Defense

Within Defense

Over the past 15 years, CNAS has shaped U.S. defense strategy and policy. Today, the United States must swiftly implement its defense strategy, develop innovative operational concepts, and undertake difficult institutional reforms to both meet the long-term challenges posed by great powers and short-term crises created by a diverse array of global actors. The CNAS Defense program addresses the central military challenges of today and tomorrow and assesses how to balance risk across time.

The Defense Program employs strategic, budgetary, and operational analysis and leverages innovative approaches such as wargaming to inform defense policy. We develop actionable policy recommendations on defense strategy, force structure, operations, and resourcing to help U.S. and allied leaders create needed change.

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Research Team