Aspen Rising Leaders National Security Fellowship

Organization: Aspen Strategy Group, Aspen Institute

Type: Fellowship

Location: United States

Deadline: December 13, 2026

Funding: Fully Funded

The Aspen Strategy Group's Rising Leaders Program is a year-long cohort for young professionals working in U.S. national security and foreign policy. Participants learn from senior decision-makers and from each other, build their leadership skills, and co-author policy papers with their peers for publication. There is no fee to take part, and travel and accommodation are provided for every in-person event. **What you get:** - Transportation and accommodation for all in-person events - A place at the Aspen Security Forum in Napa, California, and at programme events in Washington, DC - A multipart Gildenhorn Rising Leaders Aspen Seminar - Discussions with leading foreign policy experts - A lifetime network of foreign policy and national security thought leaders **What you'll do:** - Attend the kick-off in Washington, DC (17 to 19 March 2027), the Aspen Security Forum in Napa, CA (18 to 20 July 2027) and programming in Washington, DC in December 2027 - Join regular meetings and workshops held virtually through the year - Co-author a policy paper with peers for publication **More information:** - Submit the online form with a statement of interest (max 250 words), a short essay on the most pressing U.S. national security or foreign policy issue (max 250 words) and a one-page resume in PDF - One professional or academic reference submits a recommendation letter through the Recommenders' Portal by the same deadline - Shortlisted candidates are invited to a 15-minute interview; all candidates hear back in mid-February **What you get:** - Transportation and accommodation for all in-person events - Aspen Security Forum in Napa, CA and programme events in Washington, DC - Multipart Gildenhorn Rising Leaders Aspen Seminar - Discussions with preeminent foreign policy experts - Co-authored policy paper published with peers - Lifetime network of foreign policy and national security leaders **What you'll do:** - Kick-off in Washington, DC, 17 to 19 March 2027 - Aspen Security Forum, Napa, CA, 18 to 20 July 2027 - Rising Leaders programming in Washington, DC, December 2027 - Virtual meetings and workshops through the year - Co-author a policy paper for publication **Key dates:** - 13 December 2026, 11:59 PM ET: applications and recommendation letters close - Mid-February 2027: all candidates notified - 17 to 19 March 2027: kick-off, Washington, DC - 18 to 20 July 2027: Aspen Security Forum, Napa, CA - December 2027: Rising Leaders programming, Washington, DC **More information:** - FAQ: https://www.aspensecurityforum.org/asg-rising-leaders/faq/ - Recommenders' Portal: https://aspeninstitute.tfaforms.net/5146877 - Non-U.S. citizens are pointed to the separate Albright International Leaders Program

Aspen Strategy Group, Aspen InstituteFellowship

Aspen Rising Leaders National Security Fellowship

Dec 13, 2026 23:59:00 ET

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

United States

Deadline

Dec 13, 2026 23:59:00 ET

About this opportunity

What you get:

Transportation and accommodation for all in-person events
A place at the Aspen Security Forum in Napa, California, and at programme events in Washington, DC
A multipart Gildenhorn Rising Leaders Aspen Seminar
Discussions with leading foreign policy experts
A lifetime network of foreign policy and national security thought leaders

What you'll do:

Attend the kick-off in Washington, DC (17 to 19 March 2027), the Aspen Security Forum in Napa, CA (18 to 20 July 2027) and programming in Washington, DC in December 2027
Join regular meetings and workshops held virtually through the year
Co-author a policy paper with peers for publication

More information:

Submit the online form with a statement of interest (max 250 words), a short essay on the most pressing U.S. national security or foreign policy issue (max 250 words) and a one-page resume in PDF
One professional or academic reference submits a recommendation letter through the Recommenders' Portal by the same deadline
Shortlisted candidates are invited to a 15-minute interview; all candidates hear back in mid-February

What you get:

Transportation and accommodation for all in-person events
Aspen Security Forum in Napa, CA and programme events in Washington, DC
Multipart Gildenhorn Rising Leaders Aspen Seminar
Discussions with preeminent foreign policy experts
Co-authored policy paper published with peers
Lifetime network of foreign policy and national security leaders

What you'll do:

Kick-off in Washington, DC, 17 to 19 March 2027
Aspen Security Forum, Napa, CA, 18 to 20 July 2027
Rising Leaders programming in Washington, DC, December 2027
Virtual meetings and workshops through the year
Co-author a policy paper for publication

Key dates:

13 December 2026, 11:59 PM ET: applications and recommendation letters close
Mid-February 2027: all candidates notified
17 to 19 March 2027: kick-off, Washington, DC
18 to 20 July 2027: Aspen Security Forum, Napa, CA
December 2027: Rising Leaders programming, Washington, DC

More information:

FAQ: https://www.aspensecurityforum.org/asg-rising-leaders/faq/
Recommenders' Portal: https://aspeninstitute.tfaforms.net/5146877
Non-U.S. citizens are pointed to the separate Albright International Leaders Program

Who can apply

Approximately five to ten years of experience in your field; no formal age limit
Demonstrated interest in U.S. national security, foreign policy, diplomacy, international development, human rights, homeland security, cybersecurity or related fields
U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green-card holder)
Employed full-time at application and for the whole programme; journalists, active-duty military and government employees are eligible
Full or part-time students should wait until they complete their studies
Must attend all in-person events; membership is revoked if this commitment is not met
Employer approval, where required, is the applicant's responsibility
Previous applicants may reapply

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Good to know

+Travel and accommodation provided for every in-person event, including the Aspen Security Forum in Napa and events in Washington, DC
+Free to apply and free to take part
+Run by the Aspen Strategy Group at the Aspen Institute
+You co-author a policy paper with peers for publication
+No formal age limit, and previous applicants may reapply

Worth checking yourself

!U.S. citizens and green-card holders only
!For professionals with about five to ten years of experience who are employed full-time. Students should wait until they finish their studies
!You must attend every in-person event or lose your place
!Your recommendation letter must also arrive by 11:59 PM ET on 13 December 2026

Sources checked

ASaspensecurityforum.orgApplyASaspensecurityforum.orgApplyASaspensecurityforum.orgApplyASaspeninstitute.tfaforms.netOfficialASaspeninstitute.tfaforms.netOfficial

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.

About this opportunity

What you get:

Transportation and accommodation for all in-person events
A place at the Aspen Security Forum in Napa, California, and at programme events in Washington, DC
A multipart Gildenhorn Rising Leaders Aspen Seminar
Discussions with leading foreign policy experts
A lifetime network of foreign policy and national security thought leaders

What you'll do:

Attend the kick-off in Washington, DC (17 to 19 March 2027), the Aspen Security Forum in Napa, CA (18 to 20 July 2027) and programming in Washington, DC in December 2027
Join regular meetings and workshops held virtually through the year
Co-author a policy paper with peers for publication

More information:

Submit the online form with a statement of interest (max 250 words), a short essay on the most pressing U.S. national security or foreign policy issue (max 250 words) and a one-page resume in PDF
One professional or academic reference submits a recommendation letter through the Recommenders' Portal by the same deadline
Shortlisted candidates are invited to a 15-minute interview; all candidates hear back in mid-February

What you get:

Transportation and accommodation for all in-person events
Aspen Security Forum in Napa, CA and programme events in Washington, DC
Multipart Gildenhorn Rising Leaders Aspen Seminar
Discussions with preeminent foreign policy experts
Co-authored policy paper published with peers
Lifetime network of foreign policy and national security leaders

What you'll do:

Kick-off in Washington, DC, 17 to 19 March 2027
Aspen Security Forum, Napa, CA, 18 to 20 July 2027
Rising Leaders programming in Washington, DC, December 2027
Virtual meetings and workshops through the year
Co-author a policy paper for publication

Key dates:

13 December 2026, 11:59 PM ET: applications and recommendation letters close
Mid-February 2027: all candidates notified
17 to 19 March 2027: kick-off, Washington, DC
18 to 20 July 2027: Aspen Security Forum, Napa, CA
December 2027: Rising Leaders programming, Washington, DC

More information:

FAQ: https://www.aspensecurityforum.org/asg-rising-leaders/faq/
Recommenders' Portal: https://aspeninstitute.tfaforms.net/5146877
Non-U.S. citizens are pointed to the separate Albright International Leaders Program

Who can apply

Approximately five to ten years of experience in your field; no formal age limit
Demonstrated interest in U.S. national security, foreign policy, diplomacy, international development, human rights, homeland security, cybersecurity or related fields
U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green-card holder)
Employed full-time at application and for the whole programme; journalists, active-duty military and government employees are eligible
Full or part-time students should wait until they complete their studies
Must attend all in-person events; membership is revoked if this commitment is not met
Employer approval, where required, is the applicant's responsibility
Previous applicants may reapply