Johns Hopkins SAIS to Partner with U.S. Space Force to Prepare Leaders for Evolving Challenges Published Nov. 1, 2022 By Johns Hopkins University WASHINGTON -- The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) will partner with the U.S. Space Force (USSF) to deliver a graduate education specifically designed to prepare officers for the evolving needs of this newest branch of the United States military. Under this partnership, selected Space Force officers, as well as other service members and civilians, will study at SAIS in Washington D.C.—in an in-residence program leading to a degree, the Master of International Public Policy (MIPP). The program will include a combination of existing SAIS graduate-level courses supplemented by courses aligned with Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) requirements that meet the unique and evolving needs of USSF personnel, capitalizing on the school’s multidisciplinary course offerings in such areas as international security, ethics and leadership, and international public policy. With the first cohort of students expected to matriculate in 2023, the Space Force enters this partnership as SAIS continues to build on its reputation for world-class education and leadership training, as well as its position as a hub of multidisciplinary research and teaching. Students will benefit from an innovative curriculum taught by a distinguished SAIS faculty of scholars and practitioners, providing opportunities for intellectual collaboration and professional advancement. “We are very excited to be chosen by the U.S. Space Force for this opportunity and are looking forward to this partnership,” said James B. Steinberg, dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS. “This decision is a reflection of SAIS’s leadership in the field and excellence in preparing leaders to meet the complex challenges of the 21st century. Participants in this program will be integral members of our school, working closely with our distinguished faculty, students, and contributing to our intellectual community. We look forward to welcoming the first Space Force cohort—together with other service members and civilians—to SAIS next fall at our new, state-of-the-art building at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue.” These students will supplement their studies with functional and regional area studies electives from an extensive catalog of SAIS courses on a variety of topics including, technology, policy, and security. Additionally, they may take advantage of STEM-related expertise and resources at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory—allowing them to choose the coursework most relevant for their desired career objectives and learning outcomes. “The interdisciplinary nature of the program reflects the stellar record of SAIS in preparing tomorrow’s leaders,” said Sunil Kumar, provost of Johns Hopkins University. “Participants will benefit immensely from the combined excellence of Hopkins faculty at SAIS, our Whiting School of Engineering and the Applied Physics Laboratory.” The partnership provides Intermediate Developmental Education (IDE) and Senior Developmental Education (SDE) programs. The IDE/SDE partnership will deliver an innovative experience for the development of officers of the Space Force—whose service members are known as Guardians. “Developing Guardians to compete and prevail in space and cyberspace requires a Guardian-focused professional military education experience,” said Maj. Gen. Shawn Bratton, commander of the Space Force’s Space Training and Readiness Command. “The space domain requires a unique education for space-minded professionals; and partnering with Johns Hopkins enables greater capacity to offer new, substantive electives, research opportunities, and increased access to a wider range of commercial sector partnerships.”