CNAS Shawn Brimley Next Generation National Security Leaders Fellowship

Washington, August 16, 2022—The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is now accepting applications for the 2023 class of the Shawn Brimley Next Generation National Security Leaders Fellowship.

Each year, CNAS selects a bipartisan group of 20-25 emerging national security leaders between the ages of 27 and 35 to participate in the program. The year-long, part-time fellowship was renamed in 2018 in honor of the late Shawn Brimley, one of the founding members of CNAS, for his incredible contributions to the Center and to the broader national security community.

The Next Gen Fellowship aims to bring together a diverse group of young professionals from across the national security field to develop their leadership skills. Next Gen Fellows have the opportunity to engage with key national security leaders through various events, including a monthly dinner series, participation in a week-long international study tour, and a leadership seminar.

“Preparing the next generation of national security leaders lies at the core of CNAS’ mission,” said Michèle Flournoy, co-founder of CNAS and co-chair of the Next Gen program. “This new class of Fellows will have excellent leadership growth opportunities, and we anticipate that they will go on to have key roles in shaping future U.S. national security policy.”

“Each class in this fellowship is more impressive than the last,” said Christian Marrone, co-chair. “We look forward to reviewing another round of highly competitive applicants and developing yet another exceptional cohort of future national security leaders.”

Previous classes have traveled to Asia and the Middle East and have taken part in leadership roundtable dinners with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, General Stanley McChrystal, former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, Admiral Cecil Haney USN, Congressman Mike Gallagher, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, and many other current and former national security leaders.

Applications are open now until 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, October 16, 2022.

Please note: All events related to the program are currently taking place in hybrid format under CNAS' COVID guidelines.

For more information about the program and application process, please visit our FAQs webpage. For questions concerning the program, please contact nextgeneration@cnas.org.

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