The Lab is proud to host the annual Madison Diplomacy Challenge, a day-long simulation event designed to cultivate diplomatic, negotiation, strategic thinking, peacemaking, and statecraft skills for aspiring future public servants. Held each spring, the Challenge invites participants to step into the roles of diplomats, national security advisors, and military strategists as they navigate high-stakes global crises. 

Alongside the Challenge, the Lab offers other strategy simulations and war games throughout the academic year, helping students gain experience in statecraft and interagency coordination. Most recently, JMU students participated in “Operation Baltic Guardian,” a simulation held in conjunction with the German Embassy in Washington, DC and set against the backdrop of the 75th anniversary of NATO and the Berlin Airlift.