Welcome - Department of National Security Affairs

The mission of the Department of National Security Affairs (NSA) is to deliver advanced education and research to promote the security of the United States and its allies, and enhance the effectiveness of the U.S. Navy. NSA brings an outstanding faculty of political scientists, historians, and economists together with students from all branches of the U.S. military, defense-related civilian agencies, and international officers in an engaging learning environment designed to deepen knowledge of regional and security affairs, while fostering critical thinking, intellectual independence, and a global perspective.

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Upcoming Events

February 10, 2025 to February 14, 2025
Joint Training Education Congress

The Department of National Security Affairs (NSA) offers fully accredited programs leading to the Master of Arts in Security Studies, as well as a Ph.D. program in Security Studies. In addition to specializing in traditional security domains such as nuclear proliferation, arms control, maritime strategy, interstate wars, insurgency, terrorism and homeland security, the NSA department conducts cutting edge research and education in the areas of cyber warfare, space politics, and energy and climate security.

The Department of National Security Affairs (NSA) provides top-level education from some of the best scholars in the country. 

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The NSA faculty are leading experts in their field, and working on issues relevant to DoD.

Regional Studies
Security Studies
Publications

With the rise of China and the return of Russia to near-peer military status with the United States, the topic of renewed Great Power Competition (GPC) has moved to the forefront of U.S. defense concerns.  In 2019, in response to a request from N3/N5, the Department of National Security Affairs at NPS created a first-of-its-kind GPC overview course to educate NPS students and interested faculty and staff about critical challenges posed by China and Russia.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR, DR. MARIA RASMUSSEN

NPS Researchers

The Department of National Security Affairs (NSA) offers fully accredited programs leading to the Master of Arts in Security Studies, as well as a Ph.D. program in Security Studies. In addition to specializing in traditional security domains such as nuclear proliferation, arms control, maritime strategy, interstate wars, insurgency, terrorism and homeland security, the NSA department conducts cutting edge research and education in the areas of cyber warfare, space politics, and energy and climate security. 

Departmental News

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Faculty Publications

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The New Moon Race - Assessing Chinese and U.S. Strategies

The Offense-Defense Balance in Cyberspace


Latest Books

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book cover Wars of Ambition: The United States, Iran, and the Struggle for the Middle East
Author: Afshon Ostovar
A gripping narrative history of one of the most complex and important conflicts in the world—the battle to dominate the Middle East regional order, from 2003 to the present..

book cover The Challenges of Nuclear Security: US and Indian Perspectives
Author: S. Paul Kapur
This Open Access volume assembles experts from the United States and India to examine six issues essential to the safety and security of nuclear facilities, technologies, and materials: insider threats, organizational culture, emergency response, physical protection, control of radioactive sources, ..

book cover The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough
Author: Erik Dahl
In his new book, The COVID-19 Intelligence Failure: Why Warning Was Not Enough, Erik Dahl looks at what went wrong in the coronavirus pandemic—how was it possible for the U.S...

Alumni Spotlight


MGEN Ariel R Caculitan, NPS Alumus 2005
MGEN Ariel R Caculitan, an ’05 Naval Postgraduate School graduate was recently appointed the 33rd Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).
MGEN Ariel R. Caculitan, NPS Alumnus