Our mission
Forward Defense (FD) helps the United States and its allies and partners contend with great-power competitors and maintain favorable balances of power. This new practice area in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security produces Forward-looking analyses of the trends, technologies, and concepts that will define the future of warfare, and the alliances needed for the 21st century. Through the futures we forecast, the scenarios we wargame, and the analyses we produce, FD develops actionable strategies and policies for deterrence and defense, while shaping US and allied operational concepts and the role of defense industry in addressing the most significant military challenges at the heart of great-power competition.
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.
In-depth analysis
Thu, Jun 18, 2020
An affordable defense of Asia
US military advantages over China are steadily eroding. Therefore, in this inaugural report for Forward Defense, T.X. Hammes crafts a new strategy and corresponding operational concepts which leverage geography and emerging technology to improve the US and allied warfighting posture in Asia.
Report by
Fri, Apr 17, 2020
Emerging technologies and the future of US-Japan defense collaboration
This report explores the drivers, tensions, and constraints shaping US-Japan collaboration on emerging defense technologies while providing concrete recommendations for the US-Japan alliance.
Report by
Fri, Mar 6, 2020
Russia’s exotic nuclear weapons and implications for the United States and NATO
Great-power competition has returned, and with it, the importance of nuclear weapons in international politics.
Issue Brief by
Quick reads
Thu, Jun 4, 2020
Jensen and Van Echo in War on the Rocks: How to factor strategic competition into wargaming and PME
Reviewing lessons from their Agile Competition wargame series, Forward Defense Senior Fellow Benjamin Jensen and Marine Corps officer Lt Col Matthew Van Echo advance a new approach to wargaming in the era of great-power competition.
In the News by
Mon, Jun 1, 2020
Pavel in Defense One: Pandemic raises likelihood of great-power conflict
On June 1, Defense One published an article by Scowcroft Center Director Barry Pavel titled: “The Coronavirus is Raising the Likelihood of Great-Power Conflict.” The article addresses the intensifying military operations in the western Pacific and warns of potential escalation if efforts are not calibrated carefully.
In the News by
Thu, May 28, 2020
Coronavirus should spur DoD to build back resilience and agility
A layered and targeted response is required to meet the proximate challenges to the defense and dual-use supply chain, which is critical to national security. This crisis, as terrible as it is, may be the catalyst for taking steps today that are necessary to build the supply chain resilience and industry agility required to meet future national crises.
New Atlanticist by
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Event 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.
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.
Our upcoming & latest events
The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world.
Core team
