The New Security Leaders program (NSL) is a leadership and mentoring program for mid-career, high potential leaders from foreign policy, defense, security, and political fields. Over the course of the program, NSL participants work with the Mentors – world leaders, global thinkers and experts – to discuss and debate the most pressing global security challenges.

The NSL takes place in conjunction and parallel with The Warsaw Security Forum (WSF), providing participants with the opportunity to share their ideas at the Forum and contribute to shaping the discussions. The New Security Leaders program is organized by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation.

Integral to the NSL Program are cohort-building activities and Leadership Talks, both held remotely in advance of the program. These include dedicated NSL roundtable format sessions before WSF and select opportunities for engagements during the conference itself.

The idea behind the Leadership Talks modus operandi is to provide strategic insights, highlight key issues and themes facing the Transatlantic community, and engage in discussion on both local and regional topics.

This approach encourages NSL participants to share their insights. The NSL program provides a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience on defense issues, security policy, and global politics, all within a Chatham House Rules-based environment.

The New Security Leaders Program is held concurrently with the Warsaw Security Forum. Applicants accepted into the NSL Program will have most of the expenses associated with the NSL Program and Warsaw Security Forum participation covered as part of the program grant. See the details regarding program logistics below.

The Essay

A strong determining factor for your NSL application process is the essay. The application form includes suggested topics, however applicants MAY submit an essay on a different topic as long as it is relevant to diplomacy, security, and the Euro-Atlantic alliance.

The essay must be your original work and be written as a serious opinion piece (typically 800 to 1,000 words) or as a graduate-level paper or white paper (1,500 to 3,000 words). Sources are helpful but not required. The committee is looking for clearly communicated concepts that demonstrate your ability to bring relevant ideas to the program. All essays will be reviewed for external publication.

What logistics are provided by NSL?

Lodging:

• Yes: Check-in: Saturday, 27 September, 2025
• Check-out: Wednesday, 1 October, 2025

Meals

• Yes, most meals (about 75%) are covered by the program

What are the Program Dates?

Expected day of arrival

• Saturday, 27 September, 2025 (Welcome Dinner at 7 PM)

Expected day of departure

• Wednesday, 1 October, 2025 (additional room nights, before or after the program will be at the participant’s expense)

What is not covered by NSL?

Transportation

• Transportation is not covered. All participants are responsible for their own travel and transfers.

Airport Transfers:

• UBER and Taxify services are available at Chopin International and Modlin Airports. Rates vary depending on demand and time of day. Typically, UBER rates from Chopin to the city center are around $10-12 USD. Alternatively, there is public transit with tickets valid for 75 or 90 min. Uber rates from Modlin are significantly higher due to the additional distance (about $35 USD), but an express bus runs from the Modlin Airport to the Palace of Culture for approximately $10 USD. Trains are also available, and tickets for both options can be purchased at Modlin Airport.

Medical insurance

• Participants are responsible for their own insurance and medical coverages during the program. The organizers are not responsible for any participant’s medically related expenses.

Can I extend my stay in Warsaw / Poland?

• Every participant is responsible for their own travel. The organizers provide accommodation from Saturday, 27 September, 2025 to Wednesday, 1 October, 2025. If you wish to arrive earlier or stay after the program has ended, you will be responsible for those additional hotel nights. Program hotel details will be provided to accepted participants closer to the start of the program.

Hotel Questions

• All accepted applicants will be booked into a Standard Single Room.

Can I stay in a different hotel?

• The organizers book the same hotel(s) for all participants. This helps with logistics and group integration; if you wish to stay at a different hotel or separately from the group, you will not be reimbursed for the group hotel costs or any additional expenses.

Application Final Deadline: 1 June, 2025

• For inquiries about the program or the application process, please contact Joshua Burgin at jburgin@pulaski.pl. We look forward to receiving your application and to welcoming the selected participants to Warsaw.