The National Defense University (NDU) is an institution of higher education in Fort Lesley McNair, Washington, D.C., United States. It is funded by the United States Department of Defense aimed at facilitating high-level education, training, and professional development of national security leaders. As a chairman's Controlled Activity, NDU operates under the guidance of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), with Vice Admiral Peter Garvin, USN, as president. It is located near the White House and the US Congress.

Components

National War College, taken 2014

The National Defense University includes:

Acceptance rate and admissions

Acceptance rate65%
Admissions requirementsYes, based on entrance examinations and students' past academic records and grades
Academic calendarSemesters
Enrollment1,500
Full-time employees75
Student:staff ratio20:1

Research institutes and centers

  • Institute for National Strategic Studies
  • Center for Strategic Studies
  • Center for the Study of Military Affairs of China
  • Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction
  • National Defense University Press
  • Center for Applied Strategic Training
  • Center for Joint and Strategic Logistics
  • The university has a scientific and reference library, the resources of which are open to all students and teachers.

Associated organizations

Publications

The NDU Press supports education, research, and outreach as the university's cross-component, professional military, and academic publishing house. Publications include the journals Joint Force Quarterly (JFQ) and PRISM: The Journal of Complex Operations, books such as Strategic Assessment 2020, case studies, policy briefs, and strategic monographs.

List of presidents

No.PresidentTermService branch
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1Vice Admiral Marmaduke G. Bayne (1920–2005)19761977~1year, 0daysU.S. Navy
2Lieutenant General Robert G. Gard Jr. (1928–2026)1977July 1981~4years, 181daysU.S. Army
3Lieutenant General John S. Pustay (born 1931)July 1981October 1983~2years, 92daysU.S. Air Force
4Lieutenant General Richard D. Lawrence (1930–2016)October 1983September 1986~2years, 335daysU.S. Army
5Lieutenant General Bradley C. Hosmer (born 1937)September 1986September 1989~3years, 0daysU.S. Air Force
6Vice Admiral John A. Baldwin Jr. (born 1933)September 1989August 14, 1992~2years, 348daysU.S. Navy
7Lieutenant General Paul G. Cerjan (1938–2011)August 14, 1992September 1994~2years, 18daysU.S. Army
8Lieutenant General Ervin J. Rokke (born 1939)September 19941997~2years, 122daysU.S. Air Force
9Lieutenant General Richard A. Chilcoat (1938–2010)19972000~3years, 0daysU.S. Army
10Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II (born 1946)July 7, 2000July 2, 20032years, 360daysU.S. Navy
11Lieutenant General Michael M. Dunn (born 1950)July 2, 2003July 14, 20063years, 12daysU.S. Air Force
12Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson (born 1948)July 14, 2006July 10, 20092years, 361daysU.S. Marine Corps
13Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau (born 1951)July 10, 2009April 13, 20122years, 278daysU.S. Navy
-Nancy McEldowney (born 1958) ActingApril 13, 2012July 11, 201289daysSenior Executive Service
14Major General Gregg F. Martin (born 1956)July 11, 2012July 21, 20142years, 10daysU.S. Army
-Wanda Nesbitt (born 1956) ActingJuly 21, 2014November 18, 2014120daysSenior Executive Service
15Major General Frederick M. Padilla (born 1959)November 18, 2014September 25, 20172years, 311daysU.S. Marine Corps
16Vice Admiral Fritz Roegge (born 1958)September 25, 2017February 3, 20213years, 131daysU.S. Navy
17Lieutenant General Michael T. Plehn (born 1964)February 3, 2021October 11, 20243years, 251daysU.S. Air Force
18Vice Admiral Peter Garvin (born c.1967)October 11, 2024Incumbent1year, 274daysU.S. Navy

See also

External links