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 the current Military Fellows

Related content

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.

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

Automating the fight

Jun 17, 2022

‘Killer robots’ are coming. Is the US ready for the consequences?

By Tyson Wetzel

The decision to employ killer robots should not be feared—but it must be well thought-out and meticulously debated.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Report

Jun 8, 2021

Transformative priorities for national defense

By Franklin D. Kramer and Lt. Col. Matthew R. Crouch

Today, the United States faces multi-theater and multi-domain challenges different from any presented since World War II—and, in fact, ever. This report addresses these pivotal challenges by advancing key transformative priorities for an effective US national defense strategy, both in the “American theater” at home and in the forward theaters abroad.

China Defense Industry

Op-Ed

Feb 2, 2021

Crouch, Fairbanks, and Mulder in The National Interest: Above politics: the US military will always defend the constitution

The American people can have confidence that their servicemen and women will continue to serve regardless of who is president, as has been the case since Washington relinquished the presidency to Adams, with a total and unflagging commitment to the Constitution of the United States.

United States and Canada

Scowcroft Center Military Fellowship alumni

Forward Defense

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.