Center for Character and Leadership Development

Antecedent Organizations

Commandant of Cadets:
Center for Character Development (1993–2009)
Center for Character and Leadership Development (2009–2018)

Superintendent:
Center for Character and Leadership Development (2018–Present)

Center Directors 1993–1994 Col Marian F. Alexander 1994–1996 Col David A. Wagie 1996–2002 Col Mark A. Hyatt 2002–2004 Col John Herd 2004–2006 Col Joseph W. Mazzola 2006–2010 Col John B. Norton Jr. 2010–2015 Col Joseph E. Sanders III 2015–2016 Col John C. McCurdy 2016– Col Mark C. Anarumo		Permanent Professors Dave Wagie Joe Sanders   Mark Anarumo

The Department Today:

The Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD) helps align academic, athletic, and military efforts to develop leaders of character. The goal is to advance understanding and implementation of effective character and leadership development practices across military, academic, and athletic settings—for cadets, faculty, and staff. The Center’s Development Division focuses on cadet programs and faculty and staff development. The Integration Division works with all USAFA leaders to ensure effective character education and with other service academies, civilian institutions with character centers, Air University, and other agencies with whom we should maintain relationships. The Scholarship Division includes our senior scholars who perform research to advance understanding of the profession of arms and implementation of effective character and leadership development practices. The Operations Division supports the Center by scheduling, planning, and overseeing the numerous seminars, Air Force leadership meetings, international conferences, and other uses of the Center’s facilities.

Curriculum:

TThe Center oversees Character and Leadership programs across all four classes of cadets as well as for the Academy’s faculty and staff. A cadet must successfully complete a CCLD core course or program each year to graduate.

Noteworthy:

The Center organizes and hosts the National Character and Leadership Symposium, one of the Academy’s most visible leadership and development events. Attended by 4,000 cadets and over 300 guests, students, and faculty from military academies and universities across the nation and around the world, this nationally recognized forum brings together distinguished scholars, military leaders, and corporate executives with a popular student consortium to explore character and leadership issues. The Symposium provides cadets and permanent party the opportunity to enhance their understanding of character-based leadership. The Center also hosts the Falcon Heritage Forum, which is designed for cadets to connect with our nation's distinguished veterans/mentors in order to strengthen appreciation for Air Force heritage and to enhance their perspective as developing leaders of character in the profession of arms.