Space Boot Camp for Nuclear Policy Professionals

Space and nuclear capabilities have been interwoven from the beginning of the Space Age, with the nuclear command-and-control systems of the geopolitical superpowers dependent on satellites for monitoring and verification purposes, and ballistic missiles, originally built to carry nuclear warheads, later repurposed for use as satellite launch vehicles. Today, more than ever, actions, capabilities, and competition in space can have strategic consequences, and as the major space rivals also have nuclear arsenals, space security issues also have nuclear security implications. At the same time, the interconnected nature of commercial space, space security, and nuclear security is not well understood, particularly with regard to how this can affect geopolitical stability and/or contribute to potential escalation scenarios.

Secure World Foundation is hosting the inaugural Space Boot Camp for Nuclear Policy Professionals in order to ensure that future researchers, negotiators, and diplomats have foundational knowledge of space systems, security risks, and commercial space dynamics. Through this initiative, Secure World Foundation aims to strengthen strategic stability by embedding cross-sector understanding, building durable relationships, and supporting more informed decision-making across the space and nuclear domains. 

‍WHAT: A week of training in Washington, D.C. for young professionals on all aspects of space security and related space activities, from orbital mechanics, to counterspace capabilities, to space governance (civil and security), to satellite operations and the evolving commercial space landscape. Subject matter experts who are actively involved in these topics will lecture and have interactive discussions with the boot camp participants; this will be a policy-oriented approach. The Space Boot Camp will include a field trip to a D.C.-area offsite visit and a half-day tabletop exercise to provide real-world examples of some of the issues that they will have been learning about. 

‍WHEN: The Space Boot Camp will be held Monday, January 25 through Friday, January 29, 2027, in Washington, D.C. Participants must be able to commit to the whole week. Additional webinars will be held for participants in the months following the boot camp on relevant topics. 

‍HOW: Selected participants will have their economy airfare/travel to DC and their hotel covered for the week. They will also receive a small honorarium for other expenses that may arise.

‍WHO: Twenty young professionals will be selected for this training. If you are a young professional (35 or under at the time of the boot camp), currently working in a job that is related to nuclear policy/risk reduction or are conducting PhD research on these issues, and are curious to learn more about how space activity affects strategic stability, this boot camp is for you. Applicants must be based in the United States but do not have to be U.S. citizens. All discussions will be unclassified.

‍TO APPLY: Applicants must submit a personal statement no longer than 400 words about why they want to participate in this boot camp and what they hope to gain from the experience; please - no AI. They also must submit a current CV. Applications are due by 5pm EDT on Thursday, July 2, 2026. No phone calls, please. Applicants chosen to go on to the virtual interview round will be notified by July 24, 2026. 

Successful applicants will be those who meet the age requirements, have a proven job history or experience in nuclear policy/risk reduction fields, submit a thoughtful and well-written personal statement, and are interested in space issues. 

About Secure World Foundation (SWF)

The Secure World Foundation (SWF) is a U.S.-based private operating foundation dedicated to promoting the secure, sustainable, and peaceful uses of outer space, ensuring its preservation for future generations. As the only organization focused entirely on space sustainability, SWF collaborates with governments, industry, academia, and civil society, both within the United States and with international partners, to foster policies and practices that enhance the long-term sustainable use of outer space.

The Space Boot Camp is part of SWF’s initiative, “Strengthening Strategic Stability at the Nexus of Space and Nuclear Security,” which is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Please reach out to spacebootcamp@swfound.org if you have any questions about the Space Boot Camp.