May 22, 2026 —
About the Course
The National Security Executive Leadership Seminar is an interagency program that brings together 30 rising leaders from across the U. S. Government for a series of seminar sessions on key national security topics. Participants will gain insights and interagency understanding to advance the Administration’s core foreign policy interests.
Participants are selected through a competitive nomination and selection process. Half are from the State Department and half from other USG national security agencies, including DoW, the NSC, OMB, DHS, DOJ, Commerce, Treasury, the intelligence community, the National War College and others. Those selected represent each agency’s finest rising leaders at the GS-15/FS-01/O-6 level and are expected to assume positions of greater leadership responsibility within the next five years.
At the end of the seminar, participants will be equipped to:
- Analyze national security challenges and opportunities
- More effectively implement national security strategy priorities
- Leverage networks and more effectively coordinate across agency lines
- More effectively lead interagency teams.
Eligibility
All employees at the GS-15/FS-01/O-6, and equivalent members are eligible to participate. Applicants must have been employed with DHS for at least one year and have received Achieved Expectations or equivalent on their last review; and must be involved in national security related policy work.
NSELS Cohort 43 will meet as follows:
| Session 1: The National Security Framework |
October 21 – 22, 2026 |
| Session 2: How Agencies Advance the Administration’s Priorities |
November 18 – 19, 2026 |
| Session 3: Interagency Coordination and Implementation |
January 27 – 28, 2027 |
| Session 4: Emerging Challenges and Future Threats |
February 24 – 25, 2027 |
| Session 5: Leadership in an Interagency Environment |
March 24 – 25, 2027 |
Funding
This program is offered tuition-free for anyone selected to participate. FSI is located in Arlington, VA.
For applicants outside of the NCR: travel, per diem, and other incidental expenses are the responsibility of the nominee's unit.
Application Deadline
**Nominations are due by Monday, June 22, 2026**
Application Procedures
Applicants are required to complete the NSELS Nomination Form and an updated resume (please remove PII data).
Supervisory recommendation within the NSELS Nomination Form must indicate their approval/support for the nominee to attend ALL the training dates along with any amplifying information about the nominees qualifications.
To apply, fill out the attached nominee information sheet and email the form and supporting documents in Word format (NSELS Nomination Form MUST be submitted in Word format) to SMB-COMDT-CG-DHSAcademicProgramsAdministration@uscg.mil.
Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.
Program Manager
Ms. Alyssa Lombardi Blase, alyssa.j.lombardi@uscg.mil