Women At War: The Ongoing Fight for the Freedom to Serve

This Women’s History Month, TEDxJacksonville invites you to an extraordinary Salon event on Thursday, March 27th—Women at War: The Ongoing Fight for the Freedom to Serve. Be a part of a powerful conversation with Eries Mentzer—a trailblazing leader who shattered barriers in the U.S. Air Force as the first Black woman to command Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama.

At our recent conference, Eries earned a standing ovation for her riveting talk on “The Freedom to Serve”—a call to action to remove obstacles that prevent all Americans from reaching their highest military potential. Now, she returns for an intimate video screening of her talk, followed by a live, moderated discussion where she’ll dive deeper into the challenges and progress of ensuring equal opportunity in military service. This is your chance to ask questions and contribute to the conversation.

Eries’s three-decade career is a story of resilience, historic firsts, and a deep commitment to honoring those who paved the way for future generations. Her insights into modern efforts to shape an equitable armed forces will challenge and inspire you—whether you’re passionate about leadership, democracy, or the power of service.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with a true change-maker and explore what it really means to have the freedom to rise to your highest potential. Register now to secure your spot.

Registration opens at 5:30 p.m. The program will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 each and include light bites, beer, and wine.

Secure your seat today

Eries Mentzer is a retired Air Force Colonel who served for three decades, shaping national security strategies, crisis management plans, and legislative engagements while leading and mentoring America’s service members. She played a critical role as a legislative liaison, ensuring Air Force transparency and shaping Congressional understanding of mission priorities. As a squadron commander in the Middle East, she led the largest encampment and the second-largest mortuary operation, ensuring readiness while honoring the fallen. Her leadership extended to the Joint Staff, where she prepared top military generals to advise the President and National Security Council during the War on Terrorism and the Ebola crisis.

Breaking barriers as the first Black woman to command Maxwell Air Force Base, she launched initiatives honoring military history while securing investments for future generations. Her career culminated at Air Force Special Operations Command, where she launched the new Air Commando Development Center, training highly specialized warfighters for global campaigns, conflict, and crisis.

Now a veteran and advocate, Eries is featured in the National World War II Museum’s film “Our War Too: Women in Service.” She serves on the board of Operation Lifeline to deliver safe, accessible, and affordable homes for displaced Veterans and on the Truman Library Institute board to inspire rising leaders through President Truman’s legacy.

Moderator Stacy Ellison currently serves as Vice-President of Development and Communications for the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center where she works to advance donor support and community awareness through events, community engagement, multi-media communications, and advocacy. Stacy brings more than 20 years of non-profit and communications experience to her work. She has previously served in Director roles with several non-profit organizations and as a television news anchor, executive producer, and on camera/voiceover/host talent for companies. Stacy is a speaker coach on TEDxJacksonville’s all-volunteer team.