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Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies

President Eisenhower negotiating a deal to create the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Named after President Dwight Eisenhower, the first American president to establish a national policy-shaping U.S. engagement in space for both military and peaceful purposes, we continue his tradition of pioneering national security policy through the domains of space, cyber, nuclear, and emerging technology.

The Eisenhower Center continues this tradition by providing cadets and faculty with unique opportunities to participate in research and policy discussions on the future of American defense policy through firsthand contact with senior leaders and experts in the military, civilian government, and private sector from the United States, and major space-faring nations. Through its journal, Space and Defense, the Eisenhower Center promotes the research done by the Academy and our colleagues, to fuel the ongoing discussion of space and security policy issues. In addition to contributing to these ongoing discussions, we are also improving space policy education for Officers and Guardians at all levels of education. Eisenhower Center innovates space and national security policy research and education to produce impactful research and Officers and Guardians.

MISSION

The Eisenhower Center at the U.S. Air Force Academy conducts academic research to equip present and future leaders with the intellectual tools necessary to understand and master challenges of the space domain.

VISION

The Eisenhower Center’s goal is to become the premiere space policy and strategy research center at the U.S. Air Force Academy solving defense and security challenges.

CORE COMPETENCIES
  • National security policy, with an emphasis on deterrence theory, particularly in the space, nuclear, cyber, and emerging technology domains
  • Supports teaching and scholarship related to USAFA’s National Security learning outcome, including the Nuclear and Space Minors
  • Collaborates with external partners such as the Office of the Secretary of Defense, SpOC Space Force, U.S. STAR Command, U.S. Space Command, U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Northern Command, National Laboratories, and Stanton Foundation for faculty and cadet research.

HISTORY

The U.S. Air Force Academy’s Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies is named in honor of Dwight Eisenhower, the first American president to establish a national policy shaping U.S. engagement in space for both military and peaceful purposes. The Center was born on April 28th, 2005, to research and solve policy problems facing the relatively new domain of outer space. In February 2008, the Center received the honor of the Eisenhower name from Susan Eisenhower, a renowned policy expert and public leadership professor at Gettysburg College, to honor her grandfather’s legacy.

MAJOR PROJECTS
  • The Space and Defense Journal, co-published with the University of Nebraska Omaha, publishing work from cadets, faculty, and our Scowcroft Fellows.
  • Working with USSPACECOM, SpOC, STAR Command, Space ISAC, and Catalyst Campus to involve cadets in operationally relevant research projects.
  • Creating the Space Opportunities for Learning and Research (SOLAR) group that is focused on facilitating and cataloging interdisciplinary space research at USAFA.
  • Creating a PME educational space board game utilized during Azimuth and is being distributed to ROTC detachments.
  • Continuing to sponsor national security and emerging domains that bring together experts to discuss cutting-edge issues across their fields and share their expertise with cadet conferences, as we have done seven times in two years.
Contact Us

Prof. Madison Walker
(719) 333-6568
madison.walker@afacademy.af.edu

Dr. Damon Coletta
(719) 333-2483
damon.coletta@afacademy.af.edu