When I was much younger, I remember hearing that a strong military prevented future wars. I think that philosophy may have led to the arms race during the Cold War. That philosophy changed when the leaders of our nation decided that we needed both a strong military and good diplomacy to prevent future conflicts. They also realized that a partnership needed to be developed between the different branches of the military, the federal agencies that deal with international affairs, the private sectors that provide the arms for the military and with representatives of nations that work with us to support world peace.
In 1976, the National Defense University (NDU) was established to work to achieve closer ties between these different sectors. Currently, there are 966 students enrolled in graduate level courses at NDU. They don’t fit the usual concept of students. Their average age is 43 and they have 20 years of work experience. Since its inception, representatives from over 75 different nations have attended classes at NDU.
The University has changed over the years. In 1976, there were two centers at the school, the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy and the National War College. In 1981, the Joint Forces Staff College was formed. In 1982, the College of Information and Cyberspace was added, followed in 2002 by the School for National Security Executive Education.
The mission of this unique university is to help develop leaders who can think strategically and to build coalitions to meet the challenge of preserving peace throughout the world.
Colin Powell was a member of the first graduating class. He has stated that members of his class were in leadership positions during Operation Desert Storm. Powell believed that their experience at NDU helped them to think strategically and collaborate to successfully meet the challenges posed during that military operation in 1991.
If you would like to learn more about the National Defense University, visit their website at NDU.edu.
