NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH
January marks National Mentoring Month, a time to celebrate the transformative power of mentorship. This observance highlights the vital role mentors play in shaping careers, building confidence, and unlocking potential. It’s an opportunity to honor mentors, share impactful stories, and inspire others to embrace mentoring as a way to foster growth, innovation, and leadership for generations to come.
2026 National Mentoring Month Events:
DOW National Mentoring Month: Reverse Mentoring Event
On January 27, 2026, at 1300 ET, the Department of War hosted its Reverse Mentoring event, celebrating this year’s theme: “Mentoring Across Career Journeys – Bridging Experience and Innovation.” This unique program connected junior personnel with senior leaders, fostering a dynamic exchange of expertise and perspectives. During the event, junior participants served as mentors, sharing insights into technology, culture, and workforce trends, while senior leaders gained fresh perspectives to help shape the DOW’s future.
Topics included:
- Warfighter Mindset
- Intergenerational Communication
- AI and Machine Learning
- And many other topics shaping our Warfighting Ethos
The event was open to senior personnel—O4 and above, E4 and above, and GS-12 or equivalent and above—and offered a powerful opportunity to foster cross-generational learning.
Missed this round? More opportunities are planned — check back for updates.
2026 Department of Air Force (DAF) Events
DAF NMM Theme: “Each 1-Reach 1-Teach 1: Leading Legacies Today.”
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) celebrated National Mentoring Month (NMM) in January 2026 to foster a culture that embraces mentoring and empowers the workforce to reach their fullest potential. Whether you're a Mentor or Mentee, DAF’s events will provide you with the knowledge and skills to enhance your Mentoring experience. If you couldn’t attend or want to enjoy the event(s) again, the recordings are available for you to watch.
Foundational Competencies Mentoring
Mr. Jamal S. Qaiyyim
Grow your Foundational Competencies via Mentoring.
Mentoring vs Coaching
Lt. Col Sylvester “Sly” d’Agrella, USAF
Grow your leadership toolkit by exploring the differences between mentoring and coaching.
The Power of Mentoring
MSgt Parise C. Owens, USAF
MSgt Owens shares her personal journey and insights on the power of mentoring.
Warrior Ethos & Warrior Mindset Mentoring
MSgt Juan L. Carreon, USAF
Special Warfare Training Squadron - SWTS/Flight Chief
Step into a warrior ethos & warrior fighter mindset to empower mentoring.
Previous National Mentoring Month Events:
2025 DOW National Mentoring Month Event
We celebrated National Mentoring Month on January 22, 2025, with a powerful virtual event: "Unlocking Potential: The Transformative Power of Mentorship in the DOW." The event featured military and civilian leaders from across DOW who shared inspiring personal stories about the impact of mentorship. Did you miss it or want to be inspired again by reliving the event? If so, you can watch the recording, read the transcript, and see the audience engagement with responses.
our speakers:
Our inaugural event featured six speakers from various components and their bios are provided below. *Note: Speakers are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
- Mr. Kelly Mayo, Director, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, DOW Office of the Inspector General
- Ms. Crystal Moore, Director, Force Development, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters U.S. Air Force
- Ms. Elisa-Ruth Nelson, Team Lead, Human Capital Strategy & Organizational Development Directorate, Defense Security Cooperation Agency
- CMDCM(SW/SS) Neal Olds, Command Master Chief, Naval Surface Warfare Group Southwest
- Ms. Debra White-Johnson, Director for Emerging Systems, Defense Financial Accounting Service, Enterprise Solutions & Standards
- LTC Andrew Yang, Army Coaching Program Manager, US Army Talent Innovation Directorate
2025 Department of the Airforce (DAF) Events
Mentoring changes lives! It’s a powerful tool for achieving personal and professional success. The Department of the Air Force recognizes mentoring as essential to building a stronger, more prepared Total Force. By investing in development and fostering connections, we strengthen our mission and ensure readiness.
See the full list of Department of the Air Force events that occurred during National Mentoring Month—click below to view the PDF.
2025 DISA National Mentoring Month Events
DISA celebrated National Mentoring Month with a series of events designed to inspire, educate, and connect. From Mentoring Circles to Brown Bag sessions, Leadership Development Workshops, and Courageous Conversations, they had something for everyone. See the events that DISA hosted that helped employees grow, learn, and connect.
2025 NAVAIR’s National Mentoring Month Event
NAVAIR's 2025 National Mentoring Month event recognized the nominees and winners of NAVAIR’s annual Mentor of the Year Awards and featured a conversation with Mr. Greg Pontrelli, President of Lausanne Business Solutions and a Forbes HR Council contributor. Known for his expertise in mentorship and professional development, Greg shared powerful strategies to build trust, deliver impactful feedback, and create meaningful career connections. Click below to view this inspiring session!
- Transformational values of mentorship whether you're a mentor, mentee, or interested in professional growth.
- Practical insights to build stronger, more meaningful relationships.
- Essential pillars for elevating personal growth and mentoring relationships: honesty, humility, and power.
- Actionable strategies to enable growth through self-awareness, give and receive insightful feedback, and foster trusting connections that drive career advancement.
Previous National Mentoring Month Events:
- 2024 Defense Human Resources Activity’s (DHRA) National Mentoring Month event
Relive the inspiring conversations from last year's DHRA National Mentoring Month event! Our senior leaders and fellow employees came together for a thought-provoking roundtable discussion on the benefits of mentoring. Watch the video now and be motivated to find a mentor, become a mentor, or take your career to the next level through the power of mentoring. - 2024 Department of the Airforce (DAF) Events
In 2024, DAF celebrated National Mentoring Month with a range of events, including panel discussions, virtual speed mentoring, peer mentoring, and mentoring workshops. These activities promoted mentorship, leadership development, and career growth across the force.
For More Information, please contact
Email: dodhra.mc-alex.dcpas.mbx.dod-mentoring-resource-portal@mail.mil
Address:
Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350-1100