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U.S. Air Force National Defense Fellows Program

Since 1958, the United States Air Force has assigned a small number of carefully chosen, experienced officers to serve one-year tours at distinguished civilian institutions studying national security policy and strategy. The Program in Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDIS) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has partnered since 1983 with the U.S. Air Force on one such officer development initiative, the National Defense Fellows Program, by annually hosting one or more officers for a year of advanced research and training.

Lt. Col. Mark Bontrager, National Defense Fellow (2003-4), seen here guest teaching in an ACDIS course.

The Air Force (AF) sponsors approximately 25 National Defense Fellows (NDFs) each year to study at major North American universities and Washington, D.C. think-tanks. This program provides AF officers with the perspectives of those outside the AF community relative to national and international security policy issues. As such, this experience enhances the fellows' executive development by broadening their knowledge and expanding their perspectives. In turn, the NDFs provide influential scholars in major universities and think-tanks a broader understanding of Department of Defense and AF issues. Each fellow conducts research on issues of mutual concern to the AF and the academic community by authoring a publishable paper on a national security topic. This paper is provided to the College of Aerospace Doctrine Research and Education (CADRE) for analysis on benefits within and outside the Department of Defense.

Lt. Col. Mike Luallen, NDF in 2005-6, presents his research on unmanned aerial vehicles.

ACDIS typically publishes each paper produced by its resident NDFs as part of its Occasional Paper series. Papers are also published in the Air University research series. In addition to conducting their research, the NDFs are fully integrated into the ACDIS program, engaging in a comprehensive set of activities including regular participation in relevant coursework; public events such as lecture series, colloquia, and conferences; and occasional guest teaching assignments.

Related link: List of ACDIS National Defense Fellows from 1983–present
External links: US Air Force Fellows Program | Listing of NDF affiliate institutions