The National Security Law Department (ADN) educates and trains U.S. and foreign judge advocates in international law and the application of that law to military operations. Subjects taught include foundational international law topics such as jus ad bellum, Geneva Conventions, human rights, war crimes, and the national security structure, as well as more practical applications of international law such as means and methods of warfare, detention law, cyber law, intelligence law, and rules of engagement. ADN faculty members are primarily Army judge advocates, but also include judge advocates from the Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy.
ADN teaches newly commissioned judge advocate officers in the Officer Basic Course, as well as newly promoted Majors as part of the one year Graduate Degree Program. ADN also teaches several short courses, including the National Security Law of Armed Conflict (2 weeks), Emergent Topics in National Security Law (3 days), Intelligence Law (1 week), and Domestic Operations (1 week) courses. ADN also teaches senior leaders of other branches at the Senior Officer Leader Orientation and General Officer Legal Orientation courses multiple times throughout the year.
