Duilia (Mora) Turner

Born in New York, Lieutenant Colonel Duilia Mora Turner (Ret.) is a first-generation American from a Colombian family. When she was two years old, her family moved to Brazil, where she grew up. She returned to the U.S. at the age of 19 to learn English and attend college. Faced with financial challenges and a great interest in science, she enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1997. She led Women, Peace, and Security efforts at United States Southern Command creating and furthering numerous women’s inclusion and empowerment activities, connecting with 36 nations, and reaching over 10,000 people through virtual and in-person engagements. She promoted initiatives that directly address issues affecting women and girls during times of crisis, worked with the local community, and mentored other men and women on how to advocate for gender integration.

As a subject matter expert, she trained military and security forces within many organizations across the U.S. and Latin America to include the Defense Institute of Medical Operations’ “Gender-Based Violence & Women’s Health” forum. Highlighted the importance of gender perspectives to medical professionals from Belize, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago. Served led and advocated efforts for women’s inclusion during Human Rights initiatives with U.S., Guatemala, Peru, and Paraguay. Duilia planned and executed high-level women’s leadership panels to include the Minister of Defense of Suriname and secured an article with a defense magazine, “Suriname’s Defense Force Strengthens the Role of Women.”
She created content and hosted episodes for a Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Podcast called Breaking Barriers highlighting distinguished servicewomen from Suriname, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, Haiti, and Colombia. This podcast elevated the status of women across the Western Hemisphere, making the “invisible, visible.”

She mentored two Latina students from the Florida International University for their graduate capstone, which focused on women’s studies and partnered with UN Women in Colombia and the Colombian Armed Forces to implement the first “Gender Perspectives and Strategic Communication Course” in-country. This program was endorsed by Colombia’s Presidential Office for Gender. Through outreach, Lt Col Turner (Ret.) supported local organizations, including the South Dade Chamber of Commerce, the South Dade Veterans Alliance, and the Miami Military Museum. She is often a keynote speaker to include Common Threads of Military Women Conference focused on healing sexual trauma. She has an unwavering commitment to human capital and talent management within the Service and out. Duilia returned from military service in September of 2022 to focus on working with service members through alternative healing and has earned numerous awards in uniform and in the civilian sector for her leadership, dedication and innovation focused on improving situations for those often overlooked.