Recent analysis

Nurkin in Defense News on future US space capabilities

Report Jun 20, 2025

A guide to national security space trends in the GCC

By AzurX and Graham Brookie

AzurX provides a comprehensive picture of the innovative strategies, ambitious missions, and inspiring visions propelling GCC nation space programs to new heights.
Space Space Security
Nurkin in Defense News on future US space capabilities

New Atlanticist May 30, 2025

NASA needs a twenty-first-century approach to space exploration

By Dan Hart, Emily Sespico

The US space program must forge a future in which intelligent machines and humans work together seamlessly and the strengths of each are maximized.
Space Technology & Innovation
Nurkin in Defense News on future US space capabilities

New Atlanticist Mar 25, 2025

Starlink’s India launch is a crash course on New Delhi’s approach to tech sovereignty

By Trisha Ray

A recently announced partnership to deploy the Elon Musk-led company’s satellite internet in India offers a window into New Delhi’s “hybrid” approach.
Economy & Business India

Programs

The Atlantic Council Technology Programs comprises five existing efforts—the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), the GeoTech Center, the Cyber Statecraft Initiative, the Democracy + Tech Initiative, and the Capacity Building Initiative. These operations work together to address the geopolitical implications of technology and provide policymakers and global stakeholders necessary research, insights, and convenings to address challenges around global technology and ensure its responsible advancement.

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Content

In the News

Apr 28, 2021

Nurkin in Defense News on future US space capabilities

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Tate Nurkin published an article in DefenseNews titled "What focus areas are key to America's future space capabilities?"

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Fast Thinking

Apr 15, 2021

FAST THINKING: What the Russia-China moon deal means for the commercialization of space

By Atlantic Council

On this episode of Fast Thinking, Atlantic Council experts Divya Chander and David Bray explore what this announcement will mean for geopolitics and the commercialization of space—touching on space mining, the Artemis Accords, the Outer Space Treaty, and what we can learn from native cultures about the rights of our planet and others.

China Russia
Cover credit: Helen Lundeberg, “The Veil,” 1947, The Macfarlane Collection

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Apr 11, 2021

The future of security in space: A thirty-year US strategy

By Clementine G. Starling, Mark J. Massa, Lt Col Christopher P. Mulder, and Julia T. Siegel

Outer space is rapidly transforming as new actors test new limits. This Atlantic Council Strategy Paper calls for the United States and its allies and partners to secure space over the next three decades or risk wasting the promise of this emerging domain.

China Cybersecurity

In the News

Mar 29, 2021

Gen Cartwright, Sec. James in Breaking Defense on the need for a long-term strategy on space

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council Board Directors former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General James E. Cartwright, USMC (Ret.) and former Secretary of the US Air Force the Hon. Deborah Lee James released an article in Breaking Defense titled "The Space Rush: New US strategy must bring order, regulation."

Rule of Law Security & Defense

Article

Feb 4, 2021

Protecting the new frontier: Seven perspectives on aerospace cybersecurity

By Simon Handler

The aviation community is experiencing unprecedented difficulties, while space is emerging as a new fronter with challenges of its own. But there are opportunities for experts across the aerospace sector to tackle its cybersecurity challenges.

Cybersecurity Space

In the News

Jan 24, 2021

Gen. Cartwright quoted in New York Times on great-power competition in space

By Atlantic Council

On January 24, Atlantic Council Board Director and former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen James E. Cartwright, USMC (Ret.) was quoted in a New York Times article titled "How space became the next 'great power' contest between the US and China." The article concludes that President Biden must view the Chinese anti-satellite threat in space as one of the most pressing national security issues of his administration.

China Russia

In the News

Jan 5, 2021

Mulder featured in Air University on “Spacefarers: How Humans Will Settle the Moon, Mars, and Beyond”

By Atlantic Council

On January 5, Forward Defense senior military fellow Lt Col Christopher Mulder’s book review on Christopher Wanjek’s “Spacefarers: How Humans Will Settle the Moon, Mars, and Beyond” was published in Air University’s Strategic Studies Quarterly.

Space Space Security

In the News

Nov 20, 2020

Starling quoted in Space News on expected Biden space policies

By Atlantic Council

On November 20, Forward Defense Deputy Director Clementine Starling was quoted in a Space News article titled “Biden likely to stay course on Space Force and defense investments.”

Defense Industry Defense Policy

GeoTech Cues

Nov 9, 2020

A presidential agenda for the GeoTech Decade that uplifts people, prosperity, and peace

By David Bray

For both the good of the United States and the world, it will be his duty to ensure the United States emerges from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the deep economic recession, and its polarized society, renewed, revitalized, and rebuilt. Leveraging new technologies will be an integral part of that mission.

Internet Internet of Things

In the News

Nov 2, 2020

Hasik cited in the Space Review

By Atlantic Council

On November 2, an article in the Space Review titled "The Green New Deal for space" cited Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow James Hasik's report on “The Precision Revolution: GPS and the Future of Aerial Warfare." The article outlines how space is an essential element of the Green New Deal, specifically referencing GPS capabilities in this domain.

Defense Technologies Economy & Business
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Experts

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Chiara Cocchiara

Senior Innovation Officer, European Space Agency

Millennium Leadership Program

Europe & Eurasia Resilience & Society

Fellow

Temidayo Oniosun

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Space

Fellow

Alyson Claire Decker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Economy & Business Space

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Alexandre Marques Pinho

Adviser to the Minister, Portugal Ministry of Defence

Millennium Leadership Program

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

Staff

Ryan Pan

Project Assistant

GeoTech Center

Artificial Intelligence Chinese

Fellow

David Julazadeh

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Technologies English
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