Schedule of Events

(All times MST. Session times are subject to change.)
Quick NavigationNational Character and Leadership Symposium
Base Access during 2026 NCLS
Access procedures at the U.S. Air Force Academy continue to affect the visitor experience. While the installation remains open, anyone without a DoD ID card must request and obtain a visitor pass to enter the base using the link below. Once your request is received, the 10th Security Forces Squadron’s Pass and Registration Office will conduct a background check, and you will receive a decision via text within 72 hours. If approved, proceed to the North on the day of your approved visit date and present a Real ID for base access. Employees and sponsored visitors should plan for increased security measures and longer wait times at the gates. While on the installation, all personnel are subject to search. Guests under the age of 18 (and 18-year-old students with D20 student IDs) Do Not need to request visitation access. Any individual 18 or older will need to do the pre-registration online.
If anyone has issues with receiving an approval message (they receive “error” messages or never receive a message back at all), please re-apply. If the issue persists, please go to the Pass & Registration Office outside of South Gate to get a physical pass for the day of the event.
Please note: Guests may only have one active code at a time. Applying for multiple such as a different event, will revoke the last.
| Day One – Friday, February 20, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 9:30-11:30 a.m. | Visiting Students Icebreaker (Visiting Students Only) |
| Noon-1 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1-1:15 p.m. | Welcome Remarks |
| 1:30-2:15 p.m. | Keynote Class of ’59 Leadership Keynote |
| 2:30-3:15 p.m. | Cadet Wing Kick-Off |
| 3:30-4:15 p.m. | Presentation Concurent Speaker Sessions |
| 4:30-5:30 p.m. | Keynote Class of ’74 Wakin Award & Class of ’73 Keynote |
| 5:45-8 p.m. | Social Hour and Cadet Engagement Dinner |
| Day Two – Saturday, February 21, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 6:30-8 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8-8:45 a.m. | Keynote Falcon Foundation Bud Breckner Keynote |
| 9-10 a.m. | Presentation Concurent Speaker Sessions |
| 10:15-11:15 a.m. | Keynote Enix Heritage Keynote |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30-1:15 p.m. | Presentation Concurent Speaker Sessions |
| 1:30-2:15 p.m. | Presentation Concurent Speaker Sessions |
| 2:30-3 p.m. | Challenge Ceremony |
| 3:15-4:30 p.m. | Cadet Experimental Debrief (Visiting Students) |