The Air Force Academy’s mission is “to educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers of character motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our nation.” The academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD) is at the heart of accomplishing that mission. The iconic structure serves as a shining example of a strong public-private partnership. The opening of the CCLD was an opportunity to celebrate the generous donors who contributed more than $20 million to the construction of the building to tell the story of the impact of private philanthropy and the importance of character education at the academy.