Welcome!

The CAPSTONE, KEYSTONE, and PINNACLE programs were created to prepare senior military and civilian leadership to better deal with the challenges of working in a joint environment.  In an increasingly interconnected world, joint operations are required to meet rapidly evolving national security needs.  Our programs examine major issues affecting national security decision-making, Inter-agency issues, military strategy, joint/combined doctrine, interoperability, and the international implications of national policy.

The home of Capstone, Keystone and Pinnacle is the National Defense University aboard historic Fort McNair.  Coursework consists of seminars, case studies, and informal discussions, as well as travel to key institutions and commands in the continental United States and abroad.  NDU's unique academic non attribution policy creates an environment where both speakers and fellows can speak candidly and critically examine national security challenges from a national power perspective.

The overarching goal of all three courses is to set conditions for future success in the joint, combined, and interagency arenas by equipping leaders, both general/flag officers, senior executive service civilians, and command senior enlisted, with the knowledge and perspective they need to collectively achieve national security goals.

NOTICE

National Defense University (NDU) experienced an intrusion of a system containing potential Personally Identifiable Information in October 2008. Affected individuals include Senior Executive Service personnel who attended the CAPSTONE, KEYSTONE, and PINNACLE courses between 2004 and 2008. If you attended one of these courses during this timeframe and have NOT received a letter from NDU, please contact NDU at (202) 685-7230 or email RachJ@ndu.edu.