Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

Braw published in Foreign Policy on America’s rare earth policy concerning Ukraine

By Elisabeth Braw

On April 8, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was published by Foreign Policy in an article arguing that the US should recycle it’s own critical minerals instead of crafting an exploitative deal for taking minerals in Ukraine.

Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (ret.), featured on the Mitchell Institute’s Commander panel

By Atlantic Council

On March 31, Forward Defense distinguished fellow Kevin P. Chilton was featured on the Mitchell Institute’s panel, “Setting the Nuclear Deterrence Record Straight: Commanders’ Perspectives.” On the panel, he joined former US Strategic Command commanders Gen. Robert Kehler, USAF (Ret.), and Adm. Charles A. Richard, USN (Ret.), to discuss the realities of nuclear deterrence today. Additionally, […]

Ullman in the Hill urging vigilance in national security communication 

On March 31, 2025, Atlantic Council Senior Advisor Harlan Ullman published an op-ed in the Hill on the potential implications of national security officials using Signal for official communication and planning. He argues that US allies will take the recent Signal breach “very, very seriously,” which could disrupt intelligence sharing.   

Air & Space Forces Magazine on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On March 28, Air & Space Forces Magazine published an article by Shaun Waterman titled, “Experts: US Military Needs ‘Software Literate’ Workforce, Not Just Coders.”

Chiang, Esper, and Fox published in DefenseNews and C4ISRNET on software-defined warfare

By Atlantic Council

On March 28, Mung Chiang, Mark Esper, and Christine Fox published an op-ed highlighting key ideas from the final report of Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare.

Kyle Atwell hosts discussion on Ukrainian resistance operations for Irregular Warfare Podcast

On March 14, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Kyle Atwell hosted Dr. Alexandra Chinchilla and Lieutenant General (ret.) Mark Hertling for an episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast. This episode, titled “Ukraine’s Hidden Front: The Strategic Impact of Resistance Operations,” examines the military implications of Ukrainian resistance efforts, the role of technology in the war, […]

ExecutiveGov reports on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On March 28, Jane Edwards of ExecutiveGov published an article highlighting the key recommendations from the final report of Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare.

Ullman in the Hill on the economic and political impacts of Trump’s tariff policy   

On March 24, 2025, Atlantic Council Senior Advisor Harlan Ullman published an op-ed in the Hill cautioning against implementing tariffs ahead of the Trump administration’s announcement of the April 2 effective date. He argues that tariffs may have unintended consequences for US political and economic interests.  

Breaking Defense reports on the Commission of Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On March 27, Carly Welch of Breaking Defense published an article featuring key recommendations made in the final report of Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare.

Soofer featured in Brookings report titled, “An Iron Dome for America?”

By Atlantic Council

On March 25, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in a Brookings report entitled, “An Iron Dome for America?” The article features insights from Soofer’s recent report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense.” Brookings author Michael E. O’Hanlon argues that Soofer’s proposal offers a more realistic alternative to Trump’s ambitious “Golden Dome” vision, suggesting […]

Michta published in 19FortyFive on uncertainty around NATO’s future and US strategy

On March 26, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, published an article in 19FortyFive on how the Trump administration’s transatlantic policy could fundamentally alter NATO. He argues that closer relations between Washington and Moscow “risks undoing the last eighty years of US national security strategy” in Europe.

Inside Defense reports on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On March 26, Theresa Maher of Inside Defense published an article highlighting the key recommendations from Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare report.

DefenseNews reports on Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On March 26, Courtney Albon of DefenseNews published an article analyzing the defense industry’s response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent directive on software acquisition, highlighting Forward Defense's Commission on Software-Defined Warfare report as a key framework for understanding the broader reforms required.

Cartwright and Kandasamy in COTS Journal on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare

By Atlantic Council

On March 26, COTS Journal published an article by Gen James “Hoss” Cartwright, USMC (ret.) and Jags Kandasamy, Commissioners on Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare, highlighting key recommendations from the Commission’s final report.

Exclusive on Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report published in Axios

By Atlantic Council

On March 26, Colin Demarest of Axios published an exclusive on the Pentagon's software-hardware balance and featured Forward Defense's Commision on Software-Defined Warfare report.