[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 20 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the importance 
of the National Defense University, NDU, and its contribution to our 
national security. Since 1976, the NDU has been the premier center for 
Joint Professional Military Education. Under the direction and 
leadership of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, NDU provides 
an educational and research environment to prepare future leaders of 
the armed services, the Department of State, other civilian agencies, 
and allied countries for high-level policy, command, and staff 
responsibilities. In addition, a limited number of students from 
private industry attend the university. Members of both Houses of 
Congress have benefitted from interactions with students and experts on 
the NDU campus. Students are selected for their leadership potential 
and many NDU alumni have gone on to senior leadership positions in 
their service, agency, or country.
  NDU is a center for joint, multinational, and interagency education. 
It is comprised of the National War College, NWC; Industrial College of 
the Armed Forces, ICAF; Joint Forces Staff College, JFSC; Information 
Resources Management College, IRMC; School for National Security 
Executive Education, SNSEE; Institute for National Strategic Studies, 
INSS; Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, CSWMD; 
Center for Technology and National Security Policy, CTNSP; Institute 
for National Security Ethics and Leadership; and five special programs: 
Capstone/Pinnacle/Keystone, Joint Reserve Affairs Center, JRAC; 
International Student Management Office, ISMO; Secretary of Defense 
Corporate Fellows Program, SDCFP; and the NATO Staff Officer 
Orientation Course, NSOOC.
  With facilities located in Washington, DC, and Norfolk, VA, more than 
1,000 people attend university courses and programs on any given day. 
NDU is an accredited graduate-level university awarding approximately 
600 masters degrees each year. Through agreements with a number of 
universities, IRMC students can earn 15 graduate credits for work 
completed at NDU.
  At NDU, students are taught how to think--not what to think. The 
curriculum combines information technology, classroom experience, and 
experiential learning. Through lecture programs, students gain 
important insights from top military, government, industry, and 
international leaders to include the President of the United States, 
Cabinet-level officials, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commanders from 
major military commands, Members of Congress, civilian leaders, and 
foreign ministers of defense. Speakers talk frankly with students under 
the University's nonattribution policy allowing a free exchange of 
ideas.
  Annually, NDU's outreach efforts include more than 500 conferences, 
symposia, and workshops; 20,000 visitors; 120 faculty and staff 
publications; and 350 conference presentations by university faculty 
and staff to both national and international audiences.
  The award-winning NDU Press produces numerous publications, which 
address national security issues. The NDU Library with a collection of 
more than 500,000 bound items, audiovisual materials, classified 
documents, and on-line services is an extensive source for information 
about national security policy, military strategy, defense resource 
management, and industry studies.
  The National Defense University is a significant and valuable 
institution for the development of leaders for America's national 
security needs.

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