Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Organizational Leadership

First Advisor

Phillip Pendley

Second Advisor

Lafaye Platter

Third Advisor

Jeffrey Tooker

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this Delphi study was to determine what strategies military women of color (in ranks of E–8 and above or O–4 and above) used to overcome workplace barriers to advancement in the California Air National Guard (CAANG), to rate the importance of the strategies identified in Research Question 1, and to determine the methods by which they employed the top five most important strategies.Methodology: This study used a three-round Delphi method to collect data from women of color senior leaders in the CAANG. In Round 1, the expert panel identified strategies to overcome workplace barriers to advance into senior leadership. In Round 2, the identified strategies were rated on a Likert-scale survey to determine the significance of each strategy. In Round 3, the expert panel explained how they employed the top five most significant strategies discovered in Round 2.

Findings: After input from the expert panel, 10 strategies were identified to overcome workplace barriers and advance to senior leadership. Those strategies were then ranked, and the five most significant were: (a) Resiliency, (b) Support Systems, (c) Self-Care, (d) Communication, and (e) Adaptability/Flexibility. The panel experts recommended various ways to apply the top five strategies in Round 3.

Conclusions: For women of color to advance to senior leadership in the CAANG, they had to build, sustain, and lean on a support system of family, peers, and mentors in and outside the military to remain resilient. They also focused on self-care in the form of seeking professional help, setting boundaries, emphasizing rest by taking leave, and prioritizing tasks when overburdened. Additionally, experts emphasized listening as the cornerstone of effective communication, including creating safe channels, and as a tool for advocacy for self and others. Lastly, participants viewed change as growth, sought information proactively, and learned from others who navigated similar challenges in the face of adversity to remain flexible.

Recommendations for Action: Based on the information collected in this Delphi study, 18 key recommendations were identified to support the implementation of strategies that aid women of color in overcoming workplace barriers and advance to senior leadership.

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