Fiber optic connectors and fiber optic connection systems

A fiber optic connection device for receiving a fiber optic connector, the fiber optic connection device comprising:

• a port-defining body defining a connector port for receiving the fiber optic connector;
• a resilient latch positioned at least partially within the connector port, the latch being resiliently movable relative to the port-defining body between a connector receiving position, a connector retaining position, and a connector release position, wherein the latch is configured to flex from the connector retaining position to the connector receiving position to accommodate linear insertion of the fiber optic connector into the connector port, and wherein the latch is configured to flex from the connector retaining position to the connector release position to accommodate linear removal of the connector from the connector port;
• a release sleeve moveable relative to the port-defining body and the resilient latch between a latch retaining position and a latch release position, wherein when the release sleeve is in the latch retaining position the release sleeve prevents the latch from being moved from the connector retaining position to the connector release position and thereby prevents the fiber optic connector from being linearly removed from the connector port, wherein when the release sleeve is in the latch retaining position the release sleeve allows the latch to be moved from the connector retaining position to the connector receiving position and thereby allows the fiber optic connector to be linearly inserted into the connector port, and wherein when the release sleeve is in the latch release position the release sleeve does not prevent the latch from being moved from the connector retaining position to the connector release position and thereby allows the fiber optic connector to be linearly removed from the connector port.