Educating the Next Generation of Senior Leaders in National Security Affairs Alan G. Whittaker, Ph.D. Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs Industrial College of the Armed Forces National Defense University Washington, D.C. Alan G. Whittaker, Ph.D. Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs Industrial College of the Armed Forces National Defense University Washington, D.C.

The views expressed in this presentation are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the National Defense University, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government

The Learners Senior military officers and Executive Branch civilians Lt. Col or Colonel (or equivalent), GS-14 / GS-15 ~20 years experience (~38-40 yrs old) –B.A. ~100%, M.A %, Ph.D./J.D. ~5% Top 5% –Identified potential for General/ Flag officer, SES/SIS, Ambassador International Officers

Is Psychology Required? No requirement for psychology courses –But, is implicit in mandate for developing effective leadership skills in national security affairs Educational Requirements: –USG stakeholder requirements CJCS/ OPMEP, Congress, Middle States Assoc –Develop critical strategic thinking skills for national security strategy –Strategic leadership skill development No requirement for psychology courses –But, is implicit in mandate for developing effective leadership skills in national security affairs Educational Requirements: –USG stakeholder requirements CJCS/ OPMEP, Congress, Middle States Assoc –Develop critical strategic thinking skills for national security strategy –Strategic leadership skill development

Role/Rationale : useful content from psychology Industrial/Organizational –Organizational management –Leadership skills in complex change environments; Strategic Planning Social Psychology: Group decision processes Political Psychology –Behavior in high stress / crisis situations –Perception and misperception –Decision-making –Conflict analysis & resolution Personality & Developmental Psychology Cognitive Psychology: Cognitive complexity, biases, operational code; framing Educational Psychology: Diverse, small group, multi-disciplinary, seminar learning Industrial/Organizational –Organizational management –Leadership skills in complex change environments; Strategic Planning Social Psychology: Group decision processes Political Psychology –Behavior in high stress / crisis situations –Perception and misperception –Decision-making –Conflict analysis & resolution Personality & Developmental Psychology Cognitive Psychology: Cognitive complexity, biases, operational code; framing Educational Psychology: Diverse, small group, multi-disciplinary, seminar learning

Special Issues: Learning & Teaching Challenges Source credibility Questions re: relevance, reliability and validity, clear guidelines for practical application Lack of foundational knowledge, familiarity with relevant dynamics Overall context of broad, intense, multi-disciplinary content Useful pedagogies: –3.5 : 1 student/faculty ratio; 16 member seminars, 10 month program, core courses & electives, Distinguished Lecture program Source credibility Questions re: relevance, reliability and validity, clear guidelines for practical application Lack of foundational knowledge, familiarity with relevant dynamics Overall context of broad, intense, multi-disciplinary content Useful pedagogies: –3.5 : 1 student/faculty ratio; 16 member seminars, 10 month program, core courses & electives, Distinguished Lecture program

Teaching Opportunities & Barriers-1 OPPORTUNITIES: Operational environment is political behavior Psychological research & knowledge are relevant to applied policy problems Target population is highly Intelligent and motivated to increase applicable knowledge and improve effectiveness Experiences with perplexing political behavior raises questions MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO SCHOLARSHIP? Multi-disciplinary = fundamental requirement for strategic level understanding, integration, and application OPPORTUNITIES: Operational environment is political behavior Psychological research & knowledge are relevant to applied policy problems Target population is highly Intelligent and motivated to increase applicable knowledge and improve effectiveness Experiences with perplexing political behavior raises questions MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACHES TO SCHOLARSHIP? Multi-disciplinary = fundamental requirement for strategic level understanding, integration, and application

BARRIERS / CHALLENGES Translating psychology research into language usable by national security policy-makers - Writing for academics vs. policymakers, “psycho- babble” - Psychological principles are unimportant- focus is on crafting effective strategies and scripts Credibility re: knowledge and experience in national security affairs –Psychologists perceived as medical community component, not foreign policy; as technical consultants, not policymakers Target population is highly experienced with established schemas Qualified instructors (psychological training & experience in national security affairs) Competing stakeholder content requirements within limited time frames BARRIERS / CHALLENGES Translating psychology research into language usable by national security policy-makers - Writing for academics vs. policymakers, “psycho- babble” - Psychological principles are unimportant- focus is on crafting effective strategies and scripts Credibility re: knowledge and experience in national security affairs –Psychologists perceived as medical community component, not foreign policy; as technical consultants, not policymakers Target population is highly experienced with established schemas Qualified instructors (psychological training & experience in national security affairs) Competing stakeholder content requirements within limited time frames

Implications for Psychology INVOLVEMENT More knowledgeable, skilled and effective national security advisors & policymakers. Fewer decisions based upon stereotyping, mechanistic rational actor theories, “folk knowledge” & “hunches” LACK OF INVOLVEMENT Continued lack of in-depth knowledge of psychological principles and dynamics in policy processes “Cherry picking” of psychological research findings Policymakers less able to understand both capabilities and limitations in understanding and influencing political behavior MULTIDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS National Security operational environment is multidimensional and multidisciplinary Psychologists must be multidisciplinary to establish credibility in national security affairs, policy processes, & knowledge of policymaker needs (political & personal) INVOLVEMENT More knowledgeable, skilled and effective national security advisors & policymakers. Fewer decisions based upon stereotyping, mechanistic rational actor theories, “folk knowledge” & “hunches” LACK OF INVOLVEMENT Continued lack of in-depth knowledge of psychological principles and dynamics in policy processes “Cherry picking” of psychological research findings Policymakers less able to understand both capabilities and limitations in understanding and influencing political behavior MULTIDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS National Security operational environment is multidimensional and multidisciplinary Psychologists must be multidisciplinary to establish credibility in national security affairs, policy processes, & knowledge of policymaker needs (political & personal)

Preparing Psychology Education for the Future-1 Criticality of supporting multi-disciplinary education –Support Political Psychology programs –PROMOTE traditional graduate psychology programs with non-traditional sub-specialties –PROMOTE psychology Ph.D. programs accepting students with non-psychology B.A. or M.A. Support the ability of psychology undergraduate & graduate students to construct dual majors or minors in other disciplines –credible expertise in traditional national security disciplines is an absolute requirement for introducing psychological considerations at the strategic policy level Criticality of supporting multi-disciplinary education –Support Political Psychology programs –PROMOTE traditional graduate psychology programs with non-traditional sub-specialties –PROMOTE psychology Ph.D. programs accepting students with non-psychology B.A. or M.A. Support the ability of psychology undergraduate & graduate students to construct dual majors or minors in other disciplines –credible expertise in traditional national security disciplines is an absolute requirement for introducing psychological considerations at the strategic policy level

Preparing Psychology Education for the Future-2 Promote psychology courses designed to highlight psychological principles and dynamics that can be applied to the work of other disciplines Facilitate ability of practitioners in other disciplines to understand and utilize psychological findings –Writing for non-psychologists Establish applied short programs & summer institutes for national security practitioners Promote summer programs & institutes to prepare applied political psychologist practitioners, not just future academics Promotion of internships and fellowships in Executive Branch national security departments and agencies –DoD, State Department, DNI, CIA, NSA, DIA, etc. Promote psychology courses designed to highlight psychological principles and dynamics that can be applied to the work of other disciplines Facilitate ability of practitioners in other disciplines to understand and utilize psychological findings –Writing for non-psychologists Establish applied short programs & summer institutes for national security practitioners Promote summer programs & institutes to prepare applied political psychologist practitioners, not just future academics Promotion of internships and fellowships in Executive Branch national security departments and agencies –DoD, State Department, DNI, CIA, NSA, DIA, etc.

APA Role: Fostering Public Understanding Promote and support establishment of Political Psychology as a certified career path –“Careers in Psychology” brochure –Establish APA-accredited programs? –APA Political Psychology division? Support and promote the Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security Address issues and establish guidelines for psychological assessment / discussion of contemporary events and national security issues. Targeted articles in popular media on psychological dynamics in national security events and issues Highlight cross-cultural psychology and underlying psychological needs and motivations to raise public consciousness Promote and support establishment of Political Psychology as a certified career path –“Careers in Psychology” brochure –Establish APA-accredited programs? –APA Political Psychology division? Support and promote the Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security Address issues and establish guidelines for psychological assessment / discussion of contemporary events and national security issues. Targeted articles in popular media on psychological dynamics in national security events and issues Highlight cross-cultural psychology and underlying psychological needs and motivations to raise public consciousness