MAXWELL AFB, Ala. -- The Community College of the Air Force held its inaugural Workforce Development Advisory Council committee meeting at the Kress Building in Montgomery, Alabama, Sept. 26, 2024.
The 20-member advisory council, made up of Air University and CCAF leaders, local community college program managers and Alabama government higher education and workforce officials, was created to assess the efficacy of current CCAF programs, initiatives and strategies, and to propose new ideas, perspectives and initiatives that could better prepare enlisted warfighters.
“This is a time of rapid foundational change for the Department of the Air Force as it hones its focus on the Great Power Competition,” Lt. Col. Thomas Talafuse, CCAF commandant and commander, said. “Nothing in the service is above scrutiny and every program and organization must redefine its relevance to be part of the next iterations of the Air Force and Space Force.”
During the meeting, committee members discussed programs such as Air Force Credentialing Opportunities Online, CCAF instructor certificates, Department of Labor registered apprenticeships, awarding college credit for industry recognized credentials and the CCAF Associate of Applied Science degree. Council members were encouraged to be direct and honest in their assessments.
Alabama state officials also shared their best practices for verifying and documenting industry certifications and worker skills for future employment, which inspired talk of an Alabama and Department of the Air Force educational partnership.
“It’s a pleasure to have workforce-development professionals with such impressive credentials to help guide the future of enlisted professional development,” Talafuse said. “We hope to gain valuable insight into the efficacy of our programs and how best to improve them.”
Moving forward, the CCAF will formalize the council structure, author bylaws and broaden its mandate to refine Headquarter Air Force, Air Education and Training Command and CCAF workforce initiatives.
Airmen interested in learning more about educational opportunities or industry certifications should contact their local education office or visit the CCAF website at https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/.