National Defense University (NDU) supports the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world. This is a Title 10 Excepted Service Appointment. Appointment is not to exceed 2 years with the possibility for extension.
INTRODUCTION The mission of the United States (U.S.) National Defense University (NDU) is to educate joint warfighters and other national security leaders in critical thinking and the creative application of military power. The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is the research arm of NDU.
INSS Fellows provide decision advantage to the Department of War (DoW), including the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of War, Combatant Commands and Services through applied, cutting-edge research, analyses, and wargaming. MAJOR DUTIES The Research Fellow for Unmanned and Autonomous Systems ("Autonomous Systems") resides within INSS' Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Program. The major duties and responsibilities associated will be as follows: Research.
All INSS Fellows are required to conduct applied research in support of the warfighter. This research may be conducted independently or as part of a collaborative team. INSS Fellows publish their research in the form of books, journal articles, and/or policy papers and are required to author no less than two, original, high-quality, peer-reviewed journal articles or policy reports annually.
INSS Fellows also are encouraged to promote their research at symposia, through blogposts, and opinion pieces. Engagement. All INSS Fellows are required to coordinate their research topics with, and present findings to, DoW senior officials (General Officers / Senior Executive Service). INSS Fellows disseminate their findings in the form of interim and final briefings, trip reports, and/or policy memoranda. INSS Fellows also are encouraged to engage with other U.S.
government stakeholders, U.S. military allies and partners, relevant think tanks, academic institutions, businesses, and the larger national security enterprise, depending on their expertise. These engagements may include conferences, workshops or wargames. Teaching/JPME. All INSS Fellows are considered research faculty.
INSS Fellows also contribute to the intellectual community of Joint Professional Military Education institutions in general, and to the National Defense University in particular. This includes teaching core or elective courses, guest lecturing, contributing to curriculum developing, collaborating on programs targeting student, faculty, and/or staff development, and/or significant student mentoring or advisory programs within NDU.
Teaching support is based on the needs of the colleges but also with consideration of INSS Fellows' expertise and ongoing research. University Service. All INSS Fellows are required to support NDU-wide scholarship.
These activities may include serving on university hiring or promotion boards, participating in the Institutional Review Board, maintaining an NDU-wide community of interest (COI), supporting NDU leader engagements, and/or convening roundtables, tabletop exercises, or conferences (and publishing conference reports) for the NDU community and DoW stakeholders. Administrative Requirements. INSS does not have designated administrative support staff.
As such, all INSS Fellows are expected to comply with administrative requirements in a timely manner. This requirement includes completing monthly reports, travel request forms, country and theater clearance request forms, travel vouchers, conflict of interest paperwork, training requirements, and other administrative tasks. The Autonomous Systems Fellow should expect to adhere to these basic administrative requirements.
Education Requirement: Doctorate or all-but-dissertation status (ABD) from a regionally accredited university (or international equivalents) in an appropriate discipline including, but not limited to, public policy, international relations/affairs, political science, engineering, military history, data science, national security studies, computer science, or operations research.
Or doctorate, all-but-dissertation status (ABD) from a regionally accredited university (or international equivalents) in an interdisciplinary field that integrates these and other relevant areas of study. Or Master's degree in fields listed above with at least five years professional experience in an industry, policy, government or defense-affiliated research position focused on unmanned and autonomous systems.
Official Transcripts: Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if the position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified PRIOR to appointment, if selected for the role. * An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence PRIOR to appointment. Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S.
colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation upon request. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education.
dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.dfasmeritcc@mail.mil · (317) 212-0454
This position is with National Defense University, Department of Defense.
The posted pay range is $116488 – $129393/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
This position requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-11-20.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-30 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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