Cyber (formerly Information and Communications Technology): May 30, 2023

Safeguarding Cyberspace: The Imperative for Reform and Rebalance

The United States (US) will most likely continue to suffer unacceptable losses in strategic competition with autocracies in cyberspace until it shapes the cyberspace domain by improving cyberspace attention, leadership, and governance, fostering a more collaborative relationship with private industry to advance digital literacy and cybersecurity, and involving more offensive cyberspace operations through integrated deterrence via defend forward and persistent engagement strategies. Allies and partners should be engaged to ensure synchronous policies. The 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy (NCS), though appropriately advancing cybersecurity, will unlikely bend the positive slope of Intellectual Property (IP) theft, ransomware loss, malign cyber information operations (CIO), and ongoing cyberspace threats to US critical infrastructure by Russia and China. The US remains largely timid in cyberspace, especially in punishing malign actors, fearing escalation to kinetic conflict, and limits itself to cybersecurity. To date, US operations involving denial capabilities have not resulted in escalation to military conflict.

Education May 30, 2017

Education

Education is a key component underpinning the national security of the United States (US). It drives the economy, sharpens the nation’s competitive edge in science, technology, and innovation, develops the minds of people of all ages, raises the poor out of poverty, and is the great social equalizer. The US is a recognized global leader in education, and higher education is the fuel for prosperity and security. As college costs rise, students are increasingly ill-prepared for postsecondary courses, and employers are less able to find qualified employees, some may ask whether the fuel is running out. As the nation and its new administration look to secure opportunities and economic prosperity for its populace, it is appropriate to assess the current higher education landscape, evaluate the market drivers, and look for ways to improve the possibilities for future generations. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the US spent $11,700 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student in 2012, which was 31 percent higher than the average of other countries. At the postsecondary level, the US spent 2.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which was higher than the average (1.5 percent) and higher than that of any other country. If one includes education spending across all levels (elementary, secondary, and postsecondary), spending grows to 6.4 percent of GDP.

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.

Electromagnetic Warfare: May 30, 2023

Electromagnetic Warfare Roadblocks: Stifling Innovation and Operational Effectiveness

The United States must innovate and operationalize electromagnetic warfare (EW) capability across the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) or U.S. national security will be at risk. Superiority in the EMS maneuver space is a fundamental precursor that enables the Department of Defense (DoD) to successfully operate in all domains and achieve the goals of the National Defense Strategy. The ability to operate freely within the EMS – at the time, place, and parameters of the nation’s choosing – is no longer guaranteed within today’s geopolitical environment. While acute threats like Russia pose significant EMS threats, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) presents the United States with its most significant pacing challenge. China fuses innovation across civil and military spheres, which enables it to make technological advances quickly. To maintain EMS superiority, the United States must remove roadblocks and impediments that slow EW innovation and prevent EW operational effectiveness.

Electronics: March 30, 2025

Electronics

While currently assessed as mature and healthy, the global semiconductor industry is facing a strategic inflection point. This inflection will shape a future for the industry that is significantly different than the past. Although outlook for that future remains favorable, numerous challenges place that future at risk. Challenges found in Chinese competition, skilled workforce shortages, commercial semiconductor market shifts, unique DoD electronics needs, and ongoing requirements for rapid innovation threaten the stability of the market, the U.S. competitive advantage, and U.S. economic and national security. Future success in the industry hinges upon policies which address these challenges and enable U.S. companies to embrace future opportunities.

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.

Energy: March 30, 2025

Energy

Recent developments and advancements in the domestic energy sector have greatly enhanced U.S. energy security. Newfound access to vast oil and natural gas reserves made possible by advances in hydraulic fracturing technology, the rapid expansion of power generation from renewable energy sources, and improvements in energy efficiency are providing American’s with unprecedented access to abundant, reliable, and affordable energy. Nevertheless, the lack of a coherent national energy strategy, flawed energy markets, and aging infrastructure pose an acute risk to future U.S. energy security.

Energy: May 30, 2022

Energy Industry Study Report

This paper documents a top-level exploration of the global energy industry and its ramifications for the United States’ enduring interests and national security. Prior scholars at National Defense University conducted similar research and documented their results within publicly available reports. Current students examined reports from 2009 and 2018 to find gaps in the research and analyze trends within the energy industry. Previous reports conducted a point-in-time analysis of the energy industry and are therefore ripe for an update.

Energy: May 30, 2023

Maximizing the First 5% of GDP: An Optimistic Assessment of the United States Energy Sector and Policy Recommendations for the Future

Currently, there is considerable pessimism in the United States. Inflation, political polarization, debt brinksmanship, and protracted conflict dominate headlines. However, the mood is noticeably different in the energy sector. Energy is one of America’s greatest strengths, and after decades of languish and underinvestment (in certain parts of the industry), the sector may now be positioned to lead a new era of American leadership and growth. For the first time in decades, there is significant investment from the federal government, and the private sector and academia are eager to accept the challenges the administration has articulated.

Environment May 31, 2024

Environment Industry Study

The Environment and Climate Industry Study Group Report highlights the escalating challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation across the United States and throughout the world. As these impacts intensify, they intersect with economic and security vulnerabilities, creating cascading effects that disproportionately impact marginalized nations and communities. The U.S. faces a pivotal decision in defining its role in shaping global responses to climate change – whether as an obstructive force, a facilitator, or a leader. This report delves into the complex interplay between environmental issues and U.S. industry, emphasizing the urgent need for the country to mobilize political will to not only respond to but leverage the opportunities presented by the evolving global environmental landscape. The report advocates a strategic pivot towards sustainability that integrates economic vitality and environmental integrity, proposing a path forward that harnesses innovation and leadership in response to one of the most pressing global challenges of our time.