CMH Fellowships & Awards

For purposes of this program, the history of war on land is broadly defined, including such areas as biography, military campaigns, military organization and administration, policy, strategy, tactics, weaponry, technology, training, logistics, and the evolution of civil-military relations.

In the selection of proposals for funding, preference is given to topics on the history of the U.S. Army. Topics submitted should complement rather than duplicate the Center's existing projects.

Applicants must be civilian citizens of the United States unaffiliated with the U.S. government; that is, they must not be military personnel, not in federal service as civilian employees, and not under contract to the U.S. government.

Applicants must demonstrate their professional potential by submitting the following:

1. Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended.
2. A proposed plan of research.
3. One letter of recommendation from their academic director that includes a statement approving the dissertation topic.
4. One letter of recommendation from an individual who can attest to their qualifications for the fellowship.
5. A writing sample of approximately 25 pages. Please submit an entire piece rather than a fragment.
6. A curriculum vitae or resume listing education completed or in progress, a brief description of the in-progress dissertation, recent employment history, publications, presentations at academic conferences, and awards or recognitions, highlighting those relevant to the field of history, museum science, or archival studies.

At the beginning of the Fellowship Year, Fellows will meet virtually with the Chief of Military History, the Chief Historian, and the Executive Secretary of the Dissertation Fellowship Program.

During the Fellowship year, in consultation with the Center, the Fellow will present an oral presentation on their work in progress.

The Fellow will also prepare a brief written report at the conclusion of their fellowship year.

The Center requires deposit in its library of one copy of the complete bound dissertation.

The stipend of $15,000 for the fellowship is provided in one payment at the start of the academic year.

From this sum, the recipient must meet travel and all other expenses in connection with the fellowship.

The payment of the stipend is made directly to the Fellow upon receipt of certification from the parent academic institution that they are a candidate for the Ph.D. degree and authorized to become a Visiting Research Fellow.

The Center of Military History also undertakes to support the Fellow's scholarly activities in the Washington area by making its collections accessible and its specialists available, insofar as official duties permit.

Fellows receive desk space at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, if available, and are assisted in gaining access to archival and library sources within the Washington area as well as at the U.S. Army Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

Review of the dissertation by the Center is at the discretion of the Center and the candidate's sponsoring institution, but responsibility for the control and approval of the dissertation remains with the academic institution and its faculty.

Questions concerning the application should be sent to: katelyn.k.tietzen-wisdom.civ@army.mil .

Applications and all supporting documents for the Dissertation Fellowships must be postmarked no later than 31 March 2026.

Completed applications can also be emailed to: katelyn.k.tietzen-wisdom.civ@army.mil .

For purposes of this program, the history of war on land is broadly defined, including such areas as biography, military campaigns, military organization and administration, policy, strategy, tactics, weaponry, technology, training, logistics, and the evolution of civil-military relations.

In the selection of proposals for funding, preference is given to topics on the history of the U.S. Army. Topics submitted should complement rather than duplicate the Center's existing projects.