The Heritage Foundation’s George C. Marshall Fellows program provides exceptional young professionals with the opportunity to appreciate the development of grand strategy and the practice of strategic leadership. The program strives to provide a comprehensive overview of national security principles and to explain the application of those principles in real-life situations.

Today, many top-level staffers and other professionals around Washington, D.C., are educated in one specific aspect of national defense or foreign policy but have very little sense of where their expertise fits into the larger framework of national security. A comprehensive overview of national defense and foreign policy is vitally important because those who are charged with making important decisions must be able to do so in the context of the satisfying the overall national security priorities of the country, versus one particular area.

In previous years, special speakers for fellowship events have included notable figures from the national security and foreign policy fields like General Michael Hayden, Paul Lettow, and Fran Townsend.

The program is designed to fit your busy schedule. It will run from March through October, beginning with a half-day introductory session. Thereafter, the fellows will meet at least one evening per month. Your health and safety are our priority. Depending upon COVID-19 meeting restrictions, sessions may be delivered virtually or in-person at The Heritage Foundation’s buildings in Washington, D.C.

March - Orientation and Marshall Fellowship Alumni + Current Fellows Happy Hour

April - Dinner & Discussion w/ Guest Speaker

May - Staff Ride to Gettysburg, PA

May - Dinner & Discussion w/ Guest Speaker

June - Dinner & Discussion w/ Guest Speaker

July - Dinner & Discussion w/ Alumni Panel

August - Staff Ride to Marshall International Center and Yalta Conference Team Preparation

September - Dinner & discussion w/ Guest Speaker

October - Staff Ride/Yalta Conference Simulation and Graduation Dinner