Forward Defense (FD) generates ideas and connects stakeholders in the defense ecosystem to promote an enduring military advantage for the United States, its allies, and partners. Our work identifies the defense strategies, capabilities, and resources the United States needs to deter and, if necessary, prevail in future conflict.

• Strategy & policy: FD analyzes the current and future threat environment, identifies strategic choices, and develops and assesses US strategy and policy in pursuit of national objectives.

• Capabilities & concepts: FD assesses the defense capabilities and emerging technologies that are shaping the battlespace and proposes novel concepts for employing these systems to support US defense strategy.

• Resourcing & acquisition: FD facilitates government and private sector collaboration to strengthen the defense industrial base, overcome barriers to innovation adoption, and navigate resource tradeoffs to field capabilities in relevant timeframes.

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Meet our team

Check out the Council’s Young Global Professionals program, a paid internship and professional development program, for timelines and current intern openings with Forward Defense.

Scowcroft Center Military Fellows

Forward Defense hosts Military Fellows from participating branches of the US military and the armed forces of US allies and partners each year. Meet the 2023-2024 class of fellows:

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.

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