Forward Defense

Our mission

Forward Defense (FD) shapes the debate around the greatest defense challenges facing the United States and its allies, and creates forward-looking assessments of the trends, technologies, and concepts that will define the future of warfare. Through the futures we forecast, the scenarios we wargame, and the analyses we produce, FD develops actionable strategies to help the United States navigate major power conflict and defend forward, alongside allies and partners. As the character of war rapidly changes, FD assesses the operational concepts and defense industrial tools necessary to effectively deter and defend against emerging military challenges.

FD issues in focus

Defense foresight

Identifying the most important long-term developments, trends, and technologies that are shaping the future geostrategic and military environment.

Defense strategy & policy

Crafting sustainable, nonpartisan strategies with our allies and partners to counter, deter, and overcome the diverse military challenges posed by great-power competitors and other potential adversaries.

Operational concepts, capabilities & posture

Designing novel operational concepts which leverage both emerging defense technologies and traditional capabilities to deter and, if necessary, conduct future wars.

Defense industry & acquisitions

Realigning US and allied defense-industrial bases to ensure collaboration in pursuit of national defense strategies.

The art of war

Applying innovative methodologies such as wargaming, narrative fiction, and the creative arts to tomorrow’s military and defense challenges.

FD in-depth analysis

Read our extensive research and reports on cutting-edge issues in defense, including our leading analysis on key trends in military technology and innovation, our robust body of work on nuclear deterrence and the emerging strategic forces balance, and our foundational recommendations on the future of homeland security.

Issue Brief Aug 2, 2022

Space traffic management: Time for action

By Mir Sadat, Julia Siegel

Mir Sadat and Julia Siegel highlight challenges to and opportunities for addressing space traffic management in this Forward Defense issue brief.

China National Security

Report Dec 22, 2021

Seizing the advantage: A vision for the next US national defense strategy

By Clementine G. Starling, Tyson Wetzel, Christian Trotti

In this latest installment of the Atlantic Council Strategy Papers series, Forward Defense’s Clementine Starling, Lt Col Tyson Wetzel, and Christian Trotti articulate their vision and recommendations for the next US National Defense Strategy, including clearer prioritization, investments and divestments, reposturing of US forces, a new warfighting concept, and a focus on transnational threats like hybrid warfare and climate change.

China Defense Industry

Issue Brief Nov 5, 2022

Strengthening deterrence with SLCM-N

By John R. Harvey and Robert Soofer

John Harvey and Robert Soofer argue that the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile is necessary to deter Russia and China

China Defense Policy

All In-Depth Analysis

FD quick reads

Read our commentary, op-eds, and analysis on defense policy, military strategy, defense industry, and emerging trends.

Strategic Insights Memo Aug 5, 2021

A new strategy for US global defense posture

By Matthew Crouch, Barry Pavel, Clementine G. Starling, and Christian Trotti

This Policy Brief, produced by the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Forward Defense team, recommends a novel strategy for US global force posture to strengthen deterrence and competitive leverage vis-à-vis China, Russia, and other challengers. It addresses multifaceted challenges abroad, allocates missions according to mobility and range, lays the foundation for emerging technologies, and facilitates robust cooperation with allies and partners.

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

Seizing the advantage Feb 19, 2021

How the next National Defense Strategy can get serious about emerging technologies

By Justin Sherman, Evanna Hu

US adversaries including China, Iran, and Russia are investing in additional technological capabilities to counterbalance the United States’ advantages in great-power competition—specifically its dominance in kinetic operations and weapons. The next NDS must differentiate among different technologies to create more nuanced strategies.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist Aug 10, 2021

Why is US defense acquisition falling behind? Blame the TINA paradox.

By John F. Wharton and Tate Nurkin

In order to safeguard taxpayer dollars and foster innovation in military technology, it’s time to rethink the Truth in Negotiations Act.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

All Quick Reads

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Content series

Adding Color to the Gray Zone: Establishing a Strategic Framework for Hybrid Conflict

Forward Defense’s Gray Zone Task Force investigates nontraditional and hybrid threats across the competition continuum and advances actionable recommendations for a comprehensive US and allied response.

Seizing the advantage: The next US National Defense Strategy

The Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense practice advances leading-edge commentary and key recommendations to help chart the course for the United States’ next National Defense Strategy.

Scowcroft Center Military Fellows

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Forward Defense practice is proud to host Military Fellows from participating branches of the US military and the armed forces of US allies and partners each year as part of a twelve-month fellowship program.

Future of DHS Project

A platform for developing recommendations to improve the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and protect the homeland from the coronavirus, threats to democracy, and other future challenges.

Event series

Forward Defense houses the Scowcroft Center’s longstanding public event series on key issues related to the future of US and allied defense, including the Commanders Series, the Defense-Industrial Policy Series, and the Captains of Industry Series.

Commanders Series

The Atlantic Council’s flagship speakers’ forum for senior military and defense leaders. The series provides a platform to discuss current strategic issues with an impressive audience drawn from across Washington’s policy community, including think tanks, media, industry, embassies, and the US government.

Defense-Industrial Policy Series

A platform for senior government executives in defense and aerospace to address the public policies that shape the market for defense goods and services. By engaging the perspective of government leaders about issues at the interface of defense ministries and industries, the series aims to cultivate a constituency for practical solutions to these challenges.

Captains of Industry Series

A platform for senior defense executives to address the public interests their companies serve and the public policies that shape their markets.

Our upcoming & latest events

Forward Defense is a forum for high-level speakers and experts to discuss new approaches to the most important challenges of our time. Stay tuned for FD’s upcoming events on key issues related to defense strategy, emerging military technologies and operational concepts, the defense-industrial base, and the intersection between international security and the creative arts. Also, be sure to watch our past events for relevant insights on these key topics.

Watch back past events

Public Event Tue, November 1, 2022 • 2:00 pm ET

The future of US nuclear strategy: Releasing the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review

China Defense Policy Defense Technologies Iran

Online Event Thu, October 6, 2022 • 1:00 pm ET

How can we deter China in the 2020s? A conversation with Michèle Flournoy

China Conflict Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Wai Peng Leong

Visiting Fellow

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Content

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

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Our mission

FD issues in focus

Defense foresight

Defense strategy & policy

Operational concepts, capabilities & posture

Defense industry & acquisitions

The art of war

Space traffic management: Time for action

Seizing the advantage: A vision for the next US national defense strategy

Strengthening deterrence with SLCM-N

A new strategy for US global defense posture

How the next National Defense Strategy can get serious about emerging technologies

Why is US defense acquisition falling behind? Blame the TINA paradox.

Content series

Adding Color to the Gray Zone: Establishing a Strategic Framework for Hybrid Conflict

Seizing the advantage: The next US National Defense Strategy

Scowcroft Center Military Fellows

Future of DHS Project

Event series

Commanders Series

Defense-Industrial Policy Series

Captains of Industry Series

Our upcoming & latest events

Watch back past events

The future of US nuclear strategy: Releasing the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review

How can we deter China in the 2020s? A conversation with Michèle Flournoy

Intelligence community and intelligence committee reform

Core team

Experts

Content

Taiwan: The key to containing China in the Indo-Pacific

Lieber and Press in the Atlantic

Kroenig on CNBC regarding Russian nuclear threats

Polymeropoulos on MSNBC discussing missile strike in Poland

Warrick in Newsweek on diplomatic options to deter Russian nuclear use

Ullman in United Press International on the new National Defense Strategy

Kroenig on the Ben Domench Podcast

Evanina testifies to Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Kroenig in the Jerusalem Post on strike options against Iranian nuclear sites

Tantardini in Longitude on the impact of differing space agency organizational cultures.