CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship 2027: Year-Long Fellowship for Experienced U.S. Leaders in National Security, Foreign Policy and Statecraft

The CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship 2027 is a year-long professional fellowship designed to cultivate a new generation of leaders with the knowledge, experience, and strategic perspective needed to understand and respond to major geopolitical and international policy challenges. Organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship brings together experienced professionals from diverse career backgrounds to engage directly with senior national security practitioners, policymakers, and leading scholars.

The Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship comes at a time of significant change in the international system. The global balance of power is evolving, while major geopolitical developments are creating new challenges for governments, businesses, policymakers, and international institutions. Issues including the continuing consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war, and increasing strategic competition between the United States and China have reshaped debates about international security, diplomacy, foreign policy, and global order.

Through the 2027 fellowship, CSIS seeks to bring together a new group of experienced executives and emerging national security leaders to examine these developments and consider how policymakers can craft order from disorder. Throughout the year, Fellows will interact with world-leading experts and policy practitioners and gain a deeper understanding of strategy and statecraft, particularly how policymakers in Washington and other foreign capitals perceive and respond to international challenges.

About the CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship

The Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship is intended for experienced professionals who are interested in national and international policy and want to strengthen their understanding of strategic decision-making and statecraft.

Rather than being limited exclusively to individuals who have worked in national security or foreign policy, the Fellowship welcomes applicants from a range of professional backgrounds. Ideal candidates are individuals who have developed substantial experience in their chosen careers and who can bring useful perspectives, professional experiences, and strategic thinking to discussions about international affairs.

The Fellowship is particularly suited to professionals who have experience with strategic planning, corporate planning, or policy planning. Participants do not necessarily need to have spent their careers working directly in national security. Instead, CSIS is interested in bringing together a diverse group of experienced leaders who have an interest in national and international policy and can contribute meaningfully to conversations about the challenges facing the United States and the wider international system.

The program will run throughout 2027, with monthly dinners focused on foreign policy, national security, and strategic thought. The Fellowship will ultimately conclude with a Strategy and Statecraft Summit in early 2028.

Why the Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship Is Important

The international environment has become increasingly complex. Governments and policymakers are required to make decisions in circumstances shaped by geopolitical competition, military conflicts, economic uncertainty, technological change, and shifting international relationships.

The Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship provides an opportunity for experienced professionals to explore these developments in a setting that combines expert instruction, professional dialogue, and practical strategic thinking.

Participants will have opportunities to examine how strategy and statecraft are practiced in real-world circumstances. They will also hear from individuals who have worked at the highest levels of the U.S. government and from scholars whose work has contributed substantially to policy debates.

The Fellowship therefore provides more than conventional academic learning. Its structure is designed to encourage participants to connect policy ideas with professional experience and practical decision-making.

Who Can Apply for the CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship?

The Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship has specific professional and residency requirements. Applicants should carefully review these requirements before submitting an application.

1. Applicants Must Have at Least 10 Years of Professional Experience

Each applicant is expected to have 10 or more years of experience in their chosen career field.

This requirement makes the Fellowship particularly relevant to established professionals, executives, senior practitioners, and experienced leaders rather than individuals who are at the beginning of their careers.

Applicants should therefore be able to demonstrate a substantial professional background and explain how their career experience would contribute to discussions within the Fellowship.

2. Applicants Should Have Strategic, Corporate or Policy Planning Experience

CSIS identifies experience in strategic planning, corporate planning, or policy planning as an important characteristic of an ideal applicant.

Applicants do not necessarily need to have experience in all three areas. However, professional exposure to planning, strategic decision-making, organizational leadership, policy development, or related work can strengthen an application.

3. Applicants Must Have an Interest in National and International Policy

Applicants should demonstrate a genuine interest in national and international policy.

Importantly, applicants do not need to have a deep professional background in national security or foreign policy. This makes the Fellowship potentially relevant to experienced professionals whose careers have intersected with policy, strategy, international affairs, government, business, research, or other areas but who have not necessarily worked directly in national security.

4. Applicants Must Be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents

The Fellowship is specifically open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

This is an important eligibility requirement for prospective applicants. Individuals who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents are not eligible under the stated Fellowship qualifications.

5. Applicants Must Be Based in Washington, D.C. or Able to Travel There

Fellows must either be based in the Washington, D.C. area or be able to travel to Washington, D.C. for the program’s monthly dinners.

Travel to Washington, D.C. for the monthly dinners must be undertaken at the Fellow’s own expense.

Applicants should therefore consider the financial and logistical implications of participating in the in-person components of the Fellowship before applying.

6. Fellows Must Participate in the Required Events

Selected Fellows are expected to attend all monthly dinners and the Strategy and Statecraft Summit.

The requirement for consistent participation means applicants should be able to make the necessary time commitment throughout the program year.

What Will Fellows Gain From the Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship?

The Fellowship provides participants with access to experienced practitioners and scholars working in national security, foreign policy, and strategic affairs.

Among the key benefits are the following:

Direct Engagement With National Security Practitioners

Fellows will have opportunities to speak directly with national security practitioners who have served at some of the highest levels of the U.S. government.

These interactions can provide participants with practical perspectives on how national security decisions are developed, implemented, and evaluated.

Engagement With Leading Policy Scholars

Fellows will also interact with scholars who are widely published and recognized for their intellectual contributions to policy-related fields.

These discussions will allow participants to consider international challenges from both practical and scholarly perspectives.

Exposure to Strategy and Statecraft

The Fellowship will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the practice of statecraft and the strategic challenges facing the United States.

Participants will examine issues relating to foreign policy, national security, strategic thought, and the changing international landscape.

Professional and Alumni Network

The Fellowship is also intended to establish an alumni network of diverse, rising national security leaders.

The network will draw on individuals with different career backgrounds, professional experiences, and areas of expertise. This diversity is intended to create opportunities for continued exchange among participants beyond the formal Fellowship period.

Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship Program Structure

The Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship is structured as a year-long program taking place throughout 2027.

The main components of the program include monthly dinners and a concluding Strategy and Statecraft Summit.

Monthly Dinners

Throughout 2027, Fellows will participate in monthly dinners focused on major themes relating to:

• Foreign policy
• National security
• Strategic thought
• International affairs
• Statecraft
• Geopolitical developments
• Strategic decision-making

The dinners will feature current and former senior government officials as well as leading subject matter experts.

These sessions are designed to provide Fellows with opportunities to listen to experts, ask questions, exchange perspectives, and contribute their own professional experiences to group discussions.

Reading and Monthly Preparation

Fellows are expected to dedicate approximately 3 to 5 hours per month to readings or other program materials.

The preparation is intended to help Fellows engage meaningfully with the subjects discussed during the program.

Participants are also expected to contribute their personal experiences and views during group discussions. This means the Fellowship is not structured simply as a lecture-based program. Active participation is an important part of the experience.

Strategy and Statecraft Summit

The Fellowship will conclude with the Strategy and Statecraft Summit in early 2028.

The Summit will take place at a venue outside Washington, D.C. and will provide an intensive, multi-day conclusion to the Fellowship.

The Summit will bring together several elements of the program and give Fellows an opportunity to apply what they have learned during the year.

The Summit will include:

• An extended war game or simulation
• Scenario-based discussions
• Lectures
• Intensive strategic exercises
• Practical application of themes explored during the Fellowship

The combination of simulations and scenario-based discussions is intended to move Fellows beyond theoretical discussions and allow them to apply strategic concepts to professionally relevant situations.

Fellowship Duration

The Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship is a year-long program taking place during 2027, with its concluding Summit scheduled for early 2028.

Applicants should therefore be prepared for an extended commitment rather than a short-term training program.

The monthly structure allows Fellows to engage with new themes and experts throughout the year while continuing with their existing professional careers.

Application Requirements

Applicants interested in the CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship must submit an application containing several important documents.

The application requires:

1. Professional Resume or CV

Applicants must provide a brief professional resume or CV outlining their career experience.

Because the Fellowship requires at least 10 years of professional experience, applicants should ensure that their resume clearly demonstrates their professional background and relevant leadership, strategic, corporate, or policy experience.

2. Personal Statement

Applicants must submit a personal statement of two pages or less.

The statement must respond to the prompt provided on the application website.

Applicants should use the personal statement to demonstrate their professional experience, interest in national and international policy, and suitability for the Fellowship while responding directly to the application prompt.

3. Professional References

Applicants must provide one or more professional references.

The references should include the relevant person’s:

• Name
• Contact information

Applicants should therefore identify appropriate professional contacts before beginning the application so that complete reference information can be provided.

How to Apply for the CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship

Eligible professionals interested in the Fellowship should complete the online application before the stated deadline.

The application process can be approached through the following steps:

1. Review the Fellowship qualifications and expectations carefully to determine whether you meet the professional, citizenship, residency, and participation requirements.
2. Prepare a brief and up-to-date professional resume or CV.
3. Review the personal statement prompt provided through the application website.
4. Prepare a personal statement of no more than two pages that responds directly to the prompt.
5. Identify one or more suitable professional references.
6. Collect the names and contact information of your professional references.
7. Complete the online application form.
8. Review all submitted information and supporting materials carefully.
9. Submit the completed application before the deadline.

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final hours before the deadline, particularly because the application requires multiple components.

Important Deadline for the 2027 Fellowship

The application deadline for the CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship is:

Sunday, December 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Applicants should take note of the time-zone difference if they are applying from outside the Eastern Time Zone.

Late applications may not be considered, so eligible applicants should aim to complete and submit their applications before the stated deadline.

What Makes the Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship Different?

One of the defining characteristics of the Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship is its emphasis on bringing together professionals from different career backgrounds.

The program does not require applicants to have spent their entire careers in national security or foreign policy. Instead, it seeks experienced professionals who are interested in national and international policy and who can contribute different perspectives to conversations about strategy and statecraft.

The Fellowship also combines several forms of learning. Participants will engage with government officials, former senior officials, scholars, and subject matter experts while also drawing upon their own professional experiences.

The monthly dinners create a continuing forum for discussion throughout 2027, while the final Summit provides an opportunity to bring together the ideas and lessons developed during the year.

This structure can make the Fellowship particularly valuable for professionals who want to broaden their understanding of geopolitical and strategic issues without leaving their existing careers for a full-time academic program.

About CSIS

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a policy research institution focused on major strategic and international affairs issues.

Through initiatives such as the Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship, CSIS seeks to contribute to the development of leaders and ideas capable of addressing complex challenges in international politics and national security.

The Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship forms part of this broader effort to cultivate informed leaders who can engage with the changing international environment and contribute to discussions about strategy and statecraft.

Background of the Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship

The launch of the Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship was made possible through support from Dr. M.J. Chung, in honor of Dr. Henry Kissinger.

As part of this background, Dr. Chung has also shared an essay concerning Dr. Kissinger.

The Fellowship’s development reflects an effort to create a forum where experienced professionals can examine strategic questions and engage with experts and practitioners involved in international affairs.

Who Should Consider Applying?

The Fellowship may be particularly relevant to established professionals who:

• Have at least 10 years of experience in their career field
• Have experience in strategic, corporate, or policy planning
• Have a strong interest in national or international policy
• Want to develop a deeper understanding of foreign policy and national security
• Are interested in strategy and statecraft
• Can contribute professional experiences and perspectives to group discussions
• Are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Live in the Washington, D.C. area or can travel there for monthly dinners
• Can commit to approximately 3–5 hours of monthly reading or preparation
• Can attend all required dinners and the concluding Summit

Applicants should remember that the Fellowship is designed for experienced professionals rather than recent graduates or early-career applicants.

Key Details at a Glance

Opportunity	CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship
Organization	Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Opportunity Type	Fellowship
Program Year	2027
Duration	Year-long
Main Focus	Strategy, statecraft, foreign policy and national security
Location	Washington, D.C., with a concluding Summit outside Washington, D.C.
Eligibility	U.S. citizens and permanent residents
Professional Experience	10 or more years
Education Requirement	No specific educational degree requirement stated
Monthly Commitment	Approximately 3–5 hours of reading or other materials per month, plus required events
Monthly Activities	Dinners featuring senior government officials and subject matter experts
Final Event	Strategy and Statecraft Summit in early 2028
Travel	Washington, D.C. travel may be required at the Fellow’s own expense
Application Materials	CV/resume, personal statement, professional references
Personal Statement	Two pages or less
Deadline	December 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

The CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship 2027 offers experienced professionals an opportunity to deepen their understanding of national security, foreign policy, strategic thought, and statecraft while engaging directly with senior practitioners and leading policy scholars. Through monthly discussions during 2027 and an intensive Strategy and Statecraft Summit in early 2028, Fellows will have opportunities to examine major geopolitical challenges and apply strategic ideas to professionally relevant scenarios.

The Fellowship is particularly suited to professionals with 10 or more years of experience, an interest in national and international policy, and backgrounds that include strategic, corporate, or policy planning. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must be able to participate in the required Washington, D.C.-based activities.

Interested applicants should prepare their CV or resume, two-page-or-less personal statement, and professional references well in advance of the application deadline.

Application Portal

Interested and eligible applicants can apply for the CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship 2027 through the official application portal:

Apply for the CSIS Strategy and Statecraft Fellowship

Application Deadline: Sunday, December 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Learn more about the fellowship program here

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