Dr. Janet Breslin-Smith was a Professor of National Security Strategy and Department Chair at the War College from 1992-2006. She also taught at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Okinawa, Japan. Prior to her academic career, she was Legislative Director for Senator Patrick J. Leahy and Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Agriculture Committee. She resided in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 2009 through 2013, with her husband, Ambassador James Smith (NWC 1993) She earned a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Breslin-Smith is the Historian of the National War College, and Member of the Board of the National War College Alumni Association. She is the co-author of The National War College: A History of Strategic Thinking in Peace and War.

 Ambassador Dennis Walter Hearne, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister Counselor, has served as an American diplomat since 1985. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique from February 2019 to February 2022, and assumed his duties as the Deputy Commandant at the National War College from March 2022 to June 2024. Prior to being U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique, he served as Principal Deputy High Representative, Office of the High Representative, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2017 to 2018. Other senior leadership positions in which he has served include: Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, from 2016 to 2017; senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs from 2015 to 2016; United States Consul General in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2009 to 2012; and as foreign policy advisor to United States military commanders, including two years of service in combat operations in Afghanistan. His other assignments include Brasilia, The Hague, Zagreb, Lisbon, Sao Paulo, and Washington. He is the recipient of the United States Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal and several Department of State Superior Honor Awards. He speaks Croatian and Portuguese. Ambassador Hearne is a native of North Carolina and a resident of Virginia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University and a Master of Science from the National War College.

Ambassador Jim Smith is a 1974 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, he served nearly 30 years in the Air Force, retiring as a Brigadier General.  He commanded at the squadron, group and wing command levels and served in various staff and joint assignments.  From 2009-2013, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.  On return, the helped establish and served as the first dean of the College of Engineering and Aeronautics at Southern New Hampshire University.

Kate Canavan entered the Foreign Service in 1976 following three years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zaire (now the DRC). Over the next 14 years, she served in a variety of policy, consular, training, and human resources positions overseas and in Washington.

She retired in November 2011 with the rank of Career Minister, the second highest in the Foreign Service. Since then, she has supported military exercises and courses as a subject matter expert and role player. She has also served on the boards of the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Una Chapman Cox Foundation.

Colonel Eisberg currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor for Army National Guard matters on the Reserve Forces Policy Board. Colonel Eisberg has served more than 35 years in both the Navy and the Army, on active duty and in the reserves, in a wide range of capacities. Colonel Eisberg’s career began in the U.S. Navy as a Training Active Reserve (TAR) member as an Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Sensor Operator (Acoustic) and a helicopter search and rescue swimmer with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL-74) in South Weymouth, MA.

Colonel Eisberg currently resides with his wife Angela and their two sons Alexander Carlton (9) and Archer Conlan (7) in Arlington, VA.

Born 1958 in New York, raised in Northern Virginia. Bachelors from Virginia Tech 1980, M.B.A. from George Washington Univ. in 1986, M.S. in National Security Strategy, NWC Class of 2001.

DoD civilian at NSA for 39 years. Supported national policy-makers, U.S. military departments and commands, diplomatic, science and technology intelligence efforts.

Currently serves as a NWC Alumni Association Board Member, Scowcroft Lecture series lead, and Co-Commissioner, Pastoral Care Ministries for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, Maryland. Married to Maria Taylor for 35 years, with two adult daughters.