The purpose of Career Development Education is to develop, through individual career management and rigorous certification criteria, Air Force and Space Force professionals fully qualified to field, launch and employ systems and strategies to achieve national security objectives. Air Force and Space Force professionals must be capable of managing complex systems and programs; creating new technology, doctrine, and concepts of operation; operating a wide range of platforms and missions; and integrating joint warfighting and space power. This requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills to deliver combat capability using increasingly complicated and dynamic systems and technologies. The goal of Career Development Education is to cultivate highly specialized and expertly skilled Air Force and Space Force professionals who can meet the challenges of a rapidly developing political and technological landscape.

All Air Force and Space Force professionals may be eligible for Career Development Education. Admission varies by school and program. Contact the school’s registrar for questions regarding individual eligibility.

Air Education Training and Command (AETC) - AETC’s training mission makes it the first command to touch the lives of nearly every Air Force member. AETC takes America’s sons and daughters – young men and women who have volunteered to serve their country in a time of war – and develop them into Airmen.

Air University (AU) - AU, headquartered at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, is a major component of AETC and is the lead agent for Air Force education. AU provides the full spectrum of Air Force education, encompassing pre-commissioning programs for new officers; graduate programs in specialized military disciplines; progressive, career-long professional military development for officer, enlisted, and civilian Airmen; and specialized programs for US cabinet appointees, senior executive service (SES) civilians, and general officers.

AU’s professional military education (PME) programs educate Airmen to leverage air, space, and cyberspace power to achieve national security objectives. Specialized professional continuing educational programs provide scientific, technological, managerial, and other professional expertise to meet the needs of the Air Force. AU also conducts research on the evolving security environment; emerging threats; future uses for air, space, and cyberspace power; working in joint and coalition teams and multicultural environments; education; military leadership; management; and other topics that inform senior Air Force leaders and contribute to curriculum development.

Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) - The Air Force Institute of Technology, with its main campus located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the Department of the Air Force’s leader for advanced, multi-disciplinary academic education, as well as its institution for initial technical and professional continuing education. A component of AU and AETC, AFIT is committed to providing defense-focused graduate education and related research, and operationally-relevant initial skills training and professional continuing education to sustain the technological supremacy of America's air, space, and cyber forces.  AFIT accomplishes this mission through four schools: the Civil Engineer School, the Graduate School of Engineering and Management, the School of Strategic Force Studies, and the School of Systems and Logistics. Through its Civilian Institution Programs Office, AFIT also manages the educational programs of Airmen enrolled at more than 450 civilian universities, research centers, teaching hospitals, and industrial organizations.  The office also manages the Air Force’s Education with Industry (EWI) program, through which about 75-80 military and civilian Airmen spend a year with companies to learn industry best-practices and bring those practices back to the Air Force.

Eaker Center for Leadership Development - Eaker Center courses are designed to establish, improve, and institutionalize enduring functional competencies, as well as develop individual leadership and management skills. Classroom instruction is supplemented by a select and distinguished cadre of adjunct faculty who are senior leaders and recognized experts in the Air Force and DoD. Together with education, the Eaker Center also conducts research and provides consultation to our functional communities. The center is composed of seven primary schools: the Commanders' Professional Development School (CPDS) which includes Pre-Command Team Training for Wing Command teams, Leader Development Course for Squadron Command, and the First Sergeant Academy (FSA).  It also includes the Air Force Chaplain Corps College (AFCCC), the Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School (DFM&CS), the Force Support Professional Development School (FSPDS), the Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC), the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), and Warfighting Education which includes our Intelligence Course (Intel 200).  In addition to the seven primary schools, the Eaker Center A-Staff hosts the Academic Instructor Course (AIC).

• Air Force Chaplain Corps College (AFCCC) – The AFCCC trains airmen to inspire the spirit of the warfighter through religious accommodation, spiritual fitness, and leadership advisement.
• Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC) - The Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC) was founded at Air University in April 2006, to improve Airmen's cross-cultural competence. In April 2007, the Air Force selected cross-cultural competence as the centerpiece of Air University's re-accreditation efforts. The Center is responsible for culture and language training, as well as education, across the entire Air Force. AFCLC hosts the Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP), a career-spanning program to develop a cadre of Airmen across all specialties with working-level foreign language proficiency.
• China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) - The mission of CASI is to advance understanding of the strategy, doctrine, operating concepts, capabilities, personnel, training, organization, of China’s aerospace forces and the civilian and commercial infrastructure that supports them. By studying “everything that flies” in China, the USAF can better understand decision making, limitations, opportunities, and challenges in competition. CASI serves as the DAF’s premiere center for the study of China and its aerospace capabilities.
• Defense Financial Management & Comptroller School (DFMCS) – DFMCS provides advanced and intermediate level education to DoD and Department of the Air Force financial management communities. DFMCS offers three courses: the Defense Financial Management Course (DFMC), the Defense Decision Support Course (DDSC), and the Department of the Air Force Professional Financial Management Course (PFMC). DFMC is a joint, three-week, advanced-level FM course taught at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Students complete baseline prerequisite distance learning requirements enabling higher-level, experience-driven learning outcomes. DDSC is a joint, mobile-training, four-day course taught at locations around the world. PFMC is a 14 day Department of the Air Force course taught at Maxwell AFB, with prerequisite distance learning requirements.
• Force Support Professional Development School (FCPDS) - The Force Support Development Team provides professional continuing education (PCE) in the areas of FSS leadership development, Occupational Competencies, Contingency Operations, Mortuary Operations, Civilian Personnel functional and leadership training, and Manpower Staff Officer preparation. The Installation Support Development Team provides PCE in the areas of Sexual Assault and Prevention Response, Resiliency, Military and Family Readiness, Protocol, and Violence Prevention. The Program Support Team supports every FSPDS course and team member in the areas of funding, scheduling, logistics, technology integration, curriculum validation, and staff development.
• Warfighting Education – Warfighting Education offers two educational tracks:
  • General and Flag Officer Course: These courses include the Combined Force Air Component Commander Course (CFACC), Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course (JFOWC), Cyberspace Operation Executive Course (COEC),and the Senior Joint Information Operations Applications Course (SJIOAC)
  • Intermediate Courses: These courses include the Joint Air Operations Planning Course (JAOPC), Contingency Wartime Planning Course (CWPC), and A-Staff Development Course (ASDC)

Uniformed Services University (USU) – At USU, students become part of an elite group of health care professionals and researchers across all military services and the Public Health Service. Students gain an advanced skill set through exciting and rewarding opportunities that follow them throughout their lifetime. In addition to the unique medical curriculum, students are challenged with an outstanding leadership and ethics program, learning in a multiservice environment to become the nation’s next generation of military leaders.

• College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS) - Enlisted students are rarely stationed in one place for very long, making academic residency at any one academic institution challenging. The CAHS provides students the opportunity to establish academic residency and compile their credits from other academic institutions into a cohesive transcript, allowing them to graduate with a degree that allows them to sit for certification exams and transfers to the private sector.
• Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) - The Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing provides the nation with the highest quality advanced practice nurse clinicians, scientists and scholars dedicated to federal health service and health readiness. GSN offers a Master of Nursing Science (AGCNS Only), a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (AGCNS, FNP, WHNP, PMHNP, CRNA), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing Science. Student and faculty researchers and scholars work to examine and put into practice solutions to the most pressing challenges facing the military and federal health systems.
• Postgraduate Dental College (PDC) - The Postgraduate Dental College provides academic oversight to established military dental residencies. USU serves as the degree granting institution awarding program graduates a Master of Science in Oral Biology while they earn a certification in their dental specialty from their assigned military organization. PDC graduates are military dental officers trained as master clinicians with a sound scientific background to provide the highest quality dental care to our nation’s military.
• School of Medicine – The School of Medicine produces military physician-leaders and scientists who drive innovation in academia and Federal service; serve as the focal point for military medical education and training at every stage of the career lifecycle; and serve as the nexus of biomedical science, health services research, and innovation for the Military Health System.

National Security Space Institute (NSSI) - The National Security Space Institute (NSSI) is the Department of Defense's premier source for space professional continuing education, complementing existing space education programs at AU, Naval Postgraduate School, AFIT, Johns Hopkins University, and Vosler Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academy. NSSI provides worldwide responsive and relevant space professional continuing education to the Department of Defense, U.S. government entities, and International partners. NSSI conducts space professional continuing education (Space 100/200/300) supporting space cadre development and general space education (Introduction To Joint Space, Space Executive Course) for the broader DOD in congruence with AFI 36-3701.

Air Force Negotiation Center (AFNC) - The Air Force Negotiation Center develops and delivers individualized training and education to Total Force Airmen, Department of Defense, and other Federal Agencies to foster interest-based negotiation skills, and to encourage, develop, and implement initiatives, activities, and training related to promoting the use of negotiation and dispute resolution throughout the Air Force.

LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education - The LeMay Center is the principal organization for developing and assessing Air Force doctrine and advocating airpower doctrine in Joint & multinational arenas. The LeMay Center is the Air Force lead for tactical, operational and strategic lessons learned.  Ensuring lessons learned and doctrinal concepts are integrated into the Air Force Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, wargames, and educations. The LeMay Center is also charged with educating warfighters through resident and distance learning courses.  The center executes operational and strategic wargames for the Air Force, Air University and partner nations.   

The LeMay Center operates as the Air University Intelligence Office, offering educational electives and intelligence support for core Joint and Air Force Professional Military Education courses.  The Intelligence function serves as the Special Security Office (SSO) as well as the Senior Intelligence Officer for AU.  

The LeMay Center also operates the Joint Integration Directorate integrating plans, curriculum, wargaming, doctrine development and subject matter expertise across all services.  

USAF Center for Strategy and Technology (CSAT) - CSAT serves as a crucible for forward-thinking analysis on the intersection of technology and national security. Initially focused on integrating technological advancements into national strategy through education, research, and publications, CSAT's core mission evolved with the establishment of the Blue Horizons program. Blue Horizons tackles an annual research question posed directly by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force (CSAF). This deep dive employs a multifaceted approach, incorporating rigorous academic study, cutting-edge research, and hands-on learning. Fellows collaborate on innovative projects designed to transcend traditional domains and revolutionize Air Force operations, from conceptualizing novel approaches to prototyping and integrating emerging technologies. This intensive 10-month experience cultivates independent thought and challenges conventional wisdom, culminating in the presentation of findings directly to the CSAF, key agencies, and senior leaders. Blue Horizons graduates, armed with their enhanced expertise and perspectives, are strategically positioned in high-impact roles to shape the future of airpower.

Air Force Fellows – The DAF Fellowship program selects high performing officers and civilians to serve 10- to 18-month tours immersed with distinguished civilian institutions. These institutions include esteemed universities, think tanks, national labs, corporations, other government agencies, and legislative offices. DAF Fellowship programs are administered by Air University for graduated Fellows to receive in-residence senior developmental education (SDE) credit, in-residence Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE) credit, and post-graduate degrees or certificates for certain fellowship programs. Fellows are immersed with institutions to gain exposure to a spectrum of views while receiving a world-class developmental education experience. While Fellows are often leveraged as faculty or staff of their hosting institution, they are not expected to be staff action officers or interns. Successful Fellows will investigate a national security problem they are interested in while maximizing all opportunities of their tenure to conduct diligent research, write, and publish.

USAF Survival School - The 336th Training Group at the U.S. Air Force Survival School, Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, provides SERE training to at risk of isolation personnel. Instruction concentrates on the principles, techniques and skills necessary to survive with confidence in any environment and return with honor. In addition, the 336 TRG provides initial and follow-on training to all U.S. Air Force SERE Specialists.

DAFI 36-2686 – Officer Development
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-2686/dafi36-2686.pdf

Air Force Handbook 36-2647 - Competency Modeling
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/afh36-2647/afh36-2647.pdf

AFI 36-3701 - Space Professional Development Program
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/saf_sp/publication/afi36-3701/afi_36-3701.pdf

Air Force Accessions Center
https://www.afaccessionscenter.af.mil/

DAFI 36-2685 – Total Force Enlisted Developmental Education
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-2685/dafi36-2685.pdf

Air Education Training and Command (AETC)
https://www.aetc.af.mil/

Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (AF COOL)
https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/af-cool/welcome

Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC)
https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/public/welcome

Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)
https://www.afit.edu/