The US Air Force Academy plans to construct a new $29 million facility, beginning in March 2011, to house its Center for Character Development, which it will redesignate Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD). The new facility is slated to open in later summer 2012. In the interim, the school plans to create and fill a new position, the Permanent Professor of Character and Leadership Development, later this year. That individual will head the CCLD. Col. John Norton, director of the current center, said these actions “mark a significant first step in our journey to take officer development at USAFA to the next level.” Over the past few years, USAFA has rebounded from a wave of sexual assault allegations that led to leadership and policy changes (read Upheaval at the Academy from Air Force Magazine January 2004). (USAFA release)
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.