What is the Center for Character Development?
The Center for Character Development is a unique portion of a USAFA cadet's experience.  Although the men and women attending the Academy are already at the peak of moral integrity among their peers, The Center for Character Development sharpens this so that each cadet is committed to excellence in the performance of their personal and professional responsibilities.  They respect the dignity of all human beings and are decisive, even when facing high risk. They take full responsibility for their decisions and the self-discipline, stamina and courage to do their duty well, even under the extreme and prolonged conditions of the national defense. Graduates also appreciate the significance of spiritual values and beliefs to their own character development and that of the community.


History and Involvement
Created in 1993, The Center for Character Development’s mission is to facilitate character development programs and activities through- out all aspects of the Academy experience. Its objective is to graduate officers who have the forthright integrity and voluntarily decide the right thing to do---and do it! Graduating officers that are selfless in service to the country, the Air Force, and their subordinates.  In 2007, the Air Force Academy Foundation funded a program for the USAFA and the Center for Character Development, which enabled them to join the Student Leadership Experience (SLE).


SLE
SLE - Student Leadership Experience is a Denver Metro Chamber Foundation program that fosters leadership development at nine campuses around the State of Colorado.  The Air Force Academy Foundation's funding for the USAFA/Center for Character Development's involvement in the SLE allowed for six outstanding cadets to represent the Academy as El Pomar Scholars.  These six USAFA El Pomar Scholar's took part in three leadership weekends that enhanced their leadership styles and increased relationships between the nine member campuses.   Upon graduation, several Scholars from some of the other eight campuses mentioned that the interaction with the cadets was a highlight, as it increased their understanding of the Air Force and the Academy.

Cadets used the Air Force Academy Foundation's contribution to host fifty CLA students from other universities in our third bi-annual “CLA Invitational.”  This two-day event, planned and executed entirely by our forty CLA cadets, featured an exchange of leadership ideas and a sampling of our of character development seminars.