The College of International Security Affairs

09/01/2026

🦅🎓 Alumni Promotion | Mr. Noor Hisam Bin Nordin

We are proud to share that Mr. Noor Hisam Bin Nordin (CISA Class of 2018) has been promoted to Director of Crime Prevention and Community Safety for the Royal Malaysia Police Force.

This federal-level appointment carries nationwide responsibility for advancing crime prevention initiatives and strengthening community safety throughout Malaysia. It reflects Mr. Noor Hisam's distinguished leadership, dedicated public service, and continued commitment to national security.

Congratulations to Mr. Noor Hisam Bin Nordin on this well-deserved promotion. We wish him continued success in his new role.

08/31/2026

ACES 2026 is underway – the week has officially kicked off in Seoul, South Korea!

We’re excited to welcome our distinguished alumni from 6 geographic combatant commands and come together for a week of learning, discussion, and engagement with fellow leaders from across the globe. Stay tuned for more from ACES 2026!

08/28/2026

During a recent visit to the U.S. Naval Academy, Dr. Hassan Abbas had the opportunity to reconnect with CISA alumnus Ross Conley.

These moments of connection reflect the enduring relationships built through CISA and the value of our global network of alumni, faculty, and security professionals. We are always proud to see members of the CISA community continuing to engage, collaborate, and support one another throughout their careers.

08/26/2026

Beyond the classroom, National Defense University graduates build relationships with their fellow alumni – across all colleges and components – including officers from across the services, civilians from the various inter-agencies, and International Fellows from around the world.

When reconnecting with the NDU community for the Alumni Continuing Education Seminar (ACES), alumni reengage with their fellow classmates, strengthening these bonds, and ultimately help advance shared security interests.

Built into the ACES schedule are opportunities for networking, including programming exploring the local culture of South Korea and an International Fellows Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Together, participants will celebrate their accomplishments, NDU’s 50th anniversary, JFSC’s 80th anniversary, and the USA’s 250th anniversary.

Networking is a key part of the theme of Enduring Partnerships | Shared Strength. We can't wait to see you next week!

Take a look back on ACESS 2025 in Washington, D.C., and stay connected to hear more about ACES 2026, and for announcements about future ACES participation.

Watch last year's ACESS 2025 highlight video here: https://youtu.be/uLngyvxQDZM?si=To6d1ROAtE29kmrZ

National Defense University's (NDU) Alumni Continuing Education Sec...

08/24/2026

🦅🎓 Alumni Publication | COL James Armstrong

We are proud to recognize COL James Armstrong (CISA Class of 2026) for his publication, "Burma: An Irregular War Consigned to the Shadows," featured in Counterterrorism: The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security International.

The article examines the ongoing conflict in Burma, highlighting the enduring role of irregular warfare and the strategic implications of a conflict that often receives limited international attention. Through his analysis, COL Armstrong sheds light on the complexities of modern insurgency and regional security dynamics.

This publication exemplifies the thoughtful scholarship and operational insight that CISA students contribute to today's most pressing security challenges.

Congratulations to COL Armstrong on this accomplishment—we look forward to following his future research. 👏

🔗 Read more here: https://cisa.ndu.edu/Alumni/Alumni-Publications/Alumni-publications-view/Article/4447121/ltcol-james-r-armstrong-class-of-2026-burma-an-irregular-war-consigned-to-the-s/

08/21/2026

During the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, Dr. Andrew Novo and Dr. Peter Thompson presented CISA research and engaged with international partners, helping strengthen CISA's relationship with the Institute for Strategic Research of the Military School (IRSEM) and laying the foundation for future collaboration.

The forum also provided an opportunity to reconnect with CISA alumnus COL Tomislav Ciric, now serving as the Serbian Defense Attaché in Paris. It was a pleasure to hear about his continued service and to reconnect as part of CISA's growing global alumni network.

Our alumni continue to represent CISA and NDU around the world, strengthening partnerships and advancing international security through their leadership.

08/19/2026

NDU’s Alumni Continuing Education Seminar 2026 | Seoul, South Korea

Mirroring their experience as a full-time student at NDU, ACES participants will take part in electives exploring a wide variety of security topics. Our esteemed faculty will lead these electives, and participants will have the opportunity to bring their expertise to the discussion.

We are eager to explore these topics together:

✔ Countering the North Korean Nuclear Threat

✔ The Global Arctic: How a Distant Region Might Reshape Your National Strategy

✔ Lawfare and Strategic Assets: Lessons from the Panama Canal Controversy

✔ Geopolitics and Transnational Organized Crime

✔ Regional Responses to Gray Zone Competition in the South China Sea

✔ Has the Time Come for an Independent European Defense Force?

✔ Co-production: Opportunities and Challenges

✔ Strategic Foresight and the Role of the Armed Forces

✔ Artificial Intelligence & National Security Decisions

✔ The Shadow Force: Militias and Paramilitaries in Modern War

✔ Collective Defense in the Digital Age: Japan and Allied Capabilities for the Future

We are excited to welcome back this year’s cohort of alumni in two weeks!

Follow us to hear more about the event, and for announcements about future ACES participation.

08/17/2026

🦅🎓 Alumni Publication | MAJ Ryan Walters

We are proud to recognize MAJ Ryan Walters (JSOMA Class of 2026) for one of many scholarly contributions to Small Wars Journal, a leading forum for analysis on irregular warfare and contemporary security challenges.

MAJ Walters is the co-author of "Governing Cognitive Warfare at Ecosystem Speed: Why America Can’t Organize for Influence—and What It Takes to Compete." The article examines why the United States struggles to compete effectively in the cognitive domain and argues that the challenge lies not in a lack of capability, but in governance structures that cannot keep pace with today's rapidly evolving information environment.
It proposes a framework for integrating cognitive effects into national security policymaking while strengthening interagency coordination and public-private collaboration.

This publication reflects the intellectual rigor, strategic thinking, and operational relevance that define CISA's students and alumni.

Congratulations to MAJ Walters on this outstanding achievement—we look forward to seeing more of his contributions to the field. 👏

🔗 Read more here: https://cisa.ndu.edu/Alumni/Alumni-Publications/Alumni-publications-view/Article/4560231/major-ryan-walters-jsoma-class-of-2026-governing-cognitive-warfare-at-ecosystem/

08/17/2026

08/14/2026

We were pleased to see our Colombian CISA alumni meet this past spring to discuss the importance of maintaining strong connections with CISA and the National Defense University long after graduation.

They highlighted the value of staying engaged through established CISA and NDU LinkedIn groups and professional networks, while encouraging alumni to share their experiences and expertise to strengthen our global community and foster continued international collaboration.

It is a pleasure to see Admiral (Ret) Hernando Wills (CISA Class of 2008), Captain (Ret) Jorge Aissa (CISA Class of 2010), MG (Ret) Raul Florez (CISA Class of 2010), Captain (Ret) Carlos Delgado (CISA Class of 2015), and LTC Edwin Vargas (CISA Class of 2025) connect and reflect on their time at CISA.

We are especially thinking of them, and the rest of Colombia, as they deal with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. We have already seen CISA alumni come together to support their Colombian classmates, and it is important to show up for each other not just in the good times, but also in the hard times. We hope the CISA community can be an added layer of support as your country grieves and begins to recover. We are thinking of all of our Colombian CISA and NDU alumni. 🇨🇴