Biotechnology May 31, 2024

Biotech Diplomacy: Strengthening U.S. National Security and International Partnerships with Brazil and Argentina through Health, Food, and Economic Innovation

As we reach the mid-2020s, the United States navigates a period of strategic competition characterized by rapid technological advancement that presents extraordinary opportunities and formidable new threats. Simultaneously, U.S. adversaries seek to capitalize on these technological shifts to support their populations while undermining the rules-based international order. In this context, the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are racing for dominance in these emerging technological areas. The biotechnology (biotech) industry represents one of the most important arenas for this great power competition, pitting autocracy against democracy. Biotech can empower democracies by fostering innovations in healthcare and agriculture, saving millions of lives while transforming the global economy. By promoting accessibility to biotech, the U.S. government can position more vulnerable populations to benefit from this emerging technology and strengthen U.S. influence by building new partnerships with developing countries.

Electromagnetic Warfare May 31, 2024

Electromagnetic Warfare

Modern warfare is dominated by advanced capabilities that operate through the electromagnetic spectrum, including communications systems, remotely operated aircraft, and radar and electro-optical sensing systems. Superiority in the electromagnetic operating environment will define how the wars of tomorrow are fought and won. However, the electromagnetic spectrum has become more congested and contested as commercial use of the spectrum has increased and competitors like the People's Republic of China and Russia have expanded their electromagnetic warfare capabilities. To protect national security interests, the United States must remove impediments to the development and fielding of electromagnetic warfare capabilities.

Energy May 31, 2024

Powering America’s Future: Policy, Investment, And Collaboration for A Sustainable Energy Sector

As the United States seeks to transition to carbon-free energy sources to mitigate the impacts of climate change, which the 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy describes as an existential threat, it faces many opportunities and challenges. In an era of substantially growing energy needs, the United States is a leader in the development of a range of carbon-free energy technologies that can play a central role in ensuring that U.S. industry, the U.S. military, and the American people have reliable access to the energy sources they need for security and prosperity. However, successfully securing investment in costly cutting-edge technologies and obtaining permission to deploy them is challenging in a regulatory environment designed for fossil-fuel sources and slow to adapt to carbon-free energy providers.

Autonomous Systems and Robotics (Formerly Robotics) May 31, 2024

Code Of Arms: Autonomous Systems and Robotics and the US Defense Industrial Base

Since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the United States has remained the dominant global power, supported by its strong Defense Industrial Base (DIB). However, technological advancements, globalization, and changing geopolitical dynamics have challenged this position, especially in the context of modern warfare. The rise of autonomous systems and robotics (AS&R) is transforming warfare, as seen in recent conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, offering improved decision-making and reduced human risk. However, the U.S. faces growing competition from adversaries accelerating their AS&R development. The U.S. acquisition system, marked by long development times and a focus on high-cost, sophisticated systems, is hindering its ability to quickly adapt to the evolving AS&R landscape. This challenge is compounded by a weakened industrial base, which struggles to meet the fast-paced demands for modern military technology. Based on a comprehensive five-month study, the paper recommends a policy overhaul to boost AS&R development within the DIB. Key proposals include creating a global regulatory framework to encourage innovation and interoperability, modernizing the Defense Production Act to enhance AS&R capabilities, and strengthening strategic alliances and trade policies to maintain U.S. leadership.

Maritime (Formerly Maritime Domain and Shipbuilding) May 31, 2024

A Calculated Intervention: Practical Actions to Revitalize the U.S. Maritime Industry

The report, developed by a seminar of students and professionals, identifies key challenges in the U.S. maritime industry, including issues with affordability, production capacity, and resilience. These stem from aging infrastructure, labor shortages, outdated manufacturing, and restrictive policies. The industry’s focus on defense over commercial competitiveness has further worsened its global standing. The report proposes policy recommendations to address these problems, aiming to revitalize the industry, enhance national security, and improve global competitiveness, particularly through efforts focused on commercial shipping and U.S. allies.

Nuclear Triad May 31, 2024

America Can Afford Survival A Capable U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise is Critical Part of Deterrence

2024 Antonelli Award Winner: Great Power Competition (GPC) with two nuclear peers/near-peers is driving the United States to confront the realities of an aging nuclear weapons stockpile and production infrastructure, shrinking manufacturing base, and a nuclear enterprise strategy that has been focused for a generation on maintenance and caretaking rather than investment and recapitalization. China’s rapid ascent to near-peer nuclear power status, Russia’s nuclear saber-rattling in its war against Ukraine, and the emergence of North Korea as a nuclear threat in the Pacific that could conceivably strike the U.S. have all focused U.S. national security leaders across current and recent administrations on the critical importance of the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). While focus and rhetoric are important, overcoming the significant challenges to reinvigorating the U.S. NSE will require fortitude, a whole-of-government approach, and enduring political will.

Artificial Intelligence (Formerly Emerging Technologies) May 31, 2024

Keep Moving Forward: The Race to Secure Competitive Advantage in Artificial Intelligence

The 2023-24 Eisenhower School Artificial Intelligence (AI) Industry Study seminar, "Johnny Five," explored the global AI race, focusing on the intense competition between the U.S. and China. Over 45 engagements with government, industry, and academia, the group identified key findings: 1. Innovation Clusters: Success in AI depends on building tech ecosystems, as seen in Silicon Valley and Taiwan. Collaborating with established hubs can help the U.S. and DoD maximize AI potential. 2. Cyber-Physical Systems: The world is transitioning to a cyber-physical age, requiring workforce development in STEM and fostering a "tinkering" mentality in the U.S. to drive innovation. 3. Data Optimization: AI’s effectiveness hinges on high-quality, secure data. Techniques like multimodal sensing and synthetic data are key, but using imperfect data raises ethical concerns. 4. U.S.-China Competition: The U.S. currently leads in areas like AI stack development, academic partnerships, computing, and data optimization, but must maintain this edge amid China's rapid progress. Additionally, the seminar explored the use of generative AI (GAI) tools. While GAI proved helpful for accelerating learning and resource assessments, it struggled with deep analysis and originality. The group recommends incorporating AI into military education, fostering a culture of responsible AI use, and creating ambassadors for AI throughout the national security sector.

C4ISR May 31, 2024

Government and Industry Perspectives on Accelerating the Development of Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control

The Department of Defense (DoD) aims to reform command and control (C2) across all domains through the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) campaign, which requires overcoming political, economic, social, and technological challenges. Despite progress, CJADC2 efforts are hindered by decentralized leadership, restrictive security policies, incompatible legal authorities, and barriers in the defense industry. The study identifies seven key obstacles, including differences in doctrine, outdated security policies, and misaligned industry incentives. To address these issues, the report recommends five actions: -Accelerate the creation of a data enterprise to improve connectivity and information-sharing. 1. Apply portfolio management to streamline CJADC2 capabilities. 2. Establish a central program office to improve oversight and coordination. 3. Reform information management and security policies to enable better information sharing. 4. Integrate enabling technologies like AI to enhance decision-making. While these recommendations carry risks, particularly in coordinating between the Executive and Legislative branches, they are critical to building a strong technical foundation, centralized management, and policies for effective CJADC2 implementation.

Organic Industrial Base May 31, 2024

Reforming the U.S. Organic Industrial Base and Safeguarding the Indo-Pacific Through Regional Sustainment

The Eisenhower School’s Organic Industrial Base (OIB) Industry Study Seminar explored whether U.S. maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capacities can sustain military forces in the Indo-Pacific, especially from 2027-2030, amid rising competition with China. The seminar found that the current OIB lacks sufficient capability, with an aging workforce, deteriorating infrastructure, and fragile global supply chains. Policies also fail to fully utilize foreign MRO facilities. To address this, the seminar recommended creating a "Responsive OIB" by leveraging MRO services from U.S. allies and partners (A&P) in the Indo-Pacific, which could mitigate readiness challenges. The Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF) could help by positioning MRO services closer to contested areas, improving supply chains, and enhancing interoperability. The Department of Defense should reform OIB locations, integrate A&P MRO services, and develop a civilian maintenance reserve force. Additionally, improving infrastructure, incorporating cyber resiliency, and aligning MRO with future weapon system acquisitions are essential for readiness.

Ground Combat Systems (Formerly Land Combat Systems and Land Domain) May 31, 2024

Ground Combat Systems

The U.S. ground combat vehicle industry faces a critical decision between continuing the production of legacy systems and developing new autonomous, attritable vehicles. With budget constraints and rising international insecurity, the Department of Defense's Replicator initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of large numbers of autonomous systems. The U.S. Army, along with Congress and the defense industry, is working to address technological challenges and develop systems for this initiative. The study recommends the U.S. Army focus on autonomous systems, engage Congress on Replicator's implications, and allocate additional funding for Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCVs) to foster technological diversity. It suggests the Next Generational Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team take more risks in RCV development to get them into the hands of warfighters sooner. Further, the study advocates for rapid prototyping efforts and continued support for modular open systems approaches. Key technologies like machine learning and AI are vital for the success of RCVs, requiring additional R&D to ensure they can effectively integrate into military formations and enhance all six Army warfighting functions.