Several members of the MIT Security Studies Program faculty, students and staff travelled to Washington D.C. on March 31, 2016, for a day filled with seminars and events that focused on the Middle East, and alumni outreach.

The first seminar took place at the Pentagon where 120 members of the Department of Defense, Department of State and the four services, all gathered to hear a seminar "Political Struggles in the Greater Middle East: The Organization and Sustainment of Violence," chaired by Prof. Barry Posen, Director of SSP. Professors Roger Petersen, Richard Nielsen, Foniti Christia of MIT and Peter Krause (SSP alum) of Boston College made up the panel. The presentations were very well received and followed by a Q&A session.

A second seminar was held in the afternoon at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City. Several members of the MIT Alumni community in the D.C. area and several current SSP graduate students were on hand to hear the presentation and then follow it up with a Q&A session. Following the seminar's conclusion the group adjourned to take part in the SSP alumni reception.

The popular SSP Alumni Reception is held in Washington, D.C. every two years and provides a chance for former students and fellows, including military fellows, to renew old ties and to meet the current members of the program.