National Security Fellows
2025-2026 Calendar
National Security Council
Department of Defense
Central Intelligence Agency
Juneteenth is a Federal Holiday!
Public Servant's Oath of Office
The text of the public servant's oath, as defined in 5 U.S. Code § 3331, is:
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We validate every voice;
we acknowledge hard conversations with patience;
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Sovereignty
A government's internal control over its territory and population and external independence from the control by other states.
Alliances
A group of nations that bind together based on common interests.
Treaty
A formally signed agreement between authorized representativs of member states that is adopted as law within the member states.
Containment
In foreign policy, this is a principle that seeks to constrain or prevent another nation or group of nations from expanding their territorial control or reach.
Hegemony
Hegemony is dominance by one party over another, but through influence and by having an advantageous power dynamic, rather than through fear, or by making military threats.
Sanctions & Embargoes
Sanctions can range from mild to severe, including specific trade restrictions and financial penalties. An embargo is an extreme, comprehensive ban on trade meant to isolate a nation entirely.
Non-state Actor
Political entities that are not formally part of a government. They might be political activist groups, a single individual, or companies, religious institutions and many other types of groups.
Gina Bennett
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Distinguished Graduate of the Marine Corps War College, M.A. Security Studies
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B.A. Economics and Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia
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Author of "National Security Mom 1 & 2" and "If Two of Them Are Dead"
Shannon Harrison
Learning and Training
Shannon is an experienced teacher, counselor, and educational leader, from high school English teacher to college access counseling and administration, to supporting young people and their families in postsecondary planning and career exploration.
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Shannon keeps herself busy by raising three incredible, little humans alongside her husband, a fellow educator.
Monica Sanchez
Learning and Training
Monica’s educational experience began with teaching high school English, where she cultivated a passion for helping underserved youth discover their strengths and navigate their growth areas.
Monica is also an experienced assistant principal, where she focused on ensuring all ability students were given the guidance, instruction, and tools they needed to succeed in their personal and/or academic journeys.
Michéle Flournoy
Career Highlights
Current Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors, A strategic advisory firm
Former Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) (currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors). A bipartisan think tank dedicated to developing strong and principled national security policies.
Co-led President Obama’s transition team at the Defense Department.
Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Distinguished research professor at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University (NDU)
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Threat Reduction
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy