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Congressional Security Scholars Program
The Congressional Security Scholars Program is the first program of its kind providing progressive staffers with deep national security training and an on-going community network across the Senate and House. This training and educational program is intended to give junior staffers on Capitol Hill a broad base of knowledge on the rich tradition of progressive national security thought. The program provides instruction in national security policy issues, the progressive security worldview, communication techniques, and key skills participants need to become successful foreign policy and defense staffers and play an integral role in a well functioning hill office.
Truman Security Scholars take part in ten one-hour, lunch time sessions on Capitol Hill every Friday over a ten week period. Acclaimed leaders in each field covered lead our weekly programs. Participants (generally Staff Assistants, Legislative Correspondents and new incoming House Legislative Assistants) must be nominated by their Chief of Staff or Legislative Director in their respective offices. The program, including the lunch and reading material, is provided at no cost to the participants or their offices. All comments from participants and trainers are off the record.
The Congressional Security Scholars Program is offered each fall and spring. Participants are expected to attend all ten classes; those that attend eight or more receive a framed certificate and are admitted into our alumni program, where they are invited to ongoing trainings, seminars, discussions, and social activities with the Truman community.
Course offerings change each session; typical courses include:
NATIONAL SECURITY ON THE HILL
Antony Blinken, Staff Director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
How national security policy and legislation is formed in Congress
THE PROGRESSIVE NATIONAL SECURITY LEGACY
Rachel Kleinfeld, Executive Director of the Truman National Security Project
Understanding the rich national security history of progressives.
MILITARY 101
James Morin and William Edwards, Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan
Understanding the military, its roles, organization and how you can rebuild bridges as a staffer
DEMOCRACY, DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Scott Bates, Vice President of the Center for National Policy
The connections between democracy, development, human rights, and security
NATIONAL SECURITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Sherri Goodman, General Counsel, Center for Naval Analysis, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, Environmental Security
Energy security, climate change, and how they affect our national security
SECURING AMERICA AT HOME
Veronique Pluviose-Fenton, Policy Director of the House Homeland Security Committee
Homeland security issues and priorities
IMPROVING NATIONAL SECURITY COMMUNICATION
Matt Kohut and John Neffinger, KNP Communications
Talking in compelling, persuasive ways about national security issues with the American people
INTEGRATING OUR NATIONAL SECURITY TOOLKIT
Gordon Adams, Woodrow Wilson Center Fellow, formerAssociate Director for National Security and International Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget
The relationship between diplomacy, foreign assistance and defense across relevant agencies.
If you are interested in applying for the Congressional Security Scholars Program, please download the application here.
"If America is indeed to have a progressive revival, launching a new round of sweeping social, economic, and political reforms, the Truman Project will be a critical catalyst. The Truman ProjectÕs trainings understand the vital link between domestic health and welfare and international strength, between principles and power, and between international rules and international order."
- Anne-Marie Slaughter, Dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of International Studies, Princeton Universit
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