United States Air Force Academy

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Day One – Friday, February 20, 2026
8:30-9:45 a.m. Workshop Leveraging the Martial Way: Forging “Whole” Warriors to Lead in Future Conflicts
Workshop Task Force Hope
8:15-9:45 a.m. Visiting Students Icebreaker: (Visiting Students Only)
10-11:15 a.m. Workshop Leveraging the Martial Way: Forging “Whole” Warriors to Lead in Future Conflicts
Workshop Task Force Hope
Workshop From War Stories to War Narratives
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:45-1:10 p.m. NCLS Opening Ceremony: Lt Gen Tony D. Bauernfeind
1:15-2 p.m. Keynote Class of ’59 Leadership Keynote: Col Justin Elliott “Courage in Close Formation: Lessons from Elite Teams”
GEN (Ret) Austin Scott Miller: “Trusted to Perform: Courageous Leadership at the Highest Level”
Panel Class of ‘93: Outstanding Airman of the Year (OAY)
2:30-3:30 p.m. Cadet Wing Kick-Off: Nashville Storytellers Concert
MSgt (Ret) Dustin Goodwin: “Courage to Lead; Psychological versus Physical”
3:45-4:30 p.m. Keynote Class of ’59 Leadership Keynote: Lt Col Nichole Ayers “Courage Beyond Earth”
MSG (Ret) George Vera “Courage Under Fire: Leading Soldiers in Contact”
5-6 p.m. Keynote Class of ’74 Wakin Award & Class of ’73 Keynote: Lt Gen (Ret) Marc Sasseville “Courage in the Moment: Leadership on September 11th”
6-8:10 p.m. Social Hour and Cadet Engagement Dinner

Day Two – Saturday, February 21, 2026
6:30-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:30-9:15 a.m. Keynote Falcon Foundation Bud Breckner Keynote: MSG (Ret) George Vera: “Courage Under Fire: Leading Soldiers in Contact”
“Lifetime of Service” Fireside Chat: Maj Andrea Moffett and Col (Ret) Gail Colvin
Maj Gen (Ret) Edward Mechenbier: “Honor, Resilience, and Leadership: A POW’s Perspective on Courage in Service”
9:30-10:15 a.m. Col John Blocher: “Losing Control: A JTAC’s courage to overcome fear and failure”
CAPT (Ret) Charlie Plumb: “Courage Under Fire: Lessons in Leadership from Six Years as a POW”
Lt Gen (Ret) Marc Sasseville: “Courage in the Moment: Leadership on September 11th”
10:30-11:15 a.m. Keynote Enix Heritage Keynote: GEN (Ret) Austin Scott Miller “Trusted to Perform: Courageous Leadership at the Highest Level”
SMSgt (Ret) Israel Del Toro: “Unbroken Courage: Leading Beyond the Wounds”
Lt Col Nichole Ayers: “Courage Beyond Earth”
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch
12:30-1:15 p.m. SMSgt (Ret) Israel Del Toro: “Unbroken Courage: Leading Beyond the Wounds”
“Family First, Mission Always” Fireside Chat: Maj Andrea Moffett and Col Sarah Brehm
MSgt (Ret) Dustin Goodwin: “Courage to Lead; Psychological versus Physical”
1:30-2:15 p.m. POW Panel “Courage in Captivity: Lessons of Endurance and Integrity”: Maj Gen (Ret) Edward Mechenbier and CAPT (Ret) Charlie Plumb
Col Justin Elliott: “Courage in Close Formation: Lessons from Elite Teams”
Col John Blocher: “Losing Control: A JTAC’s courage to overcome fear and failure”
2:30-3 p.m. Challenge Ceremony: CMSgt John C. Alsvig
3:15-4:30 p.m. Cadet Experimental Debrief: (Visiting Students)