The National Security course provides professionals operating within or alongside the U.S. national security enterprise with foundational and advanced understanding of the national security framework — how it is structured, how decisions are made, and how strategy translates into policy and operational guidance.
Designed for defense professionals, government program managers, and senior leaders who operate within national security environments, this course develops the conceptual and practical understanding required to work effectively across the national security enterprise — from the National Security Council to combatant commands and interagency partners.
Course topics are tailored to meet your organization’s specific requirements and timelines. Delivery can be adjusted for online, asynchronous formats to accommodate distributed teams and flexible scheduling.
Core Topics:
The National Security Framework — Overview of the U.S. national security architecture: the National Security Council system, interagency processes, the role of intelligence, and the relationship between civilian and military leadership.
National Strategy and Policy Development — How national security strategy is developed, documented, and translated into operational guidance through the National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and supporting documents.
Interagency Coordination — The structures, processes, and challenges of interagency coordination in national security — how departments and agencies collaborate (and conflict) in developing and executing national security policy.
Defense Policy and the DoD — The role of the Department of Defense within the national security framework, including civilian-military relations, the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) system, and force planning.
Emerging Security Challenges — Application of the national security framework to contemporary challenges including great power competition, emerging technology (AI, cyber), gray zone operations, and the evolving threat environment.