NCLS Update for Donors with Col. Kurt Wendt, Director of the Center for Character and Leadership Development

As a leadership donor to the National Character and Leadership Symposium, you are invited to join the Air Force Academy Foundation and Col. Kurt Wendt, Director of the Center for Character and Leadership Development, for an update about the 2022 event.

Colonel Kurt A. Wendt is the Director of the Center for Character and Leadership Development, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado. The Center’s mission is to serve the Air Force Academy by advancing character and leadership development to prepare graduates for service to the nation. The Center is responsible for aligning and supporting professional development for cadets, faculty, and staff, and integrating character and leadership development programs across the 4,000-member Cadet Wing. The Center hosts several large forums each year including the National Character and Leadership Symposium, and conducts leading-edge research, instruction, and assessments. The Center is integral to the Academy’s mission of graduating officers of character and integrating the Air Force’s Core Values of Integrity, Service, and Excellence for cadets, faculty, and staff.

Colonel Wendt was commissioned in 1994 as a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He subsequently completed a master’s degree program at the University of Maryland at College Park and was a Distinguished Graduate of Air Force Intelligence Officer Training. A career intelligence officer, Colonel Wendt served at the squadron level supporting F-22, F-15, HH-60, and Special Operations units, and as a Royal Air Force Exchange Officer in the United Kingdom. He was assigned to the Pentagon in the Air Force Intelligence Analysis Agency and CHECKMATE Division and completed a joint tour as Executive Officer to the Director of Intelligence at Headquarters U.S. Central Command. Colonel Wendt was the Commander of the 485th Intelligence Squadron at Mainz-Kastel, Germany, Deputy Commander of the 17th Training Group at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, and served as the Director of Intelligence, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Commander of the 501st Combat Support Wing, headquartered at RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom.

Colonel Wendt has deployed in support of Operations ALLIED FORCE, JOINT FORGE, NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE.