Coming Soon: Annual National Character and Leadership Symposium

  • Published
  • By Amber Baillie
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY. Colo. --  The 22nd Annual National Character and Leadership Symposium takes place at the Air Force Academy Feb. 26-27 and will feature distinguished leaders and scholars from across the country.

The two-day event includes 50 diverse discussion panels and individual speakers, including Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives director B. Todd Jones, and Tanya Biank, the author behind Lifetime TV's "Army Wives."

The symposium is a premiere event and includes cadets, Academy personnel, community guests and visiting university students.

"Speakers from all walks of life will share inspirational stories and personal examples as a way to further the conversation and encourage cadets on leadership and character development," said Lt. Col. Shayne Coyne, deputy director of cadet development at the Center for Character and Leadership Development here. "It's a unique leadership opportunity for cadets involved with NCLS and creates possibilities for the Academy to support the larger Air Force."

Col. Carrie Bausano, vice commandant of culture and climate here, said for the first time the Academy will include a women's forum at NCLS.

"The forum will include four- to- five senior leaders and highly influential women of the age," she said. "The purpose is to give our first class female cadets an opportunity to see how other successful women have made it in their respective careers. NCLS is going to be a great mix of multiple programs and inclusiveness."

The theme for the event is "Serving Our Nation: Our Calling, Core Values and Commitments."

"This year's theme is pertinent to every cadet and the future they hope to have," said Cadet 2nd Class John Kornahrens, the cadet in charge. "The symposium offers unique insight into the minds of extraordinary people and how they became who they are today."

Kornahrens said over 400 cadets were a part of NCLS planning. Cadets help out in almost every aspect of the event including creating welcome packets, transportation, and setting up venues and escorting speakers and attendees.

"Each NCLS team that manages one part of the program is run by a cadet with a cadet NCO as well," Kornahrens said.

Recipients of the 2014 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award, honored for their leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements by the Air Force Association, will speak on an NCLS panel.

"We have eight of the 12 award recipients scheduled to participate in NCLS as well as speak on a panel," Coyne said. "This is sponsored and funded by Chief Master Sergeant Cody. We look forward to an amazing dialogue between our future officer leaders and the best of the enlisted force that they will lead."

Last year, about 5,500 attended NCLS, and Coyne said he expects the same turnout this year.

Cadets can register for NCLS through Feb. 13.

Visit http://bit.ly/1FajANf for more information.