Home

Established in 1982 at the direction of U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, the National Security Studies Program (NSSP) has been based since 2007 at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, where it has educated more than 1,500 senior leaders from the United States and its international partners.

The Senior Manager Course in National Security Leadership (Senior Manager Course) is our flagship two-week strategic education course designed for senior executives from the government, military, corporate, and non-profit sectors. Participants learn to translate strategic intent into operational action within complex domestic and international environments.

Foundations of National Security Leadership (FNSL) is our one-week intensive course for mid-career operational leaders from the government, military, corporate, and non-profit sectors. The course blends theory and practice to prepare participants for interagency coordination, operational problem-solving, and real-time policy advising.

Both courses provide unique immersive learning opportunities at the nexus of national security policymaking in Washington, DC, including lectures by world-renowned practitioners, case studies, site visits, and hands-on exercises. Alumni return with the skills to elevate their organizations’ performance and coordination with the broader national and international policymaking community.