The Distance Education Program's National Security Seminar (NSS-DEP) is a four-day event that creates an environment for Army War College students and invited guests to examine current national security strategy and policy issues through the exchange of candid dialogue. The 2025 National Security Seminar will take place from 21 - 24 July 2025 at the US Army War College. The 2025 NSS Theme is "America's Global Role" and will include a series of guest speakers and panel presentations by nationally recognized subject matter experts on topics involving national security strategy and policy. The event serves as a capstone event for the Army War College Distance Education Program and enhances student learning by incorporating the perspectives of a cross-section of American civilians into the student seminar discussions.
The War College's state-of-the-art teaching and training facility will host the 2025 NSS. The four-story, 201,600 square foot building features a 600-seat tiered auditorium with Skybox classrooms, 28 seminar spaces, two large group lecture rooms, and a two-story "Knowledge Commons" - a specialized academic library.
NSS provides a forum for distinguished speakers to discuss their views on issues of importance to the nation's security and welfare with invited guests, resident students, International Fellows, staff and faculty. NSS guests are introduced to future leaders of the American armed forces and government. In turn, NSS guests provide our students to gain a better understanding of the society we serve.
Approximately 80 invitees join resident student seminar groups for the event. NSS guests come from across the country and are a cross-section of American life, representing a broad range of occupations, geographic regions, and age groups. Since this is an outreach program with a limited number of seats, we intentionally invite guests that do not have a close association with the military. This has the effect of encouraging a free and frank exchange of differing views among participants.
We will pair approximately three NSS guests with each of our 24 student seminar groups, each comprised of approximately sixteen Army War College students. We invite and encourage NSS Guests to be active participants in the seminar discussions. We value NSS Guest participation, to vigorously probe and examine ideas in these discussions. Our students benefit and learn from the personal experience and perspectives of NSS guests. NSS guests are not required to prepare in advance of the Seminar.
We normally open the Seminar with a General Officer, currently serving or recently retired, to address current defense issues. Each day includes a guest speaker who sets the theme for the day's discussions. On subsequent days, distinguished speakers cover varied topics such as the challenges of civil-military relations, the role of domestic politics in national security, security implications of the global economics, foreign policy, international security issues, and the future role of the United States. Our speakers are widely recognized and accomplished experts in their respective fields.
NSS guests (and their spouses) have the opportunity for more informal discussions at several social events. These include an "Icebreaker Social" at the Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC), individual "Seminar Social" events, and a Commandant's Reception held at his residence. In addition, NSS guests and their spouses are provided the opportunity to take a "Staff Ride" tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield with our experienced historians.
The non-attribution policy of the Army War College ensures that guest speakers, guests, students, and faculty may enjoy a comfortable, open, free and frank exchange of thoughts, ideas, and opinions.