About the program

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security‘s Forward Defense practice is proud to host military fellows from participating branches of the US military and the armed forces of US allies and partners each year as part of a twelve-month fellowship program. The Scowcroft Center sees this as a unique and important opportunity for members of the military to gain experience in a civilian professional environment at an important time in their careers, work through a rigorous curriculum concentrated on strategic foresight and strategy development, and contribute to substantive debates on national security and foreign policy. Simultaneously, the Atlantic Council gains the opportunity to learn from fellows’ expertise, exchange knowledge, and further shared understanding of military thought and operations in accordance with General Brent Scowcroft‘s commitment to mentorship.

Meet our current military fellows

Featured content

New Atlanticist

Oct 28, 2024

The US needs a stronger defense industrial base. Option contracts can help.

By Michael Hogan

The US government would pay a premium on current orders, but it would then have the option to purchase a larger amount within a fixed timeframe.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2024

How Ukraine’s Kursk incursion echoes the Gettysburg campaign

By Gregg Curley

Viewing the Kursk incursion through the lens of the climactic campaign of the US Civil War offers a relevant framework for interpreting Ukraine’s motivations, possible outcomes, and long-term strategic objectives.

Conflict Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Jan 10, 2024

To fend off Russia in the Black Sea, the US and NATO need to help boost Allies’ naval power

By Gavin Clough

The absence of a credible and sustained allied naval presence across the Black Sea opens the door for Russia to disrupt commercial shipping in international waters.

Crisis Management Eastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Feb 9, 2023

Policymakers: Keep Ukrainian soldiers front of mind as this war of attrition continues

By Justin M. Conelli

As the war reaches the one-year mark, leaders concerned about grand strategy need to weigh the suffering and resilience of the soldiers at the front.

Conflict Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

New Atlanticist

Nov 21, 2022

Our military insiders’ views of the new National Defense Strategy

By Atlantic Council military fellows

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s military fellows weighed in on the NDS, addressing potential gaps between budgets and strategy, and more.

Conflict Crisis Management

Strategy paper series

During their twelve-month fellowship, each military fellow writes a strategy paper unpacking a critical twenty-first century security challenge.

Russia crisis military assessment

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Scowcroft Center military fellows provided regular assessments of the force developments surrounding Ukraine.

Scowcroft Center military fellowship alumni

Learn more

Forward Defense, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, generates ideas and connects stakeholders in the defense ecosystem to promote an enduring military advantage for the United States, its allies, and partners. Our work identifies the defense strategies, capabilities, and resources the United States needs to deter and, if necessary, prevail in future conflict.