The Power of Games in Training Future National Security Leaders
A new study, Assessing the Benefits of Simulations and War Games for the Homeland Security Enterprise Workforce, has shed light on how simulations and war games can be powerful tools for training and education in homeland security.
The project, led by researchers at Duke University and Valens Games, examined how game-based learning can strengthen skills like negotiation, teamwork, and decision-making. The research was conducted as part of the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE), a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence based at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
The team studied a game called Acceleration, developed by Valens Global/Valens Games, and used it in a half-semester class at Duke University. Students were divided into teams representing both governments and non-state actors. Each week, they submitted moves, negotiated strategies, and reacted to changing scenarios in a dynamic, evolving environment.
Across three iterations of the course over two semesters, 66 students participated. Researchers then evaluated the experience using surveys, focus groups, and skill-based tasks to measure learning and growth.
The study revealed several benefits of simulation-based learning:
- High engagement and value: Students described the course as dynamic and meaningful, especially the hands-on experience of working in teams.
- Personal and professional development: Participants reported growth in confidence and skills such as negotiation, leadership, perspective taking, and decision-making. Many also expressed a stronger interest in pursuing careers in national security.
- Knowledge gains: The clearest measurable improvement was in national security knowledge, with additional though less statistically significant gains in teamwork, causal thinking, and perspective taking.
- Subgroup benefits: Women, graduate students, fellows, and students with prior experience in national security reported the greatest benefits.
- Cooperation matters: Game iterations with higher cooperation among teams produced more positive outcomes.
At the same time, the study surfaced challenges, such as differences in expectations about how closely the simulation should reflect reality, uneven experiences across teams, and a desire for more transparency in how moves were integrated into the game.
Experiential learning methods like simulations and games are gaining traction across government, academia, and industry. This study suggests they can deliver educational value comparable to traditional approaches, while also offering unique benefits in preparing future professionals for the complexities of homeland security.
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This research was led by PIs David Schanzer (Professor of the Practice in the Sanford School of Public Policy) and Jessica Sperling (Director of Applied Research, Evaluation, & Engagement, SSRI) of Duke University, and Daveed Gartenstein-Ross (Founder and CEO) of Valens Games, along with Victoria Lee and Elena Johanson of Duke Social Science Research Institute, and Eleanor Ross of Valens Games.
The project was supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under Grant Award Number 20STTPC00001-05. The full report, Assessing the Benefits of Simulations and War Games for Homeland Security Enterprise Workforce Development, was published in 2025 by NCITE.