The Missions of the National Defense University of Iran in the framework of comprehensive defense and national security from the perspective of the military sector: from idea to reality

National defense universities around the world have developed a joint philosophy on the importance of strategic and comprehensive understanding of national defense and security for military section commanders and senior managers of the national sector. However, there is a lack of consensus in our country, particularly in the national sector, which has resulted in inappropriate strategic training for division commanders of the army, especially the managers of the national sector in the field of defense and national security. In this regard, a study was conducted to identify the missions of The Supreme National Defense University (SNDU) of Iran and the internal and external obstacles to the realization of these missions from the perspective of several experts in the Division of Army. For this research, a qualitative survey research strategy was adopted, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 experts related to SNDU to collect data. The researchers analyzed the data by thematic analysis method and drawing of thematic networks. The Trustworthiness of the findings was assessed using four criteria. Accordingly, the findings of the research reveal a network of themes consisting of a global theme, including the "strategic training of national high managers and army based on comprehensive defense and national security" as the fundamental mission of the university, and four organizing themes, including missions, mission domains, internal obstacles, and external challenges. The implications of this research show the necessity of focusing more on the defense and national security sectors, based on the fundamental mission and the various missions under it. Subsequently, it is necessary to revise the architecture of education, research, counseling, discourse building, and diplomacy. The study of internal and external challenges indicated that the SNDU has a long way to go to achieve social authority in its mission. Finally, the research presented a set of suggestions to shorten this path and facilitate and accelerate the fulfillment of the fundamental mission of SNDU and its missions.