This paper provides an overview of the National Jet Fuels Combustion Program led by the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, and the NASA. The program follows from basic research from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research and results from the engine-company-led Combustion Rules and Tools program funded by the U.S. Air Force. The overall objective of this fuels program was to develop combustion-related generic test and modeling capabilities that can improve the understanding of the impact of fuel chemical composition and physical properties on combustion, leading to accelerating the approval process of new alternative jet fuels. In this paper, the motivation and objectives for the work, participating universities, gas-turbine-engine companies, other federal agencies, and international partners are described. This paper provides an in-depth discussion on the benefits to the fuels approval process, the rationale in selecting conventional and alternative fuels to study, the referee rig used for fuel testing, and the modeling approaches. High-level results are also briefly discussed, and will be covered in detail in separate university-led papers. Lastly, an Appendix reviewing past programs, events, and workshops that lay the groundwork for this program is also included for reference.