From 23–25 April 2025, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia NESA Center Team hosted a contingent of faculty and students from the Saudi National Defense University War College for a Strategic Studies Seminar held at the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C.

The event was planned as part of the continued PME support program that the KSA NESA team is providing over the next two years. The War College Students are in their final semester of a standard one-year Master’s earning academic program. The students are the future senior leaders in the Saudi MOD and other Security Ministries. The relationship that the NESA Center continues to build through PME support is vital as part of U.S. capacity-building objectives.

The Strategic Studies Seminar was designed to introduce, enrich, and at the same time challenge the students in teaching delivery from a U.S. PME perspective and demonstrate best practices. The Seminar consisted of a comprehensive variety of lectures on strategic analysis, strategic cultures, and a strategic assessment of the region. Lecture contributions from the NESA Center academic expertise included: Dr. Michael Sharnoff, Associate Dean Charles Marks, and Associate Dean Richard Wiersma. In addition, there was also a contribution from Professor Adam Oler, the lead academic at the National War College on Strategic Thinking.

The Seminar also included a half-day of wide-ranging and engaging lectures from Dr. Kenneth Pollack and his team of academics, held at the Middle East Institute, and covered the Geopolitical Landscape of the Middle East Region. Like the NESA Center–delivered activity, the supplementary aim was to expose the Saudi contingent to an eminent think tank program.

Finally, Associate Dean Charles Marks voluntarily gave an outstanding mini tour around the grounds and main buildings at Fort McNair, where he delivered a running commentary on the background and history of the evolution of U.S. PME and the journey of the National War College.

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