A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section having a high pressure compressor, the high pressure compressor including an aft-most compressor stage. The gas turbine engine also includes a combustion section having a stage of discharge nozzles, the stage of discharge nozzles located downstream of the aft-most compressor stage and upstream of a diffuser cavity. The gas turbine engine also includes a high pressure spool drivingly coupled to the high pressure compressor, the high pressure spool forming in part a compressor discharge pressure seal and including a forward spool section. The forward spool section extends between the compressor discharge pressure seal and the aft-most compressor stage, the forward spool section defining an airflow cavity for providing a cooling airflow from the diffuser cavity to the aft-most compressor stage.