 243-2494
(very close 0.1mi to Navy League Bldg. 2300 Wilson Blvd)
No airport shuttle - closest metro is Court House Square - walk is ~0.2 mile); FREE breakfast
Hilton Garden Inn/ Courthouse Plaza
1333 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 528-4444
(very close 0.1 mi to Navy League Bldg. 2300 Wilson Blvd)
No airport shuttle - closest metro is Court House Square - walk is ~0.2 mile); NO FREE breakfast
Homewood Suites by Hilton Arlington
1900 N Quinn St, Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 348-2828
No airport shuttle; closest metro is Court House Square but a long walk (~1 mile); FREE breakfast
— FULL PROGRAM —
Supporters &Sponsors
To our valued sponsors and supporters: Thank you for your unwavering commitment to those who protect our nation, and for investing in the mission to build unified, mission-ready leaders.