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National Security Affairs Department

The National Security Affairs (NSA) department at U.S. Naval War College (NWC) is one of the nation's largest and most vibrant graduate departments teaching foreign policy analysis and international security. We provide professional education to mid- and senior-career students who are military and civilian national security professionals from the United States and more than 60 partner countries.

Chair, National Security Affairs Department

(401) 856-5310

Graduate-Level Security Studies

The NSA department offers two courses that lead to the master's degree and Joint Professional Military Education credit: national security decision making (NSDM) for senior-ranking students and theater security decision making (TSDM) for mid-ranking students. These courses provide a broad interdisciplinary foundation in contemporary security studies to analyze how the U.S. government makes foreign policy decisions and the role the U.S. plays in the world.

National Security Decision Making Course

National Security Affairs SLC Syllabus Cover

Upon completing the National Security Decision Making (NSDM) course, you will be prepared to serve on Service and Joint staffs to operate at the national level. You’ll leave the course with:

  • the ability to develop and communicate analyses of current and emerging security issues facing the U.S. and its international partners and allies
  • the understanding of U.S. decision making dynamics at the strategic level
  • the ability to assess political, budgetary, bureaucratic, organizational, and leadership factors influencing decision making and implementation of U.S. foreign policy and strategy development
More on NSDMNSDM Syllabus

NSDM Capstone Final Exercise (FX)

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Theater Security Decision Making Course

National Security Affairs ILC Syllabus Cover

Upon completing the Theater Security Decision Making (TSDM) course, you will be prepared to serve in combatant commands and their components to advance and defend national interests at the regional level. You’ll leave the course with:

  • the ability to formulate and communicate assessments of a regional security environment, develop regional strategy using all tools of power, and identify capability gaps to advance and defend national interests
  • the understanding of U.S. decision making dynamics at the regional level
  • the ability to assess political, budgetary, bureaucratic, organizational, and leadership factors influencing decision making and implementation of U.S. foreign policy and strategy
More on TSDMTSDM Syllabus

TSDM Capstone Final Exercise (FX)

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Our Faculty

The department is first and foremost a teaching department where scholars and national security practitioners follow a curriculum that combines academic rigor with policy relevance. To further this, faculty participate in scholarly, policy and professional activities to ensure students have a learning experience that meets the needs of the Navy and the intent of the Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) system.

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Here are recent selections of NSA faculty contributions to the broader national and international security discourse.

Faculty Books

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Faculty Articles

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Student Publications

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Featured Faculty

Faculty Directory
Jason M Kut faculty photo

Jason M. Kut

Military Professor | Joint Military Operations Department

Lt. Col. Jason Kut joined the Joint Military Operations Department in 2020. He is a Ground Supply Officer who has served in Marine Air Ground Task Forces in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific region. He holds secondary specialties of MAGTF planner (0505) and foreign security service advisor (0570) and has completed successful tours in both capacities. His deployments include tours at Regional Command South Headquarters and as an advisor with the Border Police 6th Zone Headquarters in Afghanistan. His educational experiences include resident and nonresident command and staff programs through Marine Corps University and U.S. Naval War College respectively. He also holds an MBA from Touro University.

Publications by this Professor
Joseph Gagliano faculty photo

Joseph Gagliano

Military Professor | National Security Affairs

Dr. Joseph Gagliano, Capt. USN, holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in international relations from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. He has worked as the Director for Defense Policy and Strategy for the National Security Council at the White House; Deputy Director for Navy Plans and Policy; China Desk Officer on the Joint Staff; head of strategic plans for China, Russia, North Korea and Iran; and Director of the Strategic Integration Group for the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He commanded Destroyer Squadron 60 and Task Force 65. He is the author of three books, including "Between Allied and Alone" (Routledge) and "Congressional Policymaking in Sino-U.S. Relations" (Routledge).

Publications by this Professor

Featured Publications

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Weathering the Storm: Western Security Assistance on the Defensive in Ukraine

Jahara Matisek, William Reno, Anthony Tingle RUSI

Security in the Cyber Age Discussion

Derek Reveron Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs

Cyber, Geopolitics, AI, Cloud - All in One Book?

Derek Reveron, John Savage Google Cloud Security Podcast