Course Summary:
This seminar introduces students to U.S. Special Operations as a strategic instrument of national power and explores how (and under what conditions) policymakers turn to Special Operations Forces (SOF) to help solve a spectrum of national security and foreign policy challenges. By the end of the course, students will understand the political, military, and diplomatic risks, challenges, and opportunities involved with strategic decisions to conduct Special Operations in support of the nation’s security.
The professor — who spent 34 years as a Navy SEAL and also served as the Acting Director of National Intelligence — will draw upon his military, leadership, and Cabinet-level experiences to shed light on the implementation of Special Operations; the full range of international, strategic, and tactical risks that are involved in these operations; and how national policymakers have used and sometimes misused or failed to use SOF in their pursuit of foreign policy objectives.
This seminar incorporates an impressive list of guest speakers, including but not limited to: Admiral Bill McRaven, former Chancellor of the University of Texas System and former Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command Michele Malvesti, Visiting Professor and former Senior Director for Combating Terrorism Strategy on the National Security Council staff Admiral Eric T. Olson, 8th USSOCOM Commander Mr. Jeff Eggers, former Senior Director for Afghanistan Policy on the National Security Council staff at the White House Nicholas J. Rasmussen, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center and former Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council Staff at the White House."