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On Campus
Session Date-Application DeadlineProgram Fee$10,900Faculty ChairProgram Director
Program Fee: The program fee includes tuition, housing, curricular materials and most meals.
Executive Certificate: This program is a core program in the Public Leadership and Public Policy concentrations. This program can also be used as a third program for any concentration in the Executive Certificate series.
Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs): This program aligns with one or more Executive Core Qualifications.
Program Overview
In today’s interconnected global environment, key policy decisions cannot be made in a vacuum. It is vital that senior leaders at the highest levels of the national and international security communities understand the broader global context in which they are making those decisions.
Senior Executives in National and International Security, an intensive one-week program, provides that essential global perspective. Under the direction of expert Harvard Kennedy School faculty and other seasoned practitioners, you will deepen your understanding of the world’s most pressing security challenges. You will also test your evaluation and decision-making skills.
Besides conducting a detailed examination of global security challenges, you will analyze international security policies with regional experts and interact with world-class faculty and leading experts in international affairs. In addition, you will build a lasting network comprised of security leaders from more than 20 countries. Past participants have risen to some the highest positions in the field, including Chairman, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff; Chiefs of Staff in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force; and key ministry positions and numerous ambassadorships around the world.
CURRICULUM
In the Senior Executives in National and International Security, you will join other global senior security officials for a range of interactions, from traditional academic learning activities to more intimate discussions and discourse. This ensures a well-rounded, hands-on educational experience.
Faculty Chair Eric Rosenbach leads a program of formal classes, discussion groups, interactive seminars, exercises, guest speakers, and informal conversations with faculty, colleagues, classmates, and staff.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The Senior Executives in National and International Security curriculum will focus on:
- China: The Geopolitical Reality of a Rising Power
- The Global Economy
- Regional security issues, including Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
- Civilian–military relations
- Technology: Cyber, AI, space, and more
- Ethics, morality, and professional responsibility
- National security and the media
Application Information
Senior Executives in National and International Security is designed for senior executive service level civilian and general officer level military leaders from the United States and abroad. Typically, participants are flag and general officers from international armed forces, or senior executive service civilian leaders in government, international organizations, and defense industries with more than 20 years of experience in international affairs.
Recommended applicants include:
- Generals and admirals
- Ambassadors, consuls general, deputy heads of mission
- Members of royal families
- Senior intelligence officers
- Chief operations/executive/security officers
- Ministers of Defense, Interior, Internal Affairs
- Members of Congress/Parliament
- Elected, appointed, and senior career officials in the Senior Executive Service
- Chiefs of staff
Access the draft on campus program schedule.
“Senior Executives in National and International Security enabled me to meet people from various countries, as well as from different U.S. and international institutions, that provided new perspectives to my security concerns.”
Witold Sobkow, former Polish Ambassador
Hear from Professor Eric Rosenbach
Faculty Chair Eric Rosenbach discusses key reasons to attend the Senior Executives in National and International Security executive program.
Faculty & Research

Eric Rosenbach

Meg Rithmire

Meghan O'Sullivan

John Park

John Holdren

Jason Furman

David E. Sanger

Frances Ulmer
