Curt LaFond

I lead Civil Air Patrol’s National Cadet Team, serving as the focal point for policy, curriculum, and management of the Air Force-affiliated Cadet Program serving 27,000 teens in 1,000 locations nationwide. Today’s cadets become tomorrow’s aerospace leaders. I’m a proud alum. Cadets use my 4-volume, standards-based textbook, “Learn to Lead.” It provides an academic foundation for leadership, offering fun yet scholarly help from Yoda, Aristotle, Rosa Parks, Batman, and other exemplars of moral change. When young people experiment, learn, and challenge themselves in afterschool programs, they are teaching themselves how to be free, how to flourish. Youth development activities like cadet life are natural partners of a liberal education. The biggest challenges facing the field, in my estimation, are (1) increasing access to youth programming across America so that *all kids* may benefit, and (2) increasing the capabilities of adult volunteers who mentor youth in afterschool programs. Currently, I’m pursuing a doctorate at Pitt, in the world’s first program for educational leadership in out-of-school settings. My dissertation topic will center upon youth in program governance. My research interests include youth leadership development, youth character formation, and the philosophical foundations of those areas. Cadets want to become the leaders America needs. It’s my privilege to help their important work.