Department of Defense names ASU a Senior Service College Fellowship program partner

By Penny Walker, ASU News
August 24, 2026

Arizona State University’s commitment to be of service to the nation’s efforts to strengthen national security and defense is advancing on a new front. ASU has been approved to deliver a U.S. Department of Defense¹ Senior Service College Fellowship program for the 2027–28 academic year and beyond.

SSC Fellowships are highly selective programs designed to equip military officers with the knowledge and skills required to inform national security strategy; integrate multidomain, joint operations; and address complex national security challenges.

“To maintain our military advantage, we must provide our exceptional senior officers with elite education and training,” said Anthony J. Tata, undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness. “… The department is proud to expand on our strong partnership with ASU to develop a world-class program worthy of our talented warfighters.”

At ASU, each fellowship will be fully customized based on the needs of the service and the interests of the officer.

“As someone who has worn the uniform and served in combat zones, I know firsthand that the complex security challenges of the 21st century demand strategic leaders who are grounded in tactical excellence, rigorous open inquiry and an unwavering commitment to the nation,” said Chris Howard, executive vice president and chief operating officer at ASU.

Howard, whose office will administer the program, is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a former member of the National Defense University Board of Visitors.

“The ASU Charter is aligned with the goals of the Senior Service College Fellowship, and the university is well positioned to put our expertise and research-driven innovation to work to serve the ultimate public good — equipping our nation’s senior military leaders with the strategic insight required to achieve peace through strength,” Howard said.

ASU currently has an Army fellow and a Marine Corps fellow in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society. Future fellows could be matched to any university school or department, and they will be based at ASU’s Tempe campus or its Barrett & O’Connor Center in Washington, D.C., where they will take part in both coursework and directed research projects alongside senior faculty mentors.

The SSC Fellowship program is the second recent addition to ASU’s educational offerings focused on national security and defense, joining the secretary of war’s Strategic Thinkers Program — a new master’s degree-granting program in war and strategy announced this past April and offered by ASU’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. Admission requires a recommendation from the secretary, and the program’s capstone includes a two-week international staff ride examining a historical military campaign.

ASU’s focus on education related to national defense also includes the highly regarded Small Wars Journal, a leading forum for discourse on irregular warfare, strategic competition and national security. The university’s portfolio of engagement includes the Advanced Capabilities for National Security Institute, which addresses security challenges at a global scale, developing practical mission-relevant approaches and effective decision-oriented tools.

ASU is home to one of the largest populations of military-connected learners in the country, including veterans, active-duty service members and military families, supported through the Pat Tillman Veterans Center and the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement. The university is consistently recognized by Military Times as a top school for veterans, both for on-campus programs and online learning.

This story originally appeared on ASU News.

¹ Also referred to as the Department of War.