“My fellowship at The Institute of World Politics was a professionally enriching experience that continues to provide valuable insights in the areas of national security, statecraft, and public diplomacy in today’s complex, dynamic and uncertain world.”
LTG John C. Thomson USA (Ret.)
IWP Senior Service College Fellow, 2008-2009
Please note: These are John’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or Military-themed visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
“I cannot believe how much I have learned in only nine months, and how much I did not know about the world before beginning this program. I wish I had many of these lessons before my deployments. They would have been helpful.”
COL Katie Crombe, U.S. Army (’12)
Meet Katie
Please note: These are Katie’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or Military-themed visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
“It has been an outstanding year of learning. I enjoyed the professors, classes, and the other students who come from a variety of backgrounds, variety of ages. I have nothing but glowing things to say about the Institute.”
Star Hy (’24)
Meet Star
Please note: These are Star’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. State Department.
“The IWP education has been immensely valuable to me. I have not found the core curriculum anywhere else. And IWP professors are people who have been there and done it.”
Dr. Matthew Jenkins (’23)
Meet Matt
Please note: These are Matt’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Space Force. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or Military-themed visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
“My leadership has noticed a change: I am more well-rounded and look at problems from an asymmetric approach because of the knowledge I gained at IWP.”
James Steel (’23)
Meet James
Please note: These are James’ personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“I am better able to think through issues. I understand the big picture, why things are happening, and what leaders need. The products that I have been able to produce are higher quality and more complete than they were before. My writing is better, and my thought process and planning are much better.”
Dr. Nathan Hodge (’22)
Meet Nathan/Video Interview
Please note: These are Nathan’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Air Force.
“I think I’m making my biggest impact now. I’m helping prepare the next generation of military leaders.”
COL Carolyn Erickson (’15)
Meet Carolyn
Please note: These are Carolyn’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“My IWP classes, coupled with my training as an FA52 officer, gave me a strategic view on how I execute my duties.”
MAJ Dillon Lynch, US Army (’23)
Meet Dillon
Please note: These are Dillon’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“I was able to utilize lessons learned in IWP classes in multiple job interviews for highly technical positions. When asked what value my degree from IWP would hold in a scientific- and engineering-heavy field, I was able to reply with examples from Professor Santoli’s classes (as well as many others at IWP). This type of out-of-the-box thinking resulted in multiple career offers over more technically skilled candidates.”
Shawn Taylor (’21)
Meet Shawn
Please note: These are Shawn’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Air Force.
“The IWP education enables you to think at an integrated strategic level and understand the broader context of information operations, as well as the nature of our adversaries.”
Christopher Rawlins (’15)
Meet Christopher
Please note: These are Christopher’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or Military-themed visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
“I was 55 years old when I went through IWP. I always learned something. IWP is like a hidden gem for veterans of the military, national security, and intelligence communities.”
Kevin Lawrence (’18)
Meet Kevin
Please note: These are Kevin’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Marine Corps.
“The book learning at IWP is great, but you learn so much from interactions with professors and students. You get such diverse backgrounds at IWP, with students working all across the Intelligence Community and defense.”
Justin Cowdin (’22)
Meet Justin
Please note: These are Justin’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or Military-themed visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
“Using my Post-9/11 GI Bill® on IWP’s Master’s program was the greatest decision! The smaller class environment is extremely conducive to learning and building lifelong connections for a future in national security. Most importantly, IWP is understanding of military commitments and works with you closely to make sure you’re able to reach your education goals.”
Beth Allemond (’21)
First Class Petty Officer, United States Navy Reserves
Please note: These are Beth’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Navy Reserve.
“What appealed to me about Kings Point is similar to what appealed to me about IWP: the scholar-practitioner faculty.”
Richard Laszok (’20)
Former Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps
Meet Richard
Please note: These are Richard’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Marine Corps.
“A lot of times, professors and students at IWP also have a prior service background… The education here provides a foundation for anything that you could possibly want to do in intelligence, national security, or the diplomatic realm.”
Joshua Drusbacky (’19)
Army Officer and Analyst for the U.S. Government
Meet Joshua
Please note: These are Joshua’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or Military-themed visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
“The Institute of World Politics leads the way in developing those seeking to serve in international relations or the various national security career paths. Its uniqueness stems from its emphasis on the American founding principles and Western Moral Tradition, which provides a solid basis for understanding what one will defend and promote over the span of a career in the civil service.”
Christian Myles (’19)
Former U.S. Army
These are Christian’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“The education we have received at IWP has prepared us well for success beyond the walls of the institution.”
LTC Gregory J. Abide U.S. Army (’18)
Meet Greg
Please note: These are Greg’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“The experience from IWP, along with my maritime and Navy background, has culminated in a position where I can hopefully have some impact in preventing another big conflict in the Far East. It is a precarious time for the West, and it is at this time that we must rise to the challenge.”
LCDR Chris Glass II (’18)
Meet Chris
Please note: These are Chris’ personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Navy, or Merchant Marine.
“IWP broadened my field of vision drastically… I had the time and opportunity to sit down and read, really study, some of the things that were going on in Iraq and Afghanistan while I was there as an enlisted Marine.”
Kipp McGuire (’18)
Former Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps
Meet Kipp
Please note: These are Kipp’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Marine Corps.
“[IWP] is one of the best educational experiences available if you are (or aspire to be) a national security professional in either a civil or military capacity. What I got from IWP continues to pay dividends in my career.”
MAJ Andrew Harris, U.S. Army (’17)
Valedictory Remarks
Please note: These are Andrew’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or Military-themed visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
“I liked the idea of learning from practitioners who have sat in the seats that I aspire to one day. There wasn’t one professor I didn’t respect or didn’t like in any of my classes.”
Nate Ginty (’16)
Former U.S. Navy
Meet Nathan
Please note: These are Nathan’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Navy.
“Dr. Streusand’s Geography and Strategy and General Jajko’s Military Strategy courses both provided an opportunity to explore the Marine Corps’ operational and even strategic role as force projector throughout the world and especially in the Pacific, and how our ability — with the Navy — to control or influence geographic features in the world’s commons is essential to American relevance in all regions.”
Jeff Brewer (’14)
Intelligence officer with the U.S. Marine Corps
Meet Jeff
Please note: These are Jeff’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Marine Corps. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) or Military-themed visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
“The critical thinking and analytic skills within the Institute of World Politics BSAP program will serve me well in the future.”
MAJ Holly Harris, U.S. Army (Ret.) (’14)
Meet Holly
Please note: These are Holly’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“IWP allowed me to take a step back and view the world differently. When you’re an infantry soldier, you see things from the bottom up. When you are a strategist, you have to look from the top down, across a wide area. Instead of talking with one person in a village, you are figuring out how to support millions of people across the globe.”
LTC Mark Balboni, USA (’13)
Meet Mark
Please note: These are Mark’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“I think I have a broader understanding now of the workings of the whole of government, and what happens when there is no viable strategic vision.”
Samantha Moyer (’13)
Former U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst
Meet Samantha
Please note: These are Samantha’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“IWP gave me a lot to think, read, and write about. Another great aspect was the percentage of active-duty and veteran students, which gave a sense of connection and community.”
Rob A (’13)
Former U.S. Air Force Intelligence
Meet Rob
Please note: These are Rob’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Air Force.
“The course of study at IWP under scholar-practitioners is timeless, important, and consequential. It is so important that you can’t not take this journey.”
LTC John Rose, U.S. Army (’09)
Meet John
Please note: These are John’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Army.
“The Marine Corps didn’t teach me about nuclear weapons – I was qualified for my first job because of IWP. It prepared me well. …I’m proud of my time at IWP. I could have gone elsewhere, and I’m glad I didn’t. IWP has helped me immensely in my career.”
Michael Urena (’05)
Meet Michael
Please note: These are John’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Marine Corps.
“Being able to say that I had some formal academic training in counterintelligence helped me to progress into the CI subset of NCIS. It was also helpful to have that larger perspective of why CI is conducted as you are learning how it is conducted on the job on a day-to-day basis.”
Zachary Sheren (’02)
Meet Zachary
These are Zachary’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Navy.
“I learned more from the Institute of World Politics on statecraft, strategy, and intelligence, than I did during the entirety of my time earning my master’s from the Naval War College. Yet, as a life-long-learner, I remain grateful for both educational experiences.”
Carson Checketts
Meet Carson
These are Carson’s personal views and do not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Navy.