New Defense Approaches Project

The New Defense Approaches Project is focused on developing concrete and pragmatic recommendations for policymakers to better align the United States with a complex and uncertain future.

The New Defense Approaches Project aims to address two types of security problems. First, long-standing challenges that are evolving in ways that outpace the structures in place to manage them. Second, evolving areas of defense and national security that require greater amplification or new approaches to illuminate the path toward practical implementation.

Projects:

Military Strategy Forum
CSIS hosts a series of senior military and civilian leaders from across the Department of Defense to present their unique insights and vision on the direction of U.S. national security and defense policy.
U.S. Ground Force Capabilities Through 2020
The unique advantages of ground forces will be as vital in the coming decade as it has been in the past.
Amphibious Capabilities and Future Conflict
To contribute to a more fulsome debate on the full range of potential amphibious force contributions in the future.
Trends and Surprises
In Fall 2009, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD (P&R)) asked CSIS to undertake a six-month assessment of DoD vulnerabilities to events that might occur in the next 5 to 10 years. The aim of this project was to provide useful insights on the defense implications of events that would have a sudden and disruptive impact on U.S. national security priorities.
The Ingenuity Gap: Officer Management for the 21st Century
The project examined the current officer management system and proposed changing the basis of eligibility for promotion from time to competencies in order to better meet the demands of the future operating environment.