Industrial College of the Armed Forces The Industrial College of the Armed Forces ( ICAF ) is a United States military educational institution tasked with preparing selected military officers and civilians for senior national security leadership positions dealing with the resource component of national power . The college conducts postgraduate , executive - level courses of study and associated research , awarding a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy to its graduates . Special emphasis is placed on materiel acquisition , joint logistics , and their integration into national security strategy . History . The United States suffered severe mobilization difficulties during World War I . To minimized a recurrence , the " Army Industrial College " was established in 1924 to focus on wartime procurement and mobilization procedures . Bernard M . Baruch , a prominent Wall Street speculator and Chairman of the War Industries Board , is regarded as one of the founding fathers . The first class at the Army Industrial College had only nine students , but by the early 1930s the college was graduating 40 to 50 students in each class . During the first three years , the college provided a five - month course of study . In 1927 , the program was expanded to ten - months with one graduating class each year . Major Dwight D . Eisenhower graduated from the college in 1933 and later served on the faculty . In 1940 , the colleges expanded to two classes and then graduated four classes in 1941 . The college was closed in December 1941 after Japan ’ s attack on Pearl Harbor to make officers available to support the World War II . By that time approximately 1 , 000 officers had been trained at the college . The college re - opened in December 1943 . Before war ' s end senior Army officers , including General Eisenhower ( who was then the Allied Supreme Commander of the European Theatre ) , supported the concept of a joint war college to study mobilization planning and military logistics . In 1946 , the school ' s name was changed to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces . ICAF moved to Fort McNair , near the newly founded National War College . The Industrial College offered a ten - month academic program for selected high potential officers . In 1948 , Secretary of Defense James V . Forrestal , removed the college from the Army ’ s jurisdiction and reconstituted it “ as a joint educational institution under the direction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . ” ICAF moved into a newly constructed facility , Eisenhower Hall in 1960 . During the next several years the character of ICAF changed dramatically . As the United States found itself increasingly involved in the Vietnam War , ICAF shifted from focusing on national industrial mobilization to educating leaders to manage logistical resources in such conflicts . Student demographics changed , with the first woman and African American students graduated in 1973 . In 1976 , ICAF became part of the newly established National Defense University . The Goldwater - Nichols Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 called for substantially increased attention to joint military education . In response the college expanded its curriculum , adding a joint operations module and a mandatory acquisition course . In 1991 , the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff gave ICAF responsibility for conducting a senior acquisition program military and civilian personnel from all the Services and Department of Defense agencies . The new senior acquisition program was offered in conjunction with the Defense Acquisition University . In 1993 , Congress passed legislation authorizing the Industrial College to award Master ’ s degree in national resource strategy . The graduating of the class of 1994 was the first to be awarded a Master ' s degree . In 2013 , the college was re - named " The Dwight D . Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy " . It is now commonly known as " The Eisenhower School " . Today , the official mission of the college is to : “ Prepare selected military officers and civilians for strategic leadership and success in developing our national security strategy and in evaluating , marshalling , and managing resources in the execution of that strategy . ” Faculty . The faculty is composed of civilian academics and highly qualified military officers from all the military Services . The military faculty members are normally Army and Air Force colonels along with Navy captains . Both the civilian and military faculty members are experts in the specific fields they teach . Civilian faculty member normally hold doctorate degree ( or the equivalent professional degrees ) . The faculty includes representatives from the United States Department of State and other federal agencies . The faculty is grouped into four academic departments . The college ’ s academic departments are Defense Strategy and Resourcing , National Security and Economic Policy , National Security and Industrial Base , and Strategic Leadership . Curriculum . The college ’ s curriculum focuses on the resources components of national security . Its academic program includes courses in national security studies , defense strategy , joint operations , leadership and communications , economics , military acquisition , and industry studies . The college ’ s core curriculum is supplemented by elective courses , focuses research opportunities , and an industry studies program . The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education . The curriculum includes an industry studies program that looks at the economic health of selected industrial sectors , both within the United States and globally . Students study and analyze how specific industries can be used to support national security during peacetime and war . The program includes field research . This is conducted during field trips to industry center across the United States and internationally . During these visits faculty and students meet with government officials , corporate executives , and labor leaders . Each industry seminar prepares a comprehensive report on its focus area . The reports are published at the end of the academic year . The senior acquisition program is the capstone course for procurement professionals within the Department of Defense . This course of study prepares selected military officers and civilians for senior level positions in the department ’ s acquisition organizations . The program consists of the college ’ s normal ten - month curriculum plus two in - depth elective courses that address acquisition policy and issues . Students completing the program receive a diploma from Defense Acquisition University along with their Master ’ s degree . Alumni . " See : "