Agribusiness: March 30, 2025

Agribusiness

Our nation’s food security lies in the strength and sustainment of the Agribusiness Industry. Famine and hunger contribute to political instability within and between sovereign borders and negatively impact global world order. The United States should beware of exogenous events and focus on maintaining the strength of the industry by: 1) responding to water scarcity and the threats that may accompany the growing value of water, 2) addressing the ability to maintain a reliable labor force for farming, 3) developing adaptive strategies that address the effects of climate change and 4) ensuring the domestic population is protected from food insecurity.

Aircraft (formerly Air Domain): March 30, 2025

Aircraft Industry

The 2017 Eisenhower School Aircraft Industry team analyzed the strategies of select aircraft firms in the United States and Europe over the last five years in an effort to assess in aggregate their implications for both the Department of Defense (DoD) and the overall national security of the United States. The team conducted research using a variety of methods, including a guest lecture series, visits to key domestic and international defense firms, and independent research. This study analyzed the strategies of the following firms: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Airbus, BAE Systems, Dassault, Leonardo, and Saab. The study also examined the different national frameworks within which the firms reside as well as China and Russia’s aircraft industry structures. The group identified opportunities and challenges for these firms and characterized various government and firm interactions and the emerging implications for DoD and the U.S. government.

Biotechnology: March 30, 2025

Biotechnology

A comprehensive US National Security Strategy must recognize the underlying drivers of instability and conflict and fully leverage the US biotechnology industry in applying innovative solutions. As a pillar of national security, a strong, innovative and growing economy is an enduring national interest. The biotechnology industry’s impact on the national economy is significant and growing; in 2014 it contributed 2.2% of GDP with revenues predicted to increase 29% by 2019. Investment in biotechnology will drive innovation and shape the future workforce while improving our health and controlling the fastest growing US liability – rising healthcare costs. As the world population increases, bio-agriculture is already helping with food and water insecurity. The United States can harness the full potential of biofuels and biomaterials to end fossil fuel reliance and make America the world’s leader of renewable fuels. Lastly, innovative biotechnical solutions will improve our military and protect our population from harm. With proper resourcing and regulation, the biotechnology sector will be a vital component in our National Security Strategy.

Cyber (formerly Information and Communications Technology) March 30, 2025

Information and Communications Technology

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry is evolving at a rapid pace while serving as a catalyst for digital entrepreneurship in a new data-driven world interconnected via the internet and cyberspace. ICT supports and enables the day-to-day operation of modern societies, while providing newfound opportunities for economic growth through digital trade. In order to maintain the ICT industry’s steep growth trajectory, policymakers must focus on three areas: (1) cybersecurity to protect increasingly vulnerable critical infrastructure; (2) privacy to protect citizens’ rights in an age of data collection and exchange; and (3) the growing shortfall of technology workers needed to maintain innovation leadership.

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: 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.

Environment: March 30, 2025

Environment

Environmental degradation and sustainability of basic resources presents a complex security challenge for the United States and the world. To address this challenge, the United Nations adopted an ambitious and aggressive set of Sustainable Development Goals designed to improve individual, community, and national resilience; strengthen economic and governance capacity; and address the most pressing environmental threats to health, livelihoods, and security. The United States must support this endeavor by engaging and enabling the Environment Industry, the pivotal player in developing technology, service, and process solutions to promote sustainable and efficient use of natural resources.

Finance (formerly Financial Services): March 30, 2025

Financial Services

The Financial Services Industry (FSI) is designated as a “critical infrastructure” of the United States, directly affecting national interests and impacting national security. Now is the time to adjust course across the regulatory oversight system, react to a major change in the FSI international market with Brexit, and enhance our resiliency against future threats to FSI cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The U.S. FSI makes a strong, sustainable contribution to national security and economic prosperity. Nonetheless, the government can do more to mitigate the unintended consequences of Dodd-Frank, including the overly complex domestic regulatory structure; potential Brexit impacts; and emerging cybersecurity challenges.

Healthcare: March 30, 2025

Healthcare

Healthcare spending in the United States occupies an increasingly large portion of the federal budget and will continue to grow at an alarming rate if measures are not taken to reform the sector. Pharmaceuticals, hospitals, and insurance providers combine with heavy federal and state regulations to create a complex, fragmented delivery system that ultimately confuses and masks true costs from the general population. Incentivized by the current payment system, the sector focuses on disease care rather than preventive care. There continues to be a lack of national consensus as reflected by the difficulty Congress faces in finding a solution to the healthcare debate, which can delay, dilute, and even dismiss any momentum for meaningful change. This stagnation will drive additional mandatory federal spending at the expense of discretionary programs critical to national prosperity and security, including investments in diplomacy and defense necessary for an effective foreign policy. Ultimately, the complexity of healthcare in the United States creates exorbitant inefficiencies which inflate costs, reduce access, and place value on quantity over quality. Consequently, through extensive field investigations and academic research, this report examines the current status of healthcare in America along with future constraints and opportunities, then provides realistic and achievable recommendations to target improved population health and healthcare value.

Land Combat Systems: March 30, 2025

Land Combat Systems

The Land Combat Systems (LCS) industry, as part of the overall defense industry, is critical to the U.S. and partner nation’s defense security. For the purposes of this study, the industry is sub-categorized into two markets: Tactical Wheeled Vehicles (TWV), including Protected Vehicles (PV), and Combat Vehicles (CV). Tactical Wheeled Vehicles include light, medium, and heavy wheeled vehicles carrying personnel and equipment with a limited ability to carry weapons. Combat Vehicles include tracked and wheeled vehicles mainly used in a ground combat role. The purpose of studying the LCS industry is to analyze representative issues and dilemmas faced by firms, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the U.S. Government (USG). The LCS industry consists of a number of key domestic and international firms as well as government depot facilities. Within the TWV market firms often manufacture both commercial and military products, sometimes on the same assembly line. However, most firms in the CV market are solely military suppliers. Cyclic government demand is a key driver in the TWV and CV markets. In addition, government customers control many variables which directly impacts the success or failure of LCS programs and the respective success or failure of individual firms. Given the facts above and based upon the study team observations and analysis, the USG and DoD should consider expanding Foreign Military Sales (FMS) opportunities, updating logistical sustainment plans and practices, revising requirements generation and oversight of Science and Technology (S&T) and innovation, and consolidating efforts within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). These changes will maximize efficiency, increase competition, incentivize innovation, and minimize cost while maintaining the optimum readiness level for the designated mission requirements.