National Security Fellows Present Research to Leaders in Washington and Tokyo

Seton Hall University’s 2024-25 National Security Fellowship concluded with two landmark trips, one to Washington DC, and the other to Japan, each offering fellows rare opportunities to directly engage with high-ranking national security officials, deepen their understanding of international strategic dynamics and test the practical relevance of their research in real-world settings.

In Washington DC, the fellows concluded a rigorous year of research and policy analysis by presenting their findings to senior officials across the US government. These included representatives from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and other national security agencies. The briefings addressed urgent topics such as Russian-Chinese military modernization and autonomous weapons systems in modern warfare. The fellows delivered carefully researched, policy-relevant analyses, and were often met with robust questions and dialogue, an indication of both the quality of the work and the seriousness with which it was received. The DC visit not only affirmed the fellows’ ability to contribute meaningfully to national-level security discussions, but also demonstrated the value of their research and presentations in policy debates. One of the fellows, Sarah Dimichino, reflecting on the trip said, “NSF was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, allowing me to practice real-world research and briefing skills at high levels of the US government while still a graduate student. Not only did I get to work with a team of smart, dedicated colleagues on challenging projects, but I was also introduced to career paths I would never otherwise have considered.”

The trip to Japan, which was attended by Emmanuel Ogundele, Mary Burke, Anthony Morisi and Carter Bucken, provided a crucial international dimension to the fellowship experience. While in Tokyo and other key cities, fellows were able to present their findings focusing in particular on drone warfare and foreign malign influence across the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) region. Their engagements with the Department of Defense, INDOPACOM leadership and Japanese partners across the government highlighted areas of both shared concern and differing national approaches to security policy.  

In addition to institutional visits, the fellows participated in roundtable dialogues, site visits and closed-door briefings with defense analysts, regional specialists and diplomatic personnel. These moments provided valuable exposure to how intelligence and policy professionals navigate alliances, defense modernization, and deterrence strategy in a volatile geopolitical landscape. The experience also allowed fellows to observe how US foreign policy is perceived abroad, and how American academic and policy research is interpreted and integrated by international partners.

Collectively, these two experiences embodied the fellowship’s core mission, to bridge the gap between academics and applied national security practice. By immersing students in high-stakes policy environments both domestically and abroad, the program equips the next generation of scholars and practitioners with analytical rigor, diplomatic fluency, and operational awareness all needed to confront today’s most complex security challenges. As global threats continue to evolve, the Seton Hall National Security Fellowship stands as a model of experiential learning that prepares its participants not just to understand the world, but to shape it.

Categories: Nation and World