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.
I. INTRODUCTION: The mission of the National Defense University (NDU) is to educate joint warfighters and other national security leaders in critical thinking and the creative application of military power to inform national strategy and globally integrated operations, under conditions of disruptive change, to prevail in war, peace, and competition. The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is the research arm of NDU.
INSS Fellows provide strategic advice to decisionmakers throughout the Department of War (DoW), including the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of War, Combatant Commands and Services. INSS Fellows conduct applied research in support of the warfighter. They engage regularly with DoW senior leaders. They also publish books, journal articles, and policy reports. II. MAJOR DUTIES: The major duties and responsibilities of the Research Fellow for Autonomous Systems and the U.S.
Defense Industrial Base ("Autonomous Systems") 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 annually.
INSS Fellows also are encouraged to promote their research at symposia, through blogposts, and opinion pieces. 50% 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. 25% Teaching/JPME. All INSS Fellows are considered research faculty.
INSS Fellows also contribute to the intellectual community of Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) institutions in general, and to NDU in particular. This support 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. 10% 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. 10% 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. 5%
Education Requirement: Doctorate, all-but-dissertation status (ABD), or a terminal degree from a regionally accredited university (or international equivalents) in an appropriate broad discipline such as aerospace engineering, electrical or mechanical engineering, systems engineering, computer science, robotics, or operations research; interdisciplinary backgrounds that integrate engineering with national security, public policy, or industrial systems are strongly encouraged.
Five or more years professional experience in a relevant industry/industry position, especially if it is related to autonomous systems' research and development, may be considered in lieu of the terminal degree requirements.
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 $126812 – $148053/yr.
This position is eligible for telework.
This position requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.
Applications close on 2026-10-16.
This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
Apply on official site →