Welcome - Department of National Security Affairs

The mission of the Department of National Security Affairs (NSA) is to deliver advanced education and research to promote the security of the United States and its allies, and enhance the effectiveness of the U.S. Navy. NSA brings an outstanding faculty of political scientists, historians, and economists together with students from all branches of the U.S. military, defense-related civilian agencies, and international officers in an engaging learning environment designed to deepen knowledge of regional and security affairs, while fostering critical thinking, intellectual independence, and a global perspective.

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Upcoming Events

December 18, 2024
2024 Fall Graduation Event
January 28, 2025 to January 31, 2025
Unmanned System Tactical Employment Development Workshop

The Department of National Security Affairs (NSA) offers fully accredited programs leading to the Master of Arts in Security Studies, as well as a Ph.D. program in Security Studies. In addition to specializing in traditional security domains such as nuclear proliferation, arms control, maritime strategy, interstate wars, insurgency, terrorism and homeland security, the NSA department conducts cutting edge research and education in the areas of cyber warfare, space politics, and energy and climate security.

The Department of National Security Affairs (NSA) provides top-level education from some of the best scholars in the country. 

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The NSA faculty are leading experts in their field, and working on issues relevant to DoD.

Regional Studies
Security Studies
Publications

With the rise of China and the return of Russia to near-peer military status with the United States, the topic of renewed Great Power Competition (GPC) has moved to the forefront of U.S. defense concerns.  In 2019, in response to a request from N3/N5, the Department of National Security Affairs at NPS created a first-of-its-kind GPC overview course to educate NPS students and interested faculty and staff about critical challenges posed by China and Russia.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR, DR. MARIA RASMUSSEN

NPS Researchers

The Department of National Security Affairs (NSA) offers fully accredited programs leading to the Master of Arts in Security Studies, as well as a Ph.D. program in Security Studies. In addition to specializing in traditional security domains such as nuclear proliferation, arms control, maritime strategy, interstate wars, insurgency, terrorism and homeland security, the NSA department conducts cutting edge research and education in the areas of cyber warfare, space politics, and energy and climate security. 

Departmental News

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Faculty Publications

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A Maritime Conversation with America

Latest Books

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book cover The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough
Author: Erik Dahl
In his new book, The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough, Erik Dahl looks at what went wrong in the coronavirus pandemic—how was it possible for the U.S...

book cover This Is Not Who We Are: America's Struggle Between Vengeance and Virtue
Author: Zachary Shore
What kind of country is America? Zachary Shore tackles this polarizing question by spotlighting some of the most morally muddled matters of WWII...

book cover The Last Days of the Ottoman Empire 1918-1922
Author: Ryan Gingeras
Ryan Gingeras's superb new book, published for the centenary of the last Sultan's departure into exile, explains how these epochal events came about and shows how much we still live in the shadow of decisions taken so long ago...

book cover China's Belt and Road Initiative At Ten
Author: Robert Looney
This volume assesses China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as it approaches its tenth year in operation. The programme has gone through a difficult transition since its inception in 2013, with an environment developing in a way utterly unanticipated by Chinese decision-makers...

Alumni Spotlight


MGEN Ariel R Caculitan, NPS Alumus 2005
MGEN Ariel R Caculitan, an ’05 Naval Postgraduate School graduate was recently appointed the 33rd Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).
MGEN Ariel R. Caculitan, NPS Alumnus