This 30-minute course offers a practical, insider’s guide to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), one of the most powerful legislative tools in U.S. policymaking. Designed for early-career congressional staffers and aspiring House MLAs, the course walks through the NDAA process step-by-step—explaining how it works, why it matters, and when to get involved. Learn how to influence policy, navigate key deadlines, and read between the lines of one of Congress’s most impactful annual bills.

Engaging with Congress: A Practical Guide for Policy Professionals

Learn how Congress really works, and how to work with it. This course offers an insider’s guide to building productive relationships with Members and staff, shaping legislative priorities, and navigating political dynamics with clarity and credibility. Whether you're a concerned citizen, advocate, or policy expert, you'll leave with five practical rules for engagement and real-world strategies to make your voice count where it matters most.

This course provides a foundational understanding of how the U.S. military is structured, what it does, and how it interacts with policymakers. Designed for congressional staffers and policy professionals, it equips you to engage confidently with military institutions and decisions.

Looking to work in Congress, the executive branch, or the Intelligence Community? This course demystifies hiring paths, security clearances, and resumes that work. Learn how people really get hired, what jobs lead to others, and how to plan a career in public service strategically.

Economic power is national security power. This course covers the tools of financial statecraft—sanctions, export controls, development finance—and explains how the U.S. shapes global behavior through economic influence. Ideal for anyone working on foreign affairs, energy, finance, or national security legislation.

This course unpacks the federal appropriations process—from budget requests to final bills—and explains how Congress actually funds defense and foreign policy priorities. Learn to read a J-Book, understand the roles of the Appropriations subcommittees, and track how funding decisions are shaped by politics, process, and timing.

Oversight is one of Congress’s most powerful tools. This course covers how investigations work, from letters and hearings to subpoenas and reports. Learn how to work with IGs and whistleblowers, frame effective oversight questions, and understand the political dynamics behind high-stakes inquiries.

This course breaks down how the Intelligence Community operates, how Congress oversees it, and what early-career staffers need to know to be credible in classified and policy discussions. Learn the basics of EO 12333, FISA, clearances, and how intelligence shapes national decisions.

This course provides a primer on the legal and institutional foundations of U.S. national security decision-making. From the Constitution to the National Defense Strategy, these documents and statutes shape how war powers, surveillance, and executive authority are exercised today.

Explore how the U.S. defense sector actually works, from large contractors to cutting-edge tech startups. This course demystifies acquisition, innovation pipelines, and the key players driving military modernization. You'll learn how Congress interacts with the defense industry and how programs move from idea to fielding.