MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Air University continues building a more integrated approach to warfighter development as the Civilian Leadership Development School officially joins the Air Force Global College, further strengthening the university’s role in developing mission-ready military and civilian professionals who support Joint Force effectiveness in contested environments.
The strategic realignment was commemorated during the April 20, 2026, Civilian Force Development Panel meeting at Maxwell Air Force Base.
Established March 1, 2022, CLDS has trained more than 96,000 civilian personnel across the Department of the Air Force. As part of the transition, CLDS now aligns under AFGC, one of Air University’s organizations supporting the university’s broader mission to educate and develop joint airpower warriors.
The move reinforces Air University’s role as America’s Airpower University by further integrating civilian leadership development into the institution’s professional military education and force development enterprise. The alignment expands opportunities for collaborative learning and leadership development across the Total Force while supporting the Department of the Air Force’s focus on preparing professionals to operate in rapidly changing operational environments.
“The union of CLDS and AFGC represents an important step forward in how Air University develops Airmen, Guardians and civilian professionals across the Total Force,” said Col. Damien Holtzclaw, Air Force Global College commandant. “By aligning civilian development within the broader Air University enterprise, we are building a more connected and operationally relevant force prepared to meet future challenges.”
The transition framework is outlined in the Fiscal Year 2026 Program Guidance Letter, which defines CLDS’s continued role in supporting federal civilian development and continuous learning requirements across the Department of the Air Force.
Glenda Scheiner, assistant deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services and Civilian Force Development Panel board president, joined leaders in commemorating the occasion.
“I am so impressed with CLDS and the more than 96,000 students trained while I have been in my current position,” Scheiner said during the ceremony.
Leaders said the alignment strengthens synchronization across Air University development programs, expands collaborative learning opportunities and further positions the university as a trusted force development and operational partner supporting the Department of the Air Force and Joint Force.