Columbus State University President Stuart Rayfield was selected to participate in the 71st annual U.S. Army War College National Security Seminar. The exclusive event this summer in Pennsylvania gathered national leaders, senior military officers and distinguished civilian guests for meaningful dialogue on the complex security challenges facing the nation and the world.

The invitation-only National Security Seminar in June assembled civilian leaders representing various industries, including public health, higher education and science. Rayfield and other participants engaged directly with members of the War College’s resident class, which comprised senior military officers and government officials preparing for higher levels of national security leadership.

“Based on the level of thoughtfulness, strategic thinking and leadership, I have a better appreciation of, and even higher confidence in, our military officers as well as our allies,” Rayfield said. “There were more than 70 international fellows in school there, in addition to U.S. Army leaders. I found people who were smart, thoughtful, and strategic—with a love for this country and this democracy in very powerful ways.”

Seminar participants discussed national security issues, leadership, global affairs and the relationship between civilian institutions and the nation’s defense priorities. The seminar also provided an opportunity for civilian leaders to share perspectives from their professional fields while gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges facing national security leaders.

Rayfield’s invitation recognizes the important role higher education leaders play in advancing national competitiveness, developing future leaders and strengthening partnerships between universities, government and industry. It also reflects Columbus State’s track record as a military-friendly institution with deep connections to nearby Fort Benning, and as an educational partner that provides tailored enrollment services for active-duty soldiers, reservists, veterans, retirees and their families through its Military-Connected Student Services, and credit toward graduate studies with the Army’s Captains Career Courses nationwide.

She was nominated for the seminar by Dr. David Kieran, Columbus State’s Col. Richard R. Hallock Distinguished University Chair of Military History, who served in a visiting faculty capacity as the War College’s 2024-25 Harold Keith Johnson Chair. Each participant has a host; Rayfield’s was a German officer studying at the college.

“It was a fascinating week,” Rayfield said. “It was an incredible intersection of history, present day, and future, and emphasized the importance of our allies for national security. We live in a very, very complex world where straightforward, easy answers do not exist.”