Next week’s Defense Communities National Summit will include a heavy focus on policy relating to quality of life for service members and military families.

At least 20 general and breakout sessions are expected to touch on such issues as housing, child care, health care, pay, military spouse employment, food security and other concerns that affect military personnel at all levels.

Hear from Top Spouse Sharene Brown

One featured speaker is Sharene Brown, spouse of Joint Chiefs Chair Air Force Gen. CQ Brown and the driving force behind the Five and Thrive initiative that helps communities focus on the most critical quality of life issues.

Brown will be part of a general session, “The Mission Continues: Building Great Places for Our Military Families to Call Home,” taking place the first day of the Summit.

She will also speak on a Tuesday morning panel, “Quality of Life Challenges: Separating Signal from Noise with Digital Ethnography.” The session will feature new ADC research that highlights how service members and their families talk openly about their military experiences.

The Hill Perspective

Reps. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.) will appear together at a Tuesday afternoon panel.

The leaders of the House Armed Services Committee’s Quality of Life Panel will share what they have learned from meetings across the country and what recommendations they will make as Congress begins debating the National Defense Authorization Act.

Get Ready for the Summit

You can customize your Summit experience by checking out the full agenda for the event, taking place April 8-10 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

There’s still time to register before rates go up.

ADC photo of Brown by Will Noonan