Shaping Future Leaders

The Olmsted Scholar Program is the premier leader development and graduate education program for top-performing, active duty officers of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Since 1959, the Olmsted Scholar Program has challenged America’s best young military officers to become even more effective strategic leaders. The program shapes future leaders with an awareness of the world and a clear understanding of how the United States can best lead it.

Through extended immersion in foreign languages and cultures, Olmsted Scholars enjoy an unparalleled experience that shapes them into leaders with the knowledge, resilience, and confidence needed to serve in positions of great responsibility in our nation’s Armed Forces.

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“The greatest leaders must be educated broadly.” General George Olmsted

“The Olmsted experience helped create a foundation of understanding and insight that served me well as I went on my mission to the International Space Station with an international crew of diverse backgrounds.”

Colonel Michael Hopkins, NASA Astronaut
OSC '03 Parma, Italy
“The Olmsted experience works because it attracts and promotes cultural curiosity. This is something I apply every day in interacting with others onboard.”

CAPT Emily Bassett
OSC '09 Cadiz, Spain
“The Olmsted experience prepared me to rapidly adapt to new environments, which is why I thought it possible to launch a campaign for the Iowa House of Representatives with no previous political experience.”

Representative Kenneth Rizer, Colonel (Ret.)
OSC '98 Stockholm, Sweden

“The Olmsted experience helped create a foundation of understanding and insight that served me well as I went on my mission to the International Space Station with an international crew of diverse backgrounds.”

Colonel Michael Hopkins, NASA Astronaut
OSC '03 Parma, Italy
“The Olmsted experience works because it attracts and promotes cultural curiosity. This is something I apply every day in interacting with others onboard.”

CAPT Emily Bassett
OSC '09 Cadiz, Spain
“The Olmsted experience prepared me to rapidly adapt to new environments, which is why I thought it possible to launch a campaign for the Iowa House of Representatives with no previous political experience.”

Representative Kenneth Rizer, Colonel (Ret.)
OSC '98 Stockholm, Sweden

Olmsted Foundation Active Duty Directors are serving in their personal capacity and do not represent their Service or the Department of Defense.

Shaping Future Leaders

“The greatest leaders must be educated broadly.” General George Olmsted

“The Olmsted experience helped create a foundation of understanding and insight that served me well as I went on my mission to the International Space Station with an international crew of diverse backgrounds.”

“The Olmsted experience works because it attracts and promotes cultural curiosity. This is something I apply every day in interacting with others onboard.”

“The Olmsted experience prepared me to rapidly adapt to new environments, which is why I thought it possible to launch a campaign for the Iowa House of Representatives with no previous political experience.”

“The Olmsted experience helped create a foundation of understanding and insight that served me well as I went on my mission to the International Space Station with an international crew of diverse backgrounds.”

“The Olmsted experience works because it attracts and promotes cultural curiosity. This is something I apply every day in interacting with others onboard.”

“The Olmsted experience prepared me to rapidly adapt to new environments, which is why I thought it possible to launch a campaign for the Iowa House of Representatives with no previous political experience.”

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