Fellowship • Research • Collaboration • Dissemination • Commentary
Understanding the Cold War Through Scholarship, Testimony, and Public Engagement
The National Institute for Cold War Studies is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing Cold War scholarship, preserving the personal testimonies of those who lived it, and connecting historians, veterans, educators, and the public.
The Cold War shaped the modern world — yet much of its history remains unexamined, underrepresented, or inaccessible. NICWS brings together scholars, veterans, and researchers to preserve primary sources, produce serious scholarship, and make Cold War history available to a wide audience.
Scholarship
Research articles, publications, and historical analysis grounded in empirical evidence and rational conclusions.
Testimony Preservation
Collecting and archiving personal accounts from veterans, government personnel, and industry workers who experienced the Cold War firsthand.
Public Engagement
Educational resources, outreach events, and partnerships that bring Cold War history to historians, students, and the general public.
About NICWS
- IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit historical research institute
- Manuscript submitted to Routledge (January 2026) on the Reagan military buildup and currently in production
- Working relationship with the Fighter Pilot Podcast (121,000+ subscribers)
- Cold War testimony archive currently under development as a permanent research resources
- Public history initiatives include oral history collection events and educator resource development
- Committed to elevating underrepresented regional perspectives and diverse historical methodologies
- Semester-based internship program in development for Fall 2026 launch
How NICWS Advances Cold War Scholarship
NICWS pursues its mission through five core institutional activities that connect researchers, preserve historical testimony, and share knowledge with a broad public.
Community and Fellowship
A professional home for historians of all backgrounds — academic, independent, and lay — built on collegial discourse and mentorship across regional and institutional lines.
Productive Collaboration
A platform for members to share research through blogs, podcasts, articles, and major publications, expanding the collective understanding of the Cold War.
Research and Collections
Active collection, analysis, and cataloging of primary and secondary sources, with particular emphasis on personal testimonies from Cold War participants.
Resource Distribution
Educational and research resources for students, educators, journalists, and policymakers — including research guides, timelines, and connections to partner institutions.
Cold War, Then and Now
A moderated forum where historians offer informed perspectives on the Cold War’s legacy and its relevance to contemporary affairs.
Featured Research and Resources
NICWS produces and curates Cold War scholarship and research tools for historians, educators, and the public. The following resources are available now.
Fighter Pilot Podcast Episode Catalog
A curated catalog of episodes from the Fighter Pilot Podcast — one of the most significant oral history resources on Cold War military aviation available to the public. Over 200 interviews with military aviators, many of whom served during the Cold War.
Suggested Works: A Cold War Historiography Guide
An annotated bibliography of essential Cold War scholarship, organized to guide researchers and students through the major works and methodological traditions of the field.
Current Research Projects
NICWS has several active research initiatives underway. Current projects include a comparative study of Cold War ideologies, American Christian missionaries behind the Iron Curtain, the development of the U.S. Navy LAMPS program, and Gulf Coast Cold War shipbuilding at Avondale and Ingalls shipyards.
Research Guides
Practical guidance for Cold War researchers using federal archives, presidential libraries, NARA, and FOIA processes. Coming 2026.
Perspectives: Ronald Reagan’s Military Buildup in Contrast
An icon of the later Cold War, Ronald Reagan’s military buildup was an expression of…
Grade the AI: Origins of the Cold War Pt. 1
The emergence of AI presents some real challenges both to historians and educators. The capability…
The Once “Great Debate” of the Constitutional War Power
Cold War Scotland, National Museum of Scotland Exhibit; A Review
The National Museum of Scotland’s recent exhibit, “Cold War Scotland,” shows the unique and important…