Johns Hopkins SAIS Strategic Studies

With just under three weeks until departure, we’re excited to share the official website for the 2026 International Staff Ride, Liberation of Italy: Salerno to Rome. The site includes campaign background, recommended sources, participant logistics, and reflections from past SAIS WWII Staff Rides. Explore it here: https://salerno2rome.wordpress.com/

Fall 2025 Domestic Staff Ride Co-Quartermaster Sophie Schoolen shares her experience organizing last September's trip to Harpers Ferry and Antietam:

https://sophiaschoolen.substack.com/p/2025-fall-staff-ride-harpers-ferry

Thank you very much to all of you who donated to our 2025 Fundraiser, which raised over $160,000 from 95 donors! We are especially grateful to our two generous matching gift donors. We never cease to be inspired by what our community can accomplish. Thank you all for your dedication to our students!

There are only a couple of days left to support the SAIS Merrill Center 2025 Fundraiser campaign!

Thanks to your support, we can keep alive the unique extra-curricular and experiential learning opportunities that enrich our students' time at SAIS.

This year, all gifts will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000, thanks to the generosity of fellow alumni. Make your gift by December 31 to help us reach 100 donors – any amount helps!

https://secure.jhu.edu/form/Strategic-Studies

At last week's House Foreign Affairs Committee Europe Subcommittee Hearing on the Balkans, Merrill Center Senior Fellow Edward P. Joseph urged Members to seize the rare opportunity for a rupture of Serbia's relationship with Russia.

Drawing on his dozen years of experience in the region, Mr. Joseph set out concrete steps to advance the Administration's pressure on Belgrade to oust the Russian owners of Serbia's national oil company (among other actions to stabilize the region.)

Written Hearing submissions:
https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=118682

Hearing video (opening statement, followed by two questions from the Chairman): https://www.youtube.com/live/b6OTytjZysc?si=bs-Kwc8Vd9bG7G3U&t=2335

2026 will mark the 25th iteration of the International Staff Ride!

Join us on a trip down memory lane, looking at past staff rides, both international and domestic: https://www.merrillcenter.sais-jhu.edu/staff-rides-over-the-years

Share your favorite memories in the comments and tag us on your own photos, or send them along if you'd like them to be added to the gallery!

Donate today to our 2025 fundraiser, which ends on Dec 31: https://secure.jhu.edu/form/Strategic-Studies

On December 3, we were pleased to host Bob Simmons, Vice President at Boeing Defense, Space & Security Government Operations as part of our Defense Industry Speaker Series.

In a conversation with Prof. Thomas Mahnken, he shared his experiences from a career in Congress and the defense industry and helped SAIS students navigate the myths and realities of the legislative process and the defense industrial base.

The Defense Industry Speaker Series was launched to help give SAIS students a better understanding of the changing defense industrial ecosystem.

Every year, the Merrill Center offers unique extra-curricular and experiential learning opportunities to SAIS students interested in strategy, statecraft, and security.

We have become the go-to entity at SAIS for unique strat-related trips, events, and projects that bring students together and enrich their experience as graduate students, taking them beyond the classroom, expanding their horizons and preparing them for life after SAIS.

The Merrill Center relies on the support of our alumni and friends – we could not deliver these memorable experiences to our students without you.

Help us continue to provide our students with these opportunities for years to come during this year’s annual Merrill Center campaign, which ends on December 31. Every gift counts! What's more, this year, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000, thanks to the generosity of fellow alumni.

Here are some photos from our student activities over the past year!

- International Staff Ride to Morocco (via Gibraltar) to study the 1942-43 Allied Landings and the WWII Casablanca Conference.
- Domestic Staff Rides: Gettysburg in spring 2025 and Harpers Ferry and Antietam in fall 2025.
- Student-led Podcast "Small World, Big Problems".
- Quantico Leadership Venture: 24 hours of intense immersion into the life of a Marine Corps Officer Candidate.
- NATO ACT Site Visit: day-trip to Norfolk, VA to learn more about one of two NATO strategic commands that lead strategic development of military structures, forces, capabilities, and doctrines.
- Dining-In: in bringing this tradition to SAIS students, regardless of military background, we provide a unique bonding experience between our military and civilian students.
- Intelligence Speaker Series, including for example CIA’s former Deputy Director for Digital Innovation.
- Defense Industry Speaker Series, most recently welcoming Bob Simmons, VP of Government Affairs for Boeing.

Make your gift today and help us continue and expand the traditions you know and love. We are very grateful for your support!

The SAIS Merrill Center

https://secure.jhu.edu/form/Strategic-Studies

The 2025 SAIS Merrill Center Annual Fundraiser is under way!

Dear Alumni,

From staff rides to speaker series and podcasts, the traditions you remember at SAIS are thriving and expanding – and it’s thanks to alumni like you. From year to year, a large portion of these programs are funded by donor support. Help the next generation create their own memories. Donate today and keep Merrill Center traditions strong!

A message from Prof. John McLaughlin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUtsNyXI6t4

To donate: https://secure.jhu.edu/form/Strategic-Studies

SALES CLOSE TODAY!

Buy your ticket now for the annual SAIS Strat Alumni Dinner, on Mon, Nov 17 at 5:30pm at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center.

https://events.jhu.edu/form/2025-sais-strat-alumni-dinner

Please note this event is open to SAIS Strat alumni and invited guests only.

SALES CLOSE TOMORROW!

Buy your ticket now for the annual SAIS Strat Alumni Dinner, on Mon, Nov 17 at 5:30pm at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center.

https://events.jhu.edu/form/2025-sais-strat-alumni-dinner

Please note this event is open to SAIS Strat alumni and invited guests only.

Sales close on Friday – buy your ticket now!

Join us for the annual SAIS Strat Alumni Dinner, on Mon, Nov 17 at 5:30pm at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center.

https://events.jhu.edu/form/2025-sais-strat-alumni-dinner

Please note this event is open to SAIS Strat alumni and invited guests only.