The Marshall Center offers two Fellows Programs. The first is the long-established US Senior Fellows Program; the second is the International Fellows Program launched in 2007.

US Senior Fellows Program

The intent of the Army and Air Force Fellows Program is to provide a regionally focused, professional education experience at the senior service school level. Through coursework, research, writing, and interaction with participants in Marshall Center resident programs, Fellows enhance their general understanding of international and security affairs, while developing specialist knowledge of European and Eurasian security issues. Three or four US Senior Fellows graduate from the program annually.

Air Force Fellows have always received Senior Service College credit. However, in 2007 the Marshall Center successfully obtained similar Senior Service College credit for Army Fellows from academic year 2008 – 2009. This is a notable achievement that enhances the status and academic credibility of the Marshall Center. In granting Senior Service College credit, Lieutenant General James D. Thurman recognized the academic rigor of the Senior Fellows Program when he described it as “a unique educational experience to develop future senior Army officers”.

The completion of an Advanced Research Project of professional relevance to the Fellow is an essential part of the program. Research papers demonstrate substantial effort and represent a significant contribution to the Fellow’s chosen field. Research papers in 2008 have covered US Military Transformation, NATO and Missile Defense, and Turkey’s relations with the EU.

International Fellows Program

The International Fellows Program (IFP) provides Commander US European Command and the Chief of Defense Staff, German Ministry of Defense with a means of expressing appreciation to a particular country by offering Ministers of Defense Marshall Center fellowships for deserving members of their staff. The Fellowship award is a six-month professional developmental education and networking opportunity at the Marshall Center for selected military or civilian leaders. It includes participation in the Program on Advanced Security Studies (PASS) and another resident program relevant to individual Fellow’s professional development. The second resident course may be the Program in Terrorism and Security Studies (PTSS) or one of the new programs, including the Seminar on Transatlantic Civil Security (STACS) or the Security, Stability, Transition and Reconstruction program (SSTAR).

The IFP is aimed at high-caliber military or civilian professionals who are considered to have the potential for senior leadership positions in their ministries or institutions. The IFP requires Fellows to complete a research paper, agreed by their ministries, on a topic relevant to defense sector reform in their countries. Fellows are mentored by a Marshall Center professor with the relevant subject area expertise. Completed papers may be published as Marshall Center “Occasional Papers” or possibly in other peer-reviewed academic journals.

The Marshall Center has so far hosted International Fellows from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Montenegro, Romania, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Research papers have covered a diverse range of topics including: Ukraine’s prospects for NATO entry, Caspian regional security and Bulgaria’s energy security policy.

Professor James K. Wither
Director Fellows Program