Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs
InstitutesAbout Us
The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) is a research institute housed in the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University. The Institute is named in honor of Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, USAF (Ret.), whose long and distinguished career in public service included serving as National Security Advisor for Presidents Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush. The Institute’s core mission is to foster and disseminate policy-oriented research on international affairs by supporting faculty and student research, hosting international speakers and major scholarly conferences, and providing grants to outside researchers to use the holdings of the Bush Library.
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Welcome to 2026
On behalf of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs (SIAA), I am pleased to welcome you to a new year of engagement, inquiry, and global leadership.
The year ahead presents both extraordinary challenges and remarkable opportunities for those committed to understanding and shaping the world beyond our borders. At SIIA, we remain deeply committed to preparing students, scholars, and practitioners to meet these moments with insight, integrity, and purpose. Through distinguished speakers, global partnerships, and student-centered programming, we continue to serve as a bridge between academic excellence and real-world impact.
In 2026, we will expand our work in critical areas including international security, national resilience, and U.S. relations in key regions such as the Indo Pacific, Europe, and the Western Hemisphere. Our mission, to advance thoughtful dialogue and informed policy, has never been more vital.
None of this is possible without the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, fellows, and partners. Their energy, expertise, and commitment to service are at the core of everything we do. I am especially proud of the collaborative spirit that defines SIIA and the Bush School of Government and Public Service, and of the way the Texas A&M University community continues to translate ideas into action.
Whether you are joining us for a lecture, participating in a program, supporting our work, or engaging from afar, we are grateful for your involvement. We need your support more than ever and I invite you to be an active part of our mission and its impact in the year ahead.
We look forward to working with you in 2026.
Warm regards from the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs.
Ambassador (ret.) John Hennessey-Niland
Director, Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Scowcroft Institute Research Grants
The Foundation has instituted two research grant programs to assist scholars doing research at the George Bush Presidential Library. The Peter and Edith O’Donnell Research Grant supports research in any field, but it must make use of the holdings of the George Bush Presidential Library. The Korea Grant Program focuses on Asia, particularly Korea, and the research also must make use of the holdings of the George Bush Presidential Library. The Korea Grant Program is made possible through an endowment from the Korea Foundation. Awards for both grants range from $500 to $2,500. Information and applications for these grant programs can be received from the Foundation office, or simply by clicking on the following links. The Scowcroft Institute also offers Scowcroft Faculty Research Grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 to Bush School and other Texas A&M faculty doing policy-relevant research on various aspects of international affairs.
Research GrantsOur Fellowship Programs
The Scowcroft Fellowship supports graduate students at the Bush School pursuing advanced research in international affairs and national security. Fellows engage in policy-relevant projects, benefit from mentorship, and contribute to the work of the Scowcroft Institute. The Army Scowcroft Fellowship is a specialized track for U.S. Army officers enrolled at the Bush School, offering additional support for research aligned with military and strategic interests. Visit the Scowcroft Fellowship page to learn more about eligibility, benefits, and how to apply.
Research Programs
The Biosecurity and Pandemic Policy Center is an educational, research, and policy program targeting current challenges in pandemic and bioterrorism preparedness and response. Since the Initiative’s inception the program has grown to include an annual conference in College Station, TX, as well as one at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. We have developed course work in infectious disease, pandemics, and bioterrorism for students of the Bush School and are in the process of developing an academic concentration that would allow our students to specialize in this topic area.
Director:
Gerald Parker
The France/TAMU Institute was founded in 2008 with the support of the French Cultural Services and French Embassy and the Office of the Provost at Texas A&M University. The France/TAUM Institute is one of seventeen Centres d’Excellence or Centers of Excellence created by the French Cultural Services with prestigious American partner universities. The purpose of the France/TAMU Institute and the Centers of Excellence is to foster Franco-American cultural and intellectual exchanges in the form of sponsored lectures and colloquia involving French and American scholars, public intellectuals, as well as others. The Centers also encourage and contribute to curricular enhancements and student and teacher exchanges with France.
Director:
Richard Golsan
Scowcroft White Papers
July 2025
The Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs released A Critical Review of COVID-19 Origins: “Hidden in Plain Sight” by Dr. Robert P. Kadlec on July 21, 2025. The report can be accessed as a PDF below. This document presents selected reactions to the report from researchers, commentators, and journalists. The document will be updated periodically to include additional reactions as they become available. It was last updated on August 19, 2025.
View the Reactions to A Critical Review of COVID Origins Hidden in Plain Sight White Paper here.
Scowcroft Publications
The Scowcroft Institute publishes the Scowcroft Papers a collection of research and commentary on issues relevant to policymakers and the public. The series includes major addresses delivered at the Bush School, academic work by Scowcroft fellows and faculty, papers from Institute-sponsored conferences, commissioned policy analyses, and links to externally published research funded by the Institute.