Security Studies offer fellows an intensive learning experience focused on the most difficult national security challenges the United States faces today. Each seminar will provide a practitioner’s view of national security, led by faculty who have direct experience forming and advising American policy.

The first seminar will bring together two experts who have served their country in the military and in Congress. Mike Gallagher, the House’s China specialist, and Aaron MacLean, former top advisor to Senator Tom Cotton, will take a case study approach, focusing on T.R. Fehrenbach’s classic history of the Korean War. As the last time American and Chinese troops met on the battlefield, this war has much to teach aspiring policymakers about Sino-American great-power competition.

The second course will build on this foundation, examining the past and future of Chinese warfare. Led by China expert and former Defense official, Dan Blumenthal, the seminar will explore how China builds military power and assess its strategy of coercive campaigns in the Indo-Pacific and against Taiwan.

The final course will study the trajectory of U.S. policy towards Russia—from the Soviet collapse in 1991 to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Vance Serchuk, an advisor to Gen. David Petraeus, will help fellows understand what went wrong as Moscow reverted to authoritarian rule and now poses one of the most consequential tests of American power and leadership.

Mike Gallagher on the Future of US National Security Policy

Summer 2023

America’s Forgotten War & Confronting China Today

Study the Korean War and the lessons it offers for U.S.-China competition.

China at War: Past, Present, & Future

Examine China’s past and current use of force in the context of its strategic culture and traditions.

A Return to Rivalry: U.S.-Russia Relations

Study the trajectory of U.S. policy towards Russia from the Soviet collapse to the invasion of Ukraine.

Past Courses

Debating U.S.-China Strategic Competition

Explore contemporary views on U.S.-China strategic competition alongside a variety of prominent instructors.

The Iranian Challenge

Consider the strategic options for dealing with Iran’s nuclear program.

Nuclear Strategy & World Order

Explore the ways nuclear weapons have transformed the world we inhabit today.

Presidential Command & National Security Leadership

Analyze case studies to better understand presidential control over foreign policy and the meaning of executive power.

U.S. Defense Strategy & the China Challenge

Assess U.S. defense strategy to counter China’s rise.

The War in Iraq: A Study in Decision-Making

Examine key strategic decisions during one of the most dynamic confrontations of the late 20th and early 21st centuries: the U.S. and Iraq.

Deadlines & Eligibility

 

Who Should Apply? Advanced undergraduates, recent graduates, and young professionals are all eligible to apply. Fellows may apply for, and participate in, multiple seminars.

Dates & Times: Seminars meet in-person over Summer 2023. See the individual course pages for full details.

Commitment: Seminars meet for morning seminars, with afternoon guest speakers and some evening activities. Fellows are expected to attend all sessions and activities.

Housing, Stipend, & Course Materials: Residential hotel accommodations will be provided, as will all course materials. Fellows will receive a stipend contingent upon full participation in the course and completion of a Strategic Options Memo.

Deadline: Applicants who apply by the early application deadline of February 15, 2023 will hear back by March. The final deadline is March 1, 2023.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

  1. A CV OR RÉSUMÉ

  2. PERSONAL STATEMENT

    Describe, in 1,000 words, or less the political questions you find most interesting, your future ambitions, and how these relate to your preferred program(s).

  3. ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPT

    Unofficial; required only for currently enrolled students & recent graduates.

  4. ACADEMIC OR PROFESSIONAL WRITING SAMPLE

    10 pages maximum; double-spaced. Please send academic writing that best showcases your ability to invent and sustain a persuasive argument, no matter the subject-matter.

  5. RECOMMENDATION LETTER & REFERENCE

    Provide the name and contact information of a professor, mentor, or supervisor. (Letter not required for nominated applicants.)

Other Courses You Might Be Interested In

Ronald Reagan: The Peacemaker

Examine how Ronald Reagan confronted the Soviet Union and won the Cold War.

Debating U.S.-China Strategic Competition

Explore contemporary views on U.S.-China strategic competition alongside a variety of prominent instructors.

Presidential Command & National Security Leadership

Analyze case studies to better understand presidential control over foreign policy and the meaning of executive power.

Nuclear Strategy & World Order

Explore the ways nuclear weapons have transformed the world we inhabit today.