National Defense University, 260 5th Avenue SW, Washington D.C., DC (2026)

08/20/2026

NDU Hosts Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine to Kick Off President’s Lecture Series 2026-2027 🏛️⚡

On August 18, the National Defense University was privileged to host Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine who addressed the entire University in the first session of the President’s Lecture Series (PLS) for Academic Year 2026–2027. NDU President Vice Admiral Peter Garvin, Senior Vice President Ambassador Roxanne Cabral, component commandants and chancellors, faculty, staff, and students from across NDU attended in person at Lincoln Hall or online.

General Caine recognized NDU’s 50th anniversary and praised the exceptional schools of the University (CIC, CISA, ES, JFSC, NIC, NWC). He challenged the military officers, interagency leaders, and international fellows of the Class of 2027 to understand and master how to think rather than what to think in the course of their studies. He addressed the evolving character of warfare across domains from the seabed to cislunar space and how senior leaders must navigate a compressed decision timeframe in the current strategic environment.

Key Takeaways from the PLS Session:

✅ Chairman’s Priorities: The current threat picture requires a joint force that is properly armed, globally integrated, and ready.

✅ Leadership: Today’s joint force needs leaders who are entrepreneurial, innovative, proactive, and ready to stare down ambiguity.

As the premier center for joint professional military education, NDU continues to convene senior defense leadership to prepare strategic warfighters to generate strategic warfighting advantage for the Nation.

💡 Join the Discussion: How can national security leaders best balance the adoption of emerging technologies with traditional leadership fundamentals? Drop your perspective in the comments below! 👇

| National War College | Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy | Joint Forces Staff College | The College of International Security Affairs | College of Information and Cyberspace - National Defense University | The Joint Staff | National Defense University Foundation |

08/19/2026

The Countdown to the National Intelligence College Inaugural Convocation is On! 🏛️🌐⚡

On August 24, the National Intelligence College (NIC) will host its inaugural convocation and ribbon cutting. We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2027 to NDU’s sixth college.

Incoming students in the Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, Master of Science and Technology Intelligence, and Certificate in Intelligence Studies programs are preparing to enter a dynamic academic environment focused on collaboration, technological innovation, and strategic foresight.

The stage is set. Our inaugural cohort is arriving, our faculty is ready, and all are vital to NDU’s mission to generate strategic warfighting advantage for the Nation.

🌐 Discover NIC: Explore our programs and campus community at https://www.ndu.edu/NIC/

🗣️ To Our NIU Alumni Family: Help us welcome the very first NIC class! Share your favorite memories, shoutouts, or best pieces of advice for the incoming cohort in the comments below! 👇

08/17/2026

National Defense University Celebrates the 236th Birthday of the U.S. Coast Guard! 🏛️⚓🎉

On August 11, the National Defense University community gathered in historic Roosevelt Hall of the National War College to celebrate the 236th birthday of the United States Coast Guard. NDU Senior Vice President Ambassador Roxanne Cabral and National War College Commandant Major General Jason Morris, USMC, welcomed Admiral Thomas Allan Jr., Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, as guest of honor. They were joined by Eisenhower School Commandant Brigadier General Kirsten Aguilar, USAF, College of Information and Cyberspace Chancellor Elizabeth Phu, College of International Security Affairs Dean of Administration Daniel Bryan, as well as students, faculty, and staff from NDU’s Fort McNair campus.

Admiral Allan addressed those gathered in Roosevelt Hall and praised NDU as "a remarkable institution" whose mission to educate leaders "to win in competition, crisis, and conflict" remains vital to the Nation's security and prosperity. He highlighted the Coast Guard's dual role within the Department of Homeland Security and as an active military service within the Joint Force. Admiral Allan reflected on 236 years of courage and adaptability and emphasized the Coast Guard's legacy of safeguarding maritime borders, securing global commerce, and saving lives, while noting that many senior Coast Guard leaders—including the Service Chief—are proud NDU graduates.

The ceremony included an awe-inspiring performance by the U.S. Coast Guard Silent Drill Team and a traditional cake-cutting.

The event underscored the strong, enduring partnership between NDU and the Coast Guard in educating students to provide the warfighting advantage necessary to win in competition, crisis, and conflict.

🎉 Join the Celebration: Help us honor the Coast Guard's legacy and its motto, Semper Paratus! Drop your birthday wishes and messages of appreciation for our Coast Guard family in the comments below! 👇

| U.S. Coast Guard | National War College | The College of International Security Affairs | Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy | College of Information and Cyberspace - National Defense University | National Defense University Foundation |

08/14/2026

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Caine Will Speak at NDU on August 18 🏛️⚡

We are pleased to announce the upcoming August 18 President’s Lecture Series, featuring General Dan Caine, USAF, the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Caine will address the NDU community in Lincoln Hall Auditorium, reaching students, faculty, and staff across the University, from Fort McNair Campus, to the Joint Forces Staff College, National Intelligence College, and Joint Special Operations Master’s Program.

As the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of War, and the National Security Council, General Caine will provide strategic insights for Academic Year 2026–2027, focusing on the evolving character of warfare and the need for effective joint integration.

Events such as the President's Lecture Series prepare our graduates to generate strategic warfighting advantage for the Nation.

🛡️ Maintain your strategic edge. Follow NDU to stay connected with our academic community and learn how we educate to guarantee national security.

| National War College | Joint Forces Staff College | Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy | The College of International Security Affairs | College of Information and Cyberspace - National Defense University | National Defense University Foundation

08/12/2026

New Joint Warfighting Course Begins at National Defense University! 🏛️⚔️

The National Defense University (NDU) has officially launched the Joint and Combined Warfighting Course (JCWC), which educates today’s warfighters on the application of joint planning to develop campaign, contingency, and crisis plans in support of joint warfighting. JCWC is a mandatory course across all curricula in colleges on the Fort McNair campus and will create a University-wide capability at NDU.

On August 5, NDU President Vice Admiral Peter A. Garvin, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. James Lepse, and Course Director Dr. Charles Davis addressed faculty from the College of Information and Cyberspace, the College of International Security Affairs, the Eisenhower School, and the National War College who were preparing to teach JCWC. During his remarks, Vice Admiral Garvin highlighted that JCWC is “one of the University’s highest academic priorities,” which “helps ensure students share a common foundation for joint warfighting education.”

JCWC strengthens NDU’s education of senior leaders for joint duty assignments. The course aligns with the knowledge and skills required by combatant commanders: leaders who can think, plan, and fight jointly.

The JCWC curriculum directly supports joint warfighting, readiness, and lethality as emphasized by the Department of War. Key aspects of the course include:

✅ Combatant Command Alignment: The curriculum is shaped by real-world requirements to build joint warfighting and decision-making advantages.

✅ North Campus Faculty Integration: Expert faculty from across NDU collaborate to teach students to meet rigorous standards and lead cross-component seminar discussions.

✅ Operational Imperative: The course translates joint planning concepts into actionable strategic leadership to ensure national security.

✅ Continuous Institutional Adaptation: The program establishes a dynamic framework to learn, adapt, and refine joint warfighting education each year.

JCWC is another example of NDU’s commitment to its mission to generate strategic warfighting advantage for the nation.

🌐 Learn More About NDU Academic Programs: Discover how NDU is shaping the future of joint warfighting education by visiting our website: https://www.ndu.edu

| Joint Forces Staff College | National War College | Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy | The College of International Security Affairs | College of Information and Cyberspace - National Defense University |

08/06/2026

A New Academic Year Begins at NDU: Convocation, Orientation, and Physical Readiness!

On August 4, the National Defense University (NDU) welcomed students from the Class of 2027 to the campus at Fort McNair for Convocation. Faculty, staff, and leaders from the National War College (NWC), Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (ES), College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC), College of International Security Affairs (CISA), and other NDU components joined the new students in Lincoln Hall to mark the start of the academic year.

NDU President Vice Admiral Peter Garvin, Senior Vice President Ambassador Roxanne Cabral, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. James Lepse presided over the ceremony.

Vice Admiral Garvin addressed the new students and underscored that “For half a century, NDU has educated generations of military officers, civilian leaders, and international partners who have helped preserve peace, respond in crisis, and win our nation’s wars. Now it is your turn to join that legacy.”

Following Convocation, students spent time during the week in orientation, meeting one another in seminar rooms, and preparing for the academic year ahead. They also completed service-specific physical fitness assessments, demonstrating that education at NDU will require both intellectual and physical readiness.

👋 Welcome to the Class of 2027! To our incoming students, faculty, and families at Fort McNair, welcome to the NDU community. Please share your welcome messages, advice, or college pride in the comments below! 👇

| National War College | College of Information and Cyberspace - National Defense University | The College of International Security Affairs | National Defense University Foundation | Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy |

08/04/2026

Welcoming the Next Generation of Joint Advanced Warfighting Planners to Norfolk! 🏛️⚓⚓

On July 24, the Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC) of the National Defense University (NDU) officially began the academic year in Norfolk with the convocation ceremony for the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) Class of 2027.

NDU President Vice Admiral Peter A. Garvin and JFSC Commandant Major General Thomas D. Crimmins, USAF, presided at the ceremony, accompanied on stage by JFSC Deputy Commandant Gregory Macris and JAWS Director Colonel Jeffrey Danielson, USAF. Vice Admiral Garvin delivered the keynote address, in which he emphasized: “JAWS remains central to the University’s core mission: to generate strategic warfighting advantage for the Nation.”

The new class includes 43 distinguished professionals from all military service branches, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and international fellows from the United Kingdom and Australia.

JAWS alumni and current students are familiar with the rigor of this curriculum. The next 11 months will require focus and mastery across five core areas:

✅Theory & History of War: Synthesize historical, current, and future environments, theories, and concepts as they apply to joint warfighting.

✅Strategy: Propose a military strategy in concert with the other instruments of power that optimizes ends, ways, and means.

✅Operational Art & Campaign Planning: Produce plans for the operational employment of joint and coalition forces during peace and war.

✅Effective Communication: Compose and deliver clear and succinct communication based on critical analysis culminating in an Individual Strategic Research Paper.

✅Joint Synthesis: Represent an integration of different attitudes, perspectives, and capabilities based on an appreciation of the nature of the joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational (JIIM) environments.

JAWS is the only institution dedicated to developing practitioners who excel at planning joint force employment at the operational-strategic nexus. This new cohort continues the legacy of
excellence.

Welcome to the Network: To the incoming Class of 2027, welcome to Norfolk and the NDU community. JAWS alumni worldwide, please share your advice, congratulations, and welcome messages for these students in the comments below.

| Joint Forces Staff College | Joint Advanced Warfighting School |

08/04/2026

Happy 236th Birthday to the United States Coast Guard! 🇺🇸⚓🎉

Today, we recognize the Coast Guard’s long and distinguished history of service, bravery, and dedication. Since August 4, 1790, the Coast Guard has protected our nation’s waterways, secured our ports, and saved countless lives at sea.

As a vital part of the Joint Force, Coast Guard leaders contribute unique maritime security, law enforcement, and defense expertise to our classrooms and campus community each day.

To all Coast Guard active duty members, reservists, veterans, civilians, and families, thank you for your service and sacrifice. Semper Paratus!

Join us in showing appreciation for the Coast Guard family. Please share your birthday wishes or recognize a Coast Guard member in the comments below.

Images: Courtesy Photo U.S. Coast Guard Heartland || U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area

07/31/2026

The Countdown to NDU’s Convocation for Academic Year 2026–2027 is On! 🏛️⚡

On August 4, the National Defense University campus at Fort McNair will host convocation when we will officially begin the new academic year. The University will welcome incoming leaders as new students at the College of Information and Cyberspace, College of International Security Affairs , the Eisenhower School, and the National War College.

Students will be immersed in a rigorous environment designed to sharpen strategic thought, enhance joint warfighting effectiveness, and strengthen partnerships to guarantee national security.

The stage is set, the students are on their way, the faculty is prepared, and all are critical to NDU’s mission to generate strategic warfighting advantage for the Nation.

🎓 Welcome to the NDU community. To our new students arriving in D.C.—welcome on board! What college are you joining this year? Let us know in the comments below.

07/30/2026

National Defense University Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the RCNSC 🏛️🇺🇸

The National Defense University (NDU) welcomed the latest cohort of the Reserve Component National Security Course (RCNSC) to Fort McNair for an intensive two-week session running from July 13 to July 24, 2026. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the RCNSC program, which develops strategic leaders for the joint force.

Since 1976, RCNSC has served as the Department of War’s premier two-week executive seminar, graduating over 17,200 participants during its existence. Today’s strategic environment requires leaders to operate fluidly across strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Offered three times a year, the RCNSC course brings together senior officers, non-commissioned officers, allied officers, and interagency civilians to prepare them for complex multinational, intergovernmental, and joint security roles.

The 80-hour course is led by faculty from the College of Information and Cyberspace, College of International Security Affairs, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National War College, Navy Warfare Development Center, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, and the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies. The program offers several professional benefits, including:

✅ World-Class Faculty & Speakers: Engaging with nationally renowned lecturers, published professors, and senior leaders in government and military within a non-attribution seminar environment.

✅ Direct Engagement & Capitol Hill Visits: Interacting directly with government officials during dedicated on-site visits, including to Capitol Hill to analyze the legislative mechanisms behind defense policy.

✅ Culminating Capstone Presentation: Rather than a formal graduation, the course culminated on Friday, July 24th, with a high-stakes mock presentation where two top seminars—selected from the class's 12 total seminar groups—presented their strategic solutions to a complex scenario before a board of senior leaders.

✅ Joint Qualification Credits: Strengthening the Reserve Component's contributions to national defense while earning two Joint credits toward Joint Qualification.

For five decades, RCNSC has prepared leaders to address complex national security challenges. NDU celebrates this milestone session, which demonstrates the University’s commitment to advancing national and allied security capabilities. RCNSC is another element in NDU’s mission to generate strategic warfighting advantage for the Nation.

🌐 A Legacy of Joint Excellence: National defense depends on the strategic education and integration of the Reserve Component. Please join NDU in recognizing this important program. Share your RCNSC experience or thoughts on the program’s impact in the comments below! 👇

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