Letter from the CEO | James Schmeling, President and CEO, National Defense University Foundation
As our nation commemorates its 250th anniversary year - a quarter millennium since the founding of the United States - we also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Defense University. These parallel milestones invite us to reflect on how America's commitment to developing strategic military leaders has evolved alongside the nation itself.
From our nation's founding, military leaders recognized that victory demands more than tactical prowess. It requires strategic thinking, joint cooperation, and understanding how national resources and all of the elements of national power translate into strategic advantage, enabling us to out-think and out-fight our adversaries.
The National Defense University, established in 1976, represents the culmination of this evolution in strategic leader education. NDU brought together existing institutions under one umbrella to create the nation's premier joint professional military education enterprise. Today, NDU comprises five colleges, each with its own distinguished legacy and mission. Cross-pollination of expertise, ideas, and focus areas contribute to an institution greater than the sum of its parts, particularly given the leverage of our international partners, business and industry private sector fellows, and engagement with the innovation sectors and the defense industrial base.
The National War College and the Joint Forces Staff College both celebrate their 80th anniversaries this year, having been founded in 1946 as America emerged from World War II understanding that future conflicts would demand unprecedented joint and combined operations. These institutions have produced countless senior military officers, diplomats, and national security professionals who have shaped American strategy for eight decades.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy traces its lineage back 102 years to 1924, when the Army Industrial College was established to address mobilization challenges exposed during World War I. Named for its most famous alumnus and faculty member—the Supreme Allied Commander who later served as our 34th President—the Eisenhower School continues to educate leaders on marshaling national resources in service of strategy. More potential exists to build on the rapid advances embodied in our public/private collaborations, learning from the leading thinkers, innovators, manufacturers, and partners in our supply chains globally.
NDU's two newest colleges address evolving 21st-century challenges from important perspectives while drawing on long and distinguished work that are at their foundations. The College of Information and Cyberspace evolved from the Department of Defense Computer Institute, which joined NDU in 1982, preparing leaders for the information age and cyberspace operations. The College of International Security Affairs, established in 2002, serves as the Department of Defense's flagship institution for education in combating terrorism and irregular warfare, challenges brought to the forefront on 9/11.
Together, these five colleges graduate over 2,000 military officers, government civilians, international fellows, and industry partners annually in masters degree programs and short programs. NDU's research centers, strategic studies programs, and outreach initiatives extend its influence across the national security enterprise and around the world. There are so many important research papers, seminars, conferences, and lecture series available to students and partners, informing the national and global security enterprise.
The NDU Foundation plays a vital role in sustaining this mission of excellence. As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Foundation secures funding and resources to support academic and professional development programs for senior military and diplomatic leaders. Through fundraising and collaborative engagements with private sector partners, the Foundation enables faculty excellence, student success, international relationship building, and continuous improvement of the university. These public-private partnerships ensure NDU remains a world-class institution capable of preparing tomorrow's leaders for challenges we cannot yet imagine.
As we honor 250 years of American independence and 50 years of the National Defense University, we recognize that the investment in strategic leader education remains as vital today as it was when our founders first envisioned a nation capable of defending its ideals against all adversaries.
This year you will hear more and more from the Foundation as we build capital campaigns, strategic reserves, and funding for the gaps to ensure the excellence of the university, and the expansion of its capacity and capabilities. You’ll see public/private partnerships that push the envelope of what is possible in this world-class university. And, we hope you will join us in this journey. 50 years is just the beginning. You can be part of the next 50 years. Or the next 100. Reach out to me to learn more and get involved!