Overview

Washington, D.C.
June 19 - 28 »
July 3 - July 12 »

View More Available Dates »

Get an inside look at the nation’s agencies and organizations that ensure our national security.

Meet intelligence officers, diplomats, military leaders and policy makers and learn about the complex issues facing our world today. Get a first-hand look at the ways in which governments gather and use intelligence to create national security protocols, form diplomatic strategies and consider military alternatives. Discuss and debate the sensitivities of foreign relations among countries with competing interests.

You’ll explore the roles of domestic and international organizations in intelligence gathering, diplomacy and both national and global security. You’ll learn how agencies such as the National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, CIA and Secret Service operate. You will also explore the role of the United Nations and its member countries in maintaining world peace. You’ll see why inter-agency and international cooperation and coordination are so important, but so hard to achieve.

Intelligence, Defense and Foreign Affairs Workshops and Simulations

In our workshops and simulations you will be confronted with real world crises and challenging diplomatic scenarios. Acting as a decision maker, you will use intelligence to analyze threats and formulate long and short term solutions. Short of living through an actual threat situation, there’s no greater way to gain insight into the preparation for and management of an unexpected crisis.

Photo Gallery

Guest Speakers

National Security & Intelligence Officials

• John Allison, M.S., Deputy Director for Human Capital, Defense Intelligence Agency
• Joseph Billy, Jr., M.A., Assistant Director, Counter Terrorism Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Kenneth C. Brill, Director, National Counterproliferation Center; Former Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus
• Alan Capps, Principal Analyst & Editor in Chief, Journal of Homeland Security
• Mike Hannesschlager, M.A., Analyst, Defense Intelligence Agency
• Dr. Todd Hylton, The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Sciences Office
• Leslie Ireland, Iran Mission Manager, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• James Larner, U.S. Secret Service
• Tracy Mustin, Director, Office of the Second Line of Defense, National Nuclear Security Administration
• Robert Walpole, Principal Deputy Director, National Counterproliferation Center

Members of the International & Diplomatic Community

• Tarik Allagany, Public Affairs Supervisor, Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Embassy
• Dr. Ronald Bee, Director, Charles A. Hostler Institute on World Affairs
• Dr. Brigitta Blaha, Consul General of the Republic of Austria, New York City
• John W. Blaney, MSFS, Former U.S. Ambassador to Liberia
• Gary Crocker, Foreign Service Consultant, U.S. Department of State
• William K. Davis, Director, United Nations Information Center
• Judith Fergin, Consul General, US Consulate, Sydney, Australia
• Dr. Stephen Grabherr, Deputy Consul General, Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany, New York City
• Adam Harris, Deputy Early Engagement Director, AIPAC
• Brian H. Hook, M.A., Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations
• Geoff Loane, Head of the Regional Delegation of the United States and Canada, International Committee of the Red Cross
• Caryl Stern, President & CEO, US Fund to UNICEF
• Francesco Maria Talo, Consul General of Italy, New York City

Members of the U.S. Military & Military Science Experts

• Donald Rumsfeld, Former Secretary of Defense
• Brig. Gen. Maria Britt, Commanding General, Georgia Army National Guard
• Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Jim Hawkins, U.S. Air Force
• Capt. (Ret.) Joseph Ludwikowski, U.S. Navy
• Brig. Gen. (Ret.) John Mountcastle, Ph.D., U.S. Army
• Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Wilma Vaught, U.S. Air Force
• Dr. Brannon Wheeler, Director, Middle East and Islamic Studies, U.S. Naval Academy

Government Agencies, Defense Organizations & Political Committees

• Defense Intelligence Agency
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• National Security Agency
• Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• Quantico U.S. Marine Corps Base
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Secret Service
• U.S. Pentagon

Embassies & Diplomatic Organizations

• American Islamic Congress
• Embassy of Israel
• Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
• The United Nations

Tuition, Location and Dates

Complete tuition, enrollment and other conference details can be found in the Application and Enrollment & Other Details included in your invitation package and in the online application.

Please pay careful attention, as dates may have changed from printed material.

2010 Summer National Security & Intelligence Sessions*

Tuition Includes:

• One college credit ($475 value)*
• A full schedule of classes, briefings, lectures and simulations
• Certificate of Completion
• Housing accommodations at a University/College dormitory
• All on-campus meals **
• Course materials and lab fees
• Transportation as needed for off-site activities, briefings and events
• Field trips and social events
• Program Faculty and on-site staff for supervision
• LeadAmerica T-shirt
  

To earn college credit, the student must successfully complete all aspects of the program (see college credit information for more details). The National Security & Intelligence conference is accredited for two (2) college credits.  Tuition includes the first college credit from Loras College. A second college credit is available at a reduced fee of $299.

** Students will need spending money for several off-site meals, souvenirs and incidentals.

Students are responsible for their own airfare or other travel costs to and from each conference location.

*dates and locations are subject to change

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Immerse Yourself in the roles and influence of U.S. Security Institutions such as the CIA, NSA, DIA, NSC, State Department and the Department of Defense
• Examine historic and current Challenges to National Security, while understanding the roles and methods of diplomacy and intelligence through focused workshops on Iran, the Kashmir Crisis, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
• Gain an insider’s perspective of an International Embassy during a tour and briefing on the diplomatic initiatives and challenges confronting the host nation
• Obtain a front row seat and behind the scenes knowledge of current affairs, foreign policy, national security and power politics through a visit to the U.S. State Department
• Examine over 200 spy gadgets, weapons, bugs, cameras, vehicles, and technologies at the International Spy Museum
• Explore Washington, DC and tour the major DC monuments illuminated at night
• Earn up to Two College Credits
  
  
• (July 3-12 Session Only) Former Chief of Counterintelligence at the Central Intelligence Agency, Professor Jim Olson, to address students attending LeadAmerica’s National Security and Intelligence conference
• Professor Olson received his law degree from the University of Iowa in 1969. He is a Senior Lecturer at the Bush School, where he teaches courses on intelligence, national security, and international crisis management. He served for over 25 years in the Directorate of Operations of the Central Intelligence Agency, mostly overseas in clandestine operations. In addition to several foreign assignments, he was Chief of Counterintelligence at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

• National Security & Intelligence students to visit the International Spy Museum.  This visit will give students a behind the scenes look into national security with a focus on intelligence collection and analysis as students participate in a real-to-life Cuban Missile Crisis Simulation at the museum.  In this simulation, students will analyze primary documents gained from actual Human Intelligence, Photo Intelligence, and information in the form of CIA memos and U-2 photographs from that critical time period.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

• College Accredited, Academic Curriculum
• Conduct research, analyze information, engage in debate, resolve conflict and build networks of support as you practice being the security leaders of tomorrow
• Analyze current challenges such as information sharing, the origins of terrorism, human rights, intelligence ethics, natural resource distribution and the proliferation of WMDs
• Debate current proposed security solutions while crafting new paths forward on current conflicts of geopolitical importance
• Engaging Faculty & Guest Speakers
• Gain access to Academic and Professional Leaders in the national security field.
• Speakers may include National Security Experts, Policy Analysts, and Representatives from both federal security agencies and military service, diplomats, Foreign Service officers, policy analysts, Ambassadors and/or representatives from the US State Department and the United Nations.
• Program Relevant Field Excursions
• Experience the program content and appreciate regional sites of importance through field excursions designed to complement the academic and skill building objectives of the program.
• Field Excursions may include visits to the U.S. State Department, the Pentagon, the International Spy Museum and an International Embassy.
• Career Focused Skills & Personal Development Workshops
• Formulate a Personal Mission and Vision plan for your future
• Develop and polish skills like Time Management, Decision Making, Team Building, Conflict Resolution, Public Speaking, and Communication
• Explore the opportunities and strategies to advance in program related career fields
• Collegiate Experience & College Enrollment Seminars
• Experience College Life from challenging academics to dormitory living
• Gain an important head start in the Preparation for College and the College Admission Process.
• Friends & Support for a Lifetime
• Develop a network of Fellow Scholars, Friends, and Mentors

A DAY AT NATIONAL SECURITY & INTELLIGENCE*

*This is a sample day and examples of lectures, excursions and activities each program may include. All speakers and events are subject to availability and change, without notice, before or after the start of a conference.