The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders

The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders

The independent, non-profit Institute for the Study of War (ISW) advances an informed understanding of military affairs among decision-makers and the public through reliable research, trusted analysis, and innovative education.

ISW supports sound national security decisions by publishing unclassified intelligence analysis on ongoing conflicts and threats to the United States and its allies. ISW also identifies, educates, and develops emerging national security talent, deepening the bench of educated future leaders committed to America’s national security.

ISW has had a remarkable impact on US national security throughout its 13+ year history. Dr. Kimberly Kagan founded ISW in 2007 to improve America’s national security by educating policy makers, journalists, and other civic leaders. She believes strongly in educating emerging talent to create a strong bench of national security leaders while shaping an informed debate.

ISW has embraced a generational approach to national security. The United States did not expect to win the Cold War in a single presidential term, but rather invested deeply in a long-term strategy for success. ISW educates a generation of national security leaders for the 21^st century.

To honor General Petraeus and his cultivation of exceptionally talented national security leaders, ISW has launched The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders. The Center invests in strengthening the future cadre of America’s leaders through education, intellectual development, and hands-on leadership development. The Center deepens the bench of educated future leaders committed to America’s national security and unique role in the world. By design, it is focused on emerging talent, particularly advanced recent graduates and distinguished entry- and mid-level professionals in the national security field. This program aims to positively influence the trajectory of its participants’ lives and create a cadre of critical thinkers and future national security leaders.

This educational initiative embodies core values that ISW and General Petraeus share: service to the nation, independence, developing young talent, and creative problem solving.

ISW currently educates 100 rising stars annually through our important educational programs. We aim to equip our future leaders with the intellectual framework they will need to serve ethically as citizen leaders and statesmen. The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders will enable ISW to expand substantially its educational programming to enrich and launch the career paths of emerging national security leaders for generations to come.

ISW now operates three educational programs that will be institutionalized and expanded within the General Petraeus Center:

1. The Hertog War Studies Program provides foundational and longitudinal education for advanced undergraduate students and recent college graduates on military history, theory, and practice.
2. The Emerging Analyst Program develops the talent of new analysts and launches them into their national security careers by positioning them to inform the policy debate through engagements with high-level decision-makers and the media.
3. The Internship Program identifies talented individuals and prepares them for national security careers through rigorous training and experience in the open-source intelligence environment.

ISW has educated over 660 students and emerging professionals through its three educational programs since 2007.

The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders will offer new educational and professional development programs that ISW’s current students, fellows, and alumni have identified as needs unmet in the marketplace. At the same time, ISW is attracting more senior national security leaders and professionals who wish to teach formal educational programs and engage in professional development of emerging talent. ISW will create new educational programs and fellowships to keep talent in the national security field. The General David H. Petraeus Center will become a vibrant hub for educating students, fellows, and the wider community of national security professionals.

ISW’s General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders will make a significant contribution to America’s national security by identifying, educating, and developing emerging national security talent. The General Petraeus Center will thus help to shape America’s future and fill a critical gap in American education in order to develop the informed citi­zens necessary to a healthy democracy.

Get Involved

Donate directly to the General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders here.

To learn more about how you can get involved with the General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders, please contact ISW Development Director Megan Lott at [email protected] or (703-501-0998).

General Jack Keane Center for National Security

ISW’s General Jack Keane Center for National Security aims to help shape informed national security policy by providing decisionmakers with continuous, timely, accurate, and independent analysis as well as superior insight on military activities vital to US national security. Learn more about the General Jack Keane Center for National Security here.