Strategic Fellowships

Each November, the prestigious selection board for the Strategist and National Security Fellowships and Graduate Education Scholarship Programs convenes to carefully review applications and select exceptional candidates. This esteemed board oversees a range of distinguished programs aimed at cultivating strategic thinkers and national security leaders within the Navy. Among the programs under consideration are the Federal Executive Fellowship, Politico-Military Masters Program, Secretary of War Strategic Thinkers Program, Arthur S. Moreau Program, Hudson Fellowship, Olmsted Scholars Program, CNO's Fellowship to the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Secretary of War Executive Fellows Program. Through a comprehensive call for applications released via NAVADMIN, talented individuals are encouraged to apply and embark on a transformative journey towards advancing their careers and contributing to national security efforts.

Arthur S. Moreau (ASM) program

Program specifics. The selection board will select one (1) URL officer for the two-year ASM program. The ASM student will carry a full academic load. Listed below are the approved ASM institutions. ASM students with an approved Education Plans that satisfies the 2300P ESRs will receive either the 2300P or 2300D Naval Strategy subspecialty code and the 24B Additional Qualification Code (AQD). Details of the 2300P ESRs can be found at: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Education/Subspecialty/.

For a list of ASM host universities see NAVADMIN 182/26

Eligibility: Active Duty O4-O5 Unrestricted Line (URL) are eligible. This includes O3s who have been selected for O4 and who will be promoted before the start of the academic year. ASM candidates must already possess a master's degree in a politico-military related field such as national security affairs, international relations, strategy, or related discipline. Neither TAR nor Reserve Officers are eligible.

Service obligation: ASM students incur a service obligation of three times (3x) the number of months in the ASM program, up to 72 months total. ASM graduates will serve at least one tour in a validated naval strategist subspecialty billet, subject to career timing and on a not-to-interfere basis with command or milestone tours.

Politico-Military Master’s (PMM) program

Program specifics. Eight (8) officers will be selected for the one-year PMM program and will carry a full academic load in one of the designated degree programs. The approved institutions and their associated one-year master’s degree programs are listed below.
URL PMM students with an approved Education Plans that satisfies the 2300P ESRs will receive the 2300P Naval Strategy subspecialty code and the 24A Additional Qualification Designator Code (AQD). RL PMM students with an approved Education Plans that satisfies the 2000P ESRs will receive the 2000P National Security Studies subspecialty code and the 24A AQD Code. Details of the 2300P and 2000P ESRs can be found at: MNHR Subspecialty

For a list of PMM host universities and programs see NAVADMIN 182/26

Eligibility: Only Active Duty O3-O5 Unrestricted Line (URL) and Restricted Line (RL) with the designators 1710, 1810, 1820, 1830, and 1840 are eligible. This includes O2s who have been selected for O3 and who will be promoted before the start of the academic year. Preference will be given to junior officers (O3-O4). Neither TAR officers nor Reservists are eligible. Officers who have already participated in a Department of Defense-funded graduate education program are not eligible. Those officers who have earned a degree through the Tuition Assistance Program or a Service or Joint War College retain their eligibility for the PMM program.

Service obligation: PMM students incur a service obligation of three times (3x) the number of months in the PMM program, up to 36 months total. PMM graduates will serve at least one tour in a validated naval strategist billet, subject to career timing and on a not-to-interfere basis with command or milestone tours.

SECWAR Strategic Thinkers Program (STP)

Program specifics: Two (2) Navy officers will be selected for the program by the PERS selection board. OSD will review the Navy selections and make the final approval. Selectees must apply to and receive acceptance and admission by Arizona State.
URL STP graduates will receive the 2300P Naval Strategy subspecialty code and the 223 Additional Qualification Designator Code (AQD). Information Warfare Community graduates will receive the 2000P subspecialty code and the 223 AQD. Details of the 2300P and 2000P ESRs can be found at: MNHR Subspecialty

Eligibility: Only Active Duty and TAR O4-O6 all designators are eligible. This includes O3s who have been selected for O4 and who will be promoted before the start of the academic year. Completion of JPME I in the top 20 percent of the JPME I class, and preferably top five percent, is required. A minimum of ten (10) years of service before the start of the academic year is required. Reservists are ineligible. Officers who have already participated in Department of War-funded graduate education programs are not eligible. Those officers who earned a degree through the Tuition Assistance Program or a Service or Joint War College retain their eligibility for the STP program.

Service obligation: STP graduates will incur a service obligation of a minimum of 24 months following completion of the SD STP program. Upon graduation, STP students will be considered for follow-on assignments that utilize their special knowledge and skills gained through the completion of the program. Application process: STP candidates must apply to the Navy multi-board and to JHU SAIS. Initial selection by the Navy multi-board and final approval by OSW for the STP program does not guarantee acceptance at Arizona State.

Olmsted Scholar Program

Program Information: The Navy is seeking applicants who display the warfighting and intellectual qualities of dedicated career officers who aspire to command. Applicants should be available to commence language training in summer/fall at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, CA or Washington, DC, begin two years of study at a foreign university. Olmsted notifications will occur in two phases. Navy nominees will be notified via email following the Navy selection board. Scholars selected by the Olmsted Foundation Board of Directors will be notified via email following the selection board.

Subspecialty Code/Additional Qualification Code: Olmsted scholars will earn the 219 AQD code. Additionally, if they complete a degree in a politico-military field they may earn a 2XXXP subspecialty code and become eligible to fill validated subspecialty-coded billets.

Eligibility: All active duty officers with the designators 1110, 1120, 1130, 1140, 1310, 1320, 1810, 1820, 1830, or 3100 with at least three years of Active Federal Commissioned Service (AFCS) and no more than 13.5 years of total Active Federal Service (AFS) are eligible to apply.

Reutilization/Service Obligation: Olmsted Scholars incur a service obligation equal to three times (3x) the number of months in the education program and will be calculated based on the number of months the officer is assigned overseas.

Federal Executive Fellowship (FEF) program

Program specifics: Thirteen (13) officers will be selected. The fellowships will begin in August, following a one-week orientation course in the Pentagon. URL FEFs will receive the 2300S Naval Strategy subspecialty code and the 24C Additional Qualification Designator Code (AQD). RL FEFs will receive the 2000S National Security Studies subspecialty code and the 24C AQD Code.

For a list of FEF host institutions see see NAVADMIN 182/26.

Note: Selection for the FEF program does not guarantee a specific geographic location for the fellowship. Fellows should expect a PCS move and plan accordingly.

Eligibility: Active Duty O4-O6 in all designators except 1880 are eligible to apply. TAR officers are eligible for the FEF program.

Service obligation: FEFs incur a service obligation of three times (3x) the number of months of the fellowship. FEF tours are normally 10-12 months. FEFs will serve at least one utilization tour in a validated naval strategist billet on a major Navy, Joint, or OSW staff as soon as possible, but not later than the second subsequent shore tour. Some officers may serve in multiple strategy positions after the fellowship tour, subject to career timing and on a not-to-interfere basis with command or milestone tours.

U.S. Navy Hudson Fellowship (University of Oxford) program

Program specifics: One (1) Hudson Fellow is selected. The Hudson Fellowship will begin in August following a two-week orientation course at the Pentagon. One(1) primary and two (2) alternate nominees will be selected by the PERS selection board. Their names, CV, biography, and research proposal will be submitted by OPNAV N7 to the University of Oxford for final selection. Applicants must include a two-page research proposal with their application. The Oxford research proposal template can be requested from the OPNAV N712 POCs listed below. Hudson Fellows will receive the 2300S Naval Strategy subspecialty code and the 24D Additional Qualification Designator Code (AQD).

Eligibility: Active Duty O5-O6 URL and RL in designators 1710, 1810, 1820, 1830, and 1840 are eligible to apply. Post-command officers are preferred by the University of Oxford. Neither TAR officers nor Reservists are eligible for the Hudson Fellowship.

Service obligation: Hudson Fellows incur a service obligation of three times (3x) the number of months of the fellowship. The fellowship tour is normally 10-12 months. The Hudson Fellow will serve at least one utilization tour in a validated naval strategist billet as soon as possible, but not later than the second subsequent shore tour. Some officers may serve in multiple strategy positions after the fellowship tour, subject to career timing and on a not-to-interfere basis with command or milestone tours.

Secretary of War Executive Fellows (SWEF) program CANCELLED FOR FY27

Program specifics: Up to four Navy officers are selected. Fellowships will begin in July, with a four-week orientation course conducted in Washington, D.C. and at the University of Virginia’s (UVA) Darden School of Business in Charlottesville, VA. Immediately following the UVA orientation sessions, an additional week of orientation will be conducted in the Pentagon in the first week of August. All officers who complete the SDEF program will receive the 2000S subspecialty code and the 24F Additional Qualification Designator Code.

SDEF Host Companies: Past SDEF host companies include 3M, Apple, Amazon, Boeing, Caterpillar, Cisco Systems, Deutsche Bank, Exxon Mobil, FEDEX, General Dynamics, Google Intel, J.P. Morgan Chase, Lockheed Martin, Merck, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, SalesForce.com, and SpaceX.

Eligibility: All Active Duty URL and RL O5-O6 are eligible. TAR officers and Reserve Officers are not eligible for the SDEF program.

Service obligation: SDEF fellows incur a service obligation that is three times (3x) the number of months of the fellowship. SDEF tours are normally up to twelve (12) months in length, depending on the host company requirements and the post-fellowship assignment. SDEFs will be assigned to a follow-on billet focused on innovation and transformation as soon as possible, but not later than the second subsequent shore tour. Some officers may serve in multiple such positions after the fellowship tour, subject to career timing and on a not-to-interfere basis with command or milestone tours.

CNO’s Fellowship at the Council on Foreign Relations CANCELLED FOR FY27

Program information: The CNO's Fellowship at CFR will begin in August following a two-week orientation course at the Pentagon. Three (3) nominees will be selected by the PERS selection board .OPNAV N7 will submit the nominees to CNO, who will personally select the one (1) officer who will serve as the CNO's Fellow at CFR.

Subspecialty Code/Additional Qualification Code: URL officers who complete the CNO's Fellowship at CFR will receive the 2300S subspecialty code and the 24E AQD code. RL officers will receive the 2000S subspecialty code and the 24E AQD code.

Eligibility: Active duty O6 (and O6 select) Unrestricted Line (URL) and Restricted Line (RL) officers are eligible to apply. TAR officers are not eligible. Applicants should have a master's degree. A graduate degree in national security affairs, international relations, strategy, or related discipline is preferred. The ideal candidate should possess a diverse background of warfare and academic excellence as well as politico-military experience and a penchant for international affairs. The candidate should also have flag potential to allow for reutilization and provide maximum benefit to the Navy. A successful CFR tour combined with any previous or future non-resident master's degree from an accredited university will satisfy the in-residence graduate education requirement for major command.

Reutilization/Service obligation: CNO Fellows at CFR incur service obligation that is three times (3x) the number of months of the fellowship. CNO's Fellowship tours are normally 10-12 months. The CNO's Fellow will serve at least one utilization tour in a validated naval strategist billet as soon as possible, but not later than the second subsequent shore tour. Some officers may serve in multiple strategy positions after the fellowship tour, subject to career timing and on a not-to-interfere basis with command or milestone tours.

Questions:

Address program and application questions to:
OPNAV N712: navy.fellowships@us.navy.mil
PERS 443: PERS-440_submit.fct@navy.mil

Board Selection and Program Administration:

A BUPERS multi-board will convene in November 2026, with results announced in December 2026. OPNAV N7 is the Echelon One lead for the SDSTP program, with daily administrative support for SDSTP students provided by The George Washington University (GWU) NROTC unit, Washington, D.C.