Advanced Manufacturing May 31, 2024

Advancing US Manufacturing: National Goals, Strategic Competition, and the Capabilities of Allies and Partners

From November 2023 to May 2024, the Eisenhower School’s Advanced Manufacturing (AM) Industry Study undertook an analysis of current capabilities, policy, and practices regarding domestic and global AM, focused on four key areas: (1) AM technology, (2) workforce, (3) supply chain, and (4) international cooperation and competition focused on Mexico, Canada, India, the European Union (EU), the Russian Federation, and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Students leveraged frameworks learned during their Industry Analysis and Strategic Acquisition and Resourcing courses during the analysis. The seminar conducted extensive fieldwork in the National Capital Region, as well as targeted studies in the manufacturing hubs of Pittsburgh, Knoxville, Chicago, Indiana, Oregon, and Ontario, Canada. Contributions also came from academic institutions and interactions with international government partners, enhancing the breadth and depth of the research. Throughout the study, the seminar operated with the mindset that AM is a continuous improvement process, not a discrete set of tools, processes, or materials.

Aircraft (formerly Air Domain) May 31, 2024

Is The United States Aircraft Industry Ready for Sustained Global Conflict?

This paper examines the readiness of the United States aircraft industry to prevail in conflict in the current geopolitical landscape. It emphasizes the industry's crucial role in strengthening national security. The research focuses on two key areas: supply chains and the defense industry workforce. In terms of supply chains, the paper highlights the need to construct resilient supply chains amidst geopolitical turbulence. It analyzes the availability and sources of raw materials and rare earth elements, and the vulnerability and resiliency of the aircraft supply chain. The paper identifies challenges in gaining insight into supply chains and offers recommendations to enhance resiliency, reduce dependence on China's raw material industry, improve supply chain visibility, and explore friend-shoring opportunities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Finance (Formerly Financial Services) May 31, 2024

U.S. Finance Industry & National Security: A Source of Both Strength and Vulnerability

This paper examines the intersection of the U.S. financial industry and national security in the context of Great Power Competition, especially with the rise of China (PRC). It highlights three key areas: capital markets, financial innovation, and financial statecraft. The PRC's economic strategies challenge U.S. dominance, while domestic issues like political polarization and economic inequality threaten internal stability. The U.S. capital markets, crucial for economic strength and national security, face challenges due to shifts towards private capital and changes in market dynamics. The paper calls for a more strategic approach by the Department of Defense (DoD) in using financial tools to advance national security, particularly through economic statecraft. It also advocates for regulatory reforms to address vulnerabilities in capital markets, like cybersecurity risks, and urges stronger public-private sector collaboration. To maintain global leadership, the U.S. must adapt its economic strategies to safeguard national interests and navigate evolving geopolitical dynamics. The paper provides a roadmap for integrating economic power with national security to ensure U.S. resilience amid global competition.