The Irregular Warfare Initiative Nonresident Fellows Program

Irregular Warfare Initiative Nonresident fellows play a critical role in advancing the initiative’s organizational mission of bridging the gap between scholars and practitioners to support the community of irregular warfare professionals.

Nonresident Fellows come from a wide-range of experiences and backgrounds and include academics, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to advance the study and practice of irregular warfare. They do this by driving public discourse on irregular warfare topics through written content, facilitating and participating in community events, interacting within the cohort and across the IWI community, and engaging in other public-facing activities.

The 2026 Fellowship application window closed on November 6th, 2025.

Introducing the 2025 Fellowship Cohort

We are proud to welcome our 2025 Irregular Warfare Initiative Fellows—an exceptional group of 25 professionals selected from our most competitive applicant pool to date. This year’s Fellows represent a diverse and accomplished community committed to driving the future of irregular warfare and international security.

Our Fellows hail from across the public, private, and academic sectors. They are practitioners, scholars, and thought leaders bound by a shared passion for advancing the theory and practice of irregular warfare. Their expertise spans disciplines and regions, ensuring a rich diversity of perspectives and experiences.

Throughout the fellowship year, our Fellows will produce cutting-edge analysis, develop innovative approaches, and foster critical dialogue on the challenges and opportunities within irregular warfare and broader security issues. Their work will inform policymakers, practitioners, and the broader security community, shaping the trajectory of this vital field.

Our Fellowship is not just about research—it is about building a community. We encourage you to connect with our Fellows, read their work, and participate in the conversations that shape irregular warfare today and into the future.

2025 Fellows

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Click here to view the 2024 Irregular Warfare Initiative Fellows Cohort

Click here to view the 2023 Irregular Warfare Initiative Fellows Cohort

Click here to view the 2022 Irregular Warfare Initiative Fellows Cohort

Media Engagements and Inquiries: 

IWI Fellows have a deep base of both research and practical experience in the realm of irregular warfare. If interested in contacting an IWI Fellow and/or coordinating an event, please reach out to the Director of IWI Fellows at: jorge.delgadogolusda@irregularwarfare.org

Frequently Asked Questions about being an IWI Fellow: 

Do I have to be American?

No, we are always looking for a globally diverse cohort.

What is the commitment?

Fellows will author or co-author an article for IWI, coordinate or sponsor a panel event, and spend an average of a few hours a month every other month in virtual engagements with senior members of the irregular warfare community.

Are IWI Nonresident Fellows paid?

Not at this time, though fellows may receive funding to attend the annual IWI conference. 

Am I qualified?

Strong candidates come from diverse backgrounds with a common interest in advancing the study and practice of irregular warfare. The cohort will deliberately include a mix of practitioners from across the interagency and joint force (of multiple countries), as well as researchers from both academia and the think tank community. If you are interested in irregular  warfare and the mission of the IWI, we strongly encourage you to apply. 

What does the IWI Fellowship entail?

We are building a mutually supportive network of professionals – a triad of academics, practitioners, and policy makers – interested in advancing discussions and research on irregular warfare. Based on availability and funding, there will be opportunities to present research and travel, all in the name of advocating for better understanding of irregular warfare.