Rising Leaders Program
The application process
APPLICATION PROCESS
Who should apply?
- Young professionals with approximately five to ten years of experience in their field.
- Demonstrated interest and involvement in U.S. national security and foreign policy, diplomacy, international development, human rights, homeland security, cybersecurity, and/or other related fields.
- Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green-card holder).
- Must be able to attend meetings and events throughout the year.
Initial Application
- All candidates must complete and submit the application form, including a brief statement of interest, one short essay, and a resume/CV. All materials must be submitted by the deadline.
- A professional or academic reference who can speak to the candidate’s qualifications for the program should submit a recommendation letter by the deadline.
- Applications will be assessed by the Aspen Strategy Group selection committee.
interview
- Candidates selected from the initial round of applications will receive an invitation for a 15-minute interview with a subset of the selection committee.
Selection
- All candidates will be notified in mid-February on the status of their application.
- Successful candidates are expected to attend the program’s kick-off event in Washington, DC (March 18-20, 2026), the Aspen Security Forum, in Aspen, CO (July 14-17, 2026), and Rising Leaders programming in Washington, DC (December 2026).
- Selected participants are required to submit a statement agreeing to meet all the expectations of the Rising Leaders Program.
How to Apply
Applications for the Class of 2026 will close at 11:59PM ET on Sunday, December 14.