It forms part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and is its most senior and prestigious component.

[1] Its objective at that time was to instruct senior military officers in the defence of the British Empire, "to look at the problem of war as whole and not merely from a land, or sea, or air point of view.

"[1] In 1946, following the end of World War II, the college reopened at Seaford House, Belgrave Square and members of the United States Armed Forces started attending the course for the first time.

[4] Since 2001, course members have had the option of studying in a joint programme that leads to an MA in International Security and Strategy from King's College London.

The Commandant leads the Senior Directing Staff of the College, who are in effect the faculty and are a mixture of active and retired military officers, diplomats and civil servants.