The Institute of World Politics

09/02/2026

Twenty-five years after 9/11, the nature of national security threats has evolved, but the need to anticipate emerging risks and respond effectively to crises remains as critical as ever.

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Dr. David A. Bray will draw on his experience in crisis response and technological transformation to offer actionable insights in a lecture titled “Twenty-Five Years After 9/11: From Bioterrorism to Generative AI.”

📍 The Institute of World Politics | Washington, DC
📅 Thursday, September 10
🕔 5:00–6:00 PM

Register here:

On the eve of 9/11’s 25th anniversary, Dr. David A. Bray explores lessons from bioterrorism to AI on crisis leadership, trust, and freedom.

09/01/2026

The fall semester is underway at IWP!

Our students are diving into a wide range of courses designed to develop expertise in national security, intelligence, diplomacy, statecraft, and military strategy.

Pictured are classes in:

▪️ Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control
▪️ Contemporary Global Politics and Diplomacy
▪️ Intelligence and the Law
▪️ International Relations, Statecraft, and Integrated Strategy
▪️ Military Strategy: Theory and Practice

We’re excited to welcome our students back to campus and look forward to a semester of rigorous study, thoughtful discussion, and practical preparation for careers in national security and international affairs.

09/01/2026

What Are the Hidden Consequences of Colombia’s 7.4 Earthquake?

In this news update, we examine the geopolitical, humanitarian, and infrastructure fallout following the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia, alongside subsequent seismic events shaking the region. Christine Balling—founder of the Colombian nonprofit Fundación ECCO, former Senior Fellow for Latin American Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council, and IWP faculty member—explains why this earthquake was so influential.

Hosted by Olivia Fanders, this episode looks past the initial headlines to evaluate the broader national security and institutional challenges posed by natural disasters.

Join us as we break down the cascading domestic and economic effects of these events, and discover how ongoing seismic activity continues to test government infrastructure and civil protection frameworks across the region.

08/25/2026

The first woman chaplain to serve in Special Operations and the first woman chaplain jumpmaster, Chaplain Karen Meeker came to IWP for a U.S. Army War College Fellowship for her final assignment as a Lieutenant Colonel. During her year at IWP, she prepared to serve as a Chaplain Colonel in increasingly senior positions.

Today, Chaplain Meeker serves as the Executive Director of the Armed Forces Chaplain Board, the only full-time Chaplain position in the Office of the Secretary of War. There, she is working on policies for religious endorsers of Chaplains and for defining the spiritual fitness domain, while advocating for the modernization of the Army’s chapel facilities.

In an interview with IWP, CH Meeker shared with us how she was called to ministry at the age of 12, how she learned military culture firsthand to prepare for her ministry, and how her experience at IWP prepared her for success in multilateral engagements with our U.S. embassies across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Read CH Meeker’s story: https://www.iwp.edu/students-alumni/alumni/2026/08/19/iwp-alumna-spotlight-ch-col-karen-meeker-u-s-army/

The first woman chaplain to serve in Special Operations and the first woman chaplain jumpmaster, Chaplain Karen Meeker came to IWP for a U.S. Army War College

08/21/2026

IWP's course on “Mass Murder Prevention in Failed and Failing States” will be taught this fall by Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz, Professor of History and Director of the Center for Intermarium Studies.

This course examines genocide, ethnic cleansing, and the political and ideological factors that contribute to mass atrocities. Students will explore historical cases and identify early warning signs of mass violence.

📅 Thursdays this fall, 6:30-9:30 PM

Learn more about this course: https://www.iwp.edu/courses/mass-murder-prevention-in-failed-and-failing-states/

08/19/2026

Jeffrey W. Yeates, JD, LLM, former Associate General Counsel at the Central Intelligence Agency, has joined the IWP faculty to teach the course on Intelligence and the Law (IWP 681).

Prof. Yeates served in the CIA Office of General Counsel for 25 years. He served as Chief Legal Advisor for two Directorate of Operations divisions. Throughout his career, he advised on a full range of operational, international, and fiscal legal issues in Washington, D.C. and numerous overseas locations, including war zones.

Prof. Yeates commented: “I started practicing law at the CIA two weeks after 9/11. After nearly 25 years in the heart of post -9/11 national security legal and policy issues, I'm looking forward to preparing this generation of students for the next 25 years of government and public service.”

Read more: https://www.iwp.edu/press-releases/2026/08/18/jeffrey-yeates-former-cia-associate-general-counsel-joins-iwp-faculty/

08/18/2026

This fall, Wayne Schroeder, Ph.D., former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, will teach “Nuclear Strategy and Arms Control,” a course examining the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. security policy and competing theories of deterrence.

📅 Mondays, 6:30-9:30 PM

Learn more about his course: https://www.iwp.edu/courses/nuclear-strategy-and-arms-control/

08/10/2026

This fall semester, Dr. Christopher C. Harmon, former Director of Counterterrorism Studies Programs in Asia and Europe for the U.S. Government, will teach “Military Strategy: Theory and Practice,” a course examining how military and other instruments of power are used to achieve strategic objectives.

📅 Mondays, 6:30-9:30 PM

Learn more about his course: https://www.iwp.edu/courses/military-strategy-theory-and-practice/

08/07/2026

IWP Alumni Spotlight: James Di Pane (’17), Consultant for the U.S. Navy

During the War on Terror, James became fascinated by an unexpected topic: China's ambitions to become a global power. That interest eventually led him to IWP, where he focused his studies on China and great power competition.

During his time in D.C., James began his career in the think tank world, helping assess U.S. military readiness and evaluating whether the United States could fight a major conflict while maintaining the reserve strength needed to deter other adversaries.

Today, James contributes directly to the strength of our military by supporting a major shipbuilding program for the U.S. Navy. Recently, James’ cost estimates played an essential role in supporting contract negotiations, earning him multiple corporate awards.

Read how IWP helped prepare James for a career supporting U.S. national security: https://www.iwp.edu/students-alumni/alumni/2026/08/05/james-di-pane-17-consultant-for-the-u-s-navy/

08/04/2026

This fall, Prof. Paul Kepp, former Assistant Director at the CIA and a 34-year veteran of the U.S. intelligence and foreign affairs communities, will teach his course on Comparative Intelligence Systems: Foreign Intelligence and Security Cultures (IWP 622).

This course is designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of the intelligence and counterintelligence systems of selected foreign states, as contrasted with the intelligence and counterintelligence traditions of the U.S.

📅 Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 PM

Learn more about his course: https://www.iwp.edu/courses/comparative-intelligence-systems-foreign-intelligence-and-security-cultures/