LeadAmerica has been approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), 1760 Old Meadow Road, Suite 500, McLean, VA 22102; (703) 506-3275.

Gain Insight into the Current Domestic & Foreign Challenges facing the United States

Travel to Washington, DC, and join some of our nation’s most powerful and persuasive leaders in the respected institutions that house our government. You’ll get an up-close, behind-the-scenes look at how issues are debated, policies are made, and world events unfold.

Place Government Under the Microscope

Examine American Government, tackle important issues and work with fellow students to find resolutions. Explore the world of spies and diplomats, debate the role of WMDs, and craft solutions for the nation in areas such as Healthcare, National Security, the Environment and the Economy.

Develop and Grow Your Leadership Skills

The Explore Government & National Security conference is a fast-paced, dynamic program that offers outstanding students hands-on experiential learning opportunities. Step into the roles of congressional leaders in the Campaign Simulation, where you will practice the arts of coalition building, platform construction, networking, conflict resolution, public speaking and debate.

Think on your feet, engage in critical thinking, and solve complex problems. You'll build real world skills and analyze leadership attributes through a case study of a political leader like Abraham Lincoln.  Most importantly, you’ll return home with the skills necessary for effective leadership.

 

Program Highlights

You are America’s future — Attend George Washington University where you’ll explore the role of government, the challenges confronting national security, and discover how the federal bureaucracy works. Know what’s it’s like to walk the halls of Congress, tackle important issues including National Security, and find proactive solutions.

At Explore Government & National Security you can:

• Assume the vital role of a leader in the legislative branch where you will build coalitions and platforms, resolve conflicts, manage crises and hone your persuasive public speaking skills in a Campaign Simulation that brings real-world issues to life.
• Examine effective and universal leadership skills through a case study of Abraham Lincoln.
• Tour Ford’s Theatre and view where President Lincoln was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth and gain a sense of this profound event in American history.
• Visit the International Spy Museum and uncover the untold stories behind infamous spies and some of the most classified events in American History. Plus examine one of the world’s greatest collections of spy gadgets.
• Obtain behind-the-scenes insight into current affairs through a visit to Capitol Hill, including the Capitol Hill Visitors Center, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the House & Senate Office Buildings.
• Take guided excursions around Washington, DC and tour the major DC monuments illuminated at night.
• (June 29 – July 6 Session Only) Watch the July 4th fireworks on the national mall. At the foot of the illuminated Lincoln Memorial you can experience one of the best Independence Day fireworks displays in the country. Plus, have the opportunity to visit the nearby Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Memorials.
• Form new friendships with students from across America who share your interest in government and national security.
• Experience what it’s like to attend George Washington University, one of the great centers of political thought.

Hear from leaders at on the frontlines of federal government and National Security issues.

• Former State Department Foreign Service offer, Gary Crocker, M.A. — All sessions
  Mr Crocker served for 25 years in the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He has been involved in arms control, including interagency activities to halt the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. He was a member of the first team to inspect missile sites in the former Soviet Union and participated in treaty negotiations in Geneva. His most recent assignment involved six trips to Libya to participate in the dismantling of the nuclear, missile, chemical and biological capabilities in exchange for diplomatic recognition and new trade agreements.
• Congressional Elections Expert, Barbara Palmer, Ph.D. — July 10-17 and July 22-29 Sessions Only
  Dr Palmer is an Associate Professor at Baldwin-Wallace College and focuses her academic research on congressional elections and the success of women candidates.  She has been interviewed by the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Minnesota Public Radio, the San Francisco Examiner, and the Voice of America.  She teaches courses on women and politics, American politics, and civil rights and liberties. Dr. Palmer also serves on the Board of Running Start, a non-partisan organization that encourages young women to get involved in politics.
• (Ret.) U.S. Army Brigadier General Rebecca S. Halstead — July 10-17 and August 2-9 Sessions Only
  General Halstead was the first female graduate of West Point to become a general officer. She graduated from the United State Military Academy in the second academy class that included women. She served as the senior commander for logistics operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2005 to September 2006. In this position, General Halstead commanded more than 25,000 soldiers and civilians dispersed among fifty locations throughout Iraq and Kuwait.

Be part of the next generation of America’s leaders.

Program Components

• Challenging Academic Curriculum
• Conduct research, analyze information, engage in debate, resolve conflict and build networks of support as you practice being the leaders of tomorrow
• Evaluate leadership qualities through LeadAmerica’s challenging Abraham Lincoln Leadership Case Study
• Debate current proposed policy solutions while crafting new paths forward on current issues of national importance like healthcare, national security, the economy and the environment
• Engaging Faculty & Guest Speakers
• Gain access to Academic and Professional Leaders in diverse fields
• Speakers may include Legislative and Executive Branch Representatives, Policy Analysts, National Security Experts, representatives from federal agencies, Ambassadors and/or regional experts from institutions like the US State Department and the Brookings Institution
• Program Relevant Field Excursions
• Experience the program content and appreciate regional sites of importance through field excursions designed to complement the academic and skill building objectives of the program.
• Field Excursions may include visits to Capitol Hill, the International Spy Museum, Ford’s Theatre and the major DC Monuments.
• Career Focused Skills & Personal Development Workshops
• Formulate a Personal Mission and Vision plan for your future
• Develop and polish skills like Time Management, Decision Making, Team Building, Conflict Resolution, Public Speaking, and Communication
• Explore the opportunities and strategies to advance in program related career fields
• Collegiate Experience & College Enrollment Seminars
• Experience College Life from challenging academics to dormitory living
• Gain an important head start in the Preparation for College and the College Admission Process.
• Friends & Support for a Lifetime
• Develop a network of Fellow Scholars, Friends, and Mentors

 

A DAY AT EXPLORE GOVERNMENT & NATIONAL SECURITY

Photo Gallery

Previous Guest Speakers & Organizations Include:

White House & Executive Level Officials

• Dr. Madeline Albright, Former Secretary of State
• Brian H. Hook, M.A., Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations
• Donald Rumsfeld, Former Secretary of Defense
• Dr. David Walker, Former U.S. Comptroller General
• Elaine Chao, M.B.A., Former Secretary of Labor

Political Leaders and Policy Experts

• Bruce L. Braley, Congressman, Iowa, First District
• Jeff Flake, Congressman, Arizona, Sixth District
• Chuck Hagel, Former U.S. Senator from Nebraska
• Dr. Jim McDermott, Congressman, Washington State, Seventh District
• Michael Dukakis, Former Governor of Massachusetts
• Steven Bennett, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, The Brookings Institution
• Dr. Veronica DiConti, Associate Dean, Summer Programs, School of Continuing Studies, Georgetown University
• Gary Crocker, Former Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Department of State
• Dr. Martin Dupuis, Assistant Dean, Burnett Honors College and Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Central Florida,
• Felix Ortiz, New York State Assemblyman
• Jamin Raskin, J.D., Maryland State Senator
• Manuel Stefanakis, Former Director of Public Administration Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
• Michael Tanner, Senior Fellow, The CATO Institute
• Mary Beth Tinker, R.N., Tinker vs. Des Moines, 393 US 503, 1969
• Robert Tobias, J.D., M.B.A., Director of the Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation, American University

Government Agencies, Military and Defense Organizations, & Political Committees

• Defense Intelligence Agency
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• International Spy Museum
• National Security Agency
• Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• U.S. Department of Commerce
• U.S. Department of Defense
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• U.S. Department of Labor
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Secret Service

Dates, Location and Tuition

Complete tuition, enrollment and other conference details can be found in the Application and Enrollment & Other Details included in your invitation package and in the online application.

Please pay careful attention, as dates may have changed from printed material.

2012 Explore Government & National Security Sessions*

Location	City	Program Date	Tuition	Tuition & Travel Insurance
TBA	Washington, DC	July 7 – July 14	$2,349	$99	Enroll
TBA	Washington, DC	June 18 – July 25	$2,349	$99	Enroll

Tuition Includes:

• A full schedule of classes, briefings, lectures and simulations
• Certificate of Completion
• Housing accommodations at a University/College dormitory
• All on-campus meals **
• Course materials and lab fees
• Transportation for off-site activities, briefings and events
• Field trips and social events
• Program Faculty and on-site staff for supervision
• LeadAmerica T-shirt
  

* Dates and locations are subject to change

** Students will need spending money for several off-site meals, souvenirs and incidentals.

Students are responsible for their own airfare or other travel costs to and from each conference location.