Rising Leaders Program
The application process
Thank you to everyone who applied!
Applications for the Class of 2026 are now closed. We look forward to announcing the 2026 Rising Leaders cohort in February. Applications for the Class of 2027 will open in the fall of 2026.
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 are now closed. Thank you to everyone who applied.
Applications for the Class of 2027 will open in the fall of 2026.