The National Defence University (NDU), formerly introduced as Army War Course (1963–70), the National Defence College (1970–2007), is the military university with additional status of public university of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan focused on military education and training for the armed forces, including Pakistan military forces and two hundred foreign participants. Formerly established on 28 May 1970 at Rawalpindi, its academic principles are focused on command instructions, national security, military strategy, and war studies among other specified academic disciplines. It is one of the oldest military education and training institutes in the country with additional enrollments reserved for the civil servants.

Air Vice Marshal Michael John O'Brian known as M.J. O'Brian and Micky O'Brian was a two-star rank officer in the Pakistan Air Force who held the distinction of being the only Air Force officer to serve as Commandant of the National Defence College, Islamabad. He was one of the pioneering officers of the Pakistan Air Force and served as the 14th Deputy Chief of Air Staff from 1974 to 1975. O'Brian was one of the distinguished Christian pilots who participated in the wars Indo-Pakistani wars of 1947, 1965, and 1971.