WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 8, 2026) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University’s (ASU) 2025 National Security & Counterterrorism Fellowship (NSCT) concluded in the United Kingdom, December 7-12, 2025.
The 16 fellows—from the Five Eyes (FVEY) intelligence alliance: United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand—met with senior government officials to examine key national security challenges facing the alliance.
During their time in London, the cohort toured the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Counter Terrorism Operations Centre (CTOC), Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), and engaged with a range of senior national security officials across the UK Intelligence Community, including agency heads. During their visits, they met government officials Ben Fender, FCDO director for Defence and International Security; Stephen Hickey, FCDO Middle East Director; and Dr. Michelle Haslem, director general of the Home Office’s Homeland Security Group.
“This final module in the United Kingdom wraps up a year-long exploration into the Five Eyes alliance’s national security priorities,” said Nicholas Rasmussen, founder of the McCain Institute’s NSCT Fellowship and former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). “Thanks to our partners at The Australian National University’s National Security College, the experts who spoke to the fellows, and the program’s growing alumni network—the 2025 fellows have reinforced their collective commitment to advancing democratic resilience and international security cooperation.”
The cohort also traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland, for a full day of programming focused on terrorism and counterterrorism strategy.
McCain Institute’s Senior Advisor for the National Security & Leadership Programs, Nicholas Rasmussen, spoke with Avril Haines at the University of Oxford about the evolving global terrorism landscape, as well as U.S. policy and strategy to deal with that security environment since 9/11.
The 2026 cohort will be announced in the coming weeks. Learn more about the National Security & Counterterrorism Fellowship, designed in partnership with the National Security College at Australia National University here.