Curt Lafond Email & Phone Number

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.

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  Director Of Cadet Programs

  Civil Air Patrol

  2001 - Present - Bath, Nh (Full-Time Remote For A Nonprofit Based In Montgomery, Ala.)

  General Manager of the youth development business unit; held senior managerial positions under various titles 2007-2017; named Director in 2017 - CAP’s focal point for education, policy, and management of a Congressionally-chartered, Air Force-affiliated youth character program; manages a ~$8 million business unit serving 27,000 teens in 1,000 locations across America. - Author of "Learn to Lead," a four-volume, standards-based, introductory textbook on leadership and management for teens- Strategic planning for a nationwide youth STEM & character program- Led enterprise-wide development and implementation of evidence-based standards for youth protection- Developed best practices document for LGBT inclusion- Curriculum development / instructional systems design- Grants management- Program evaluation - Technical writing and graphic design- Philosophical foundations for youth development (ontology, metaethics, applied ethics; ethics of caring)