Arsenals of Democracy is a project by the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s Forward Defense program, which aims to address challenges and opportunities at the intersection of defense ministries and industries. By performing research, convening events, and cultivating a network of stakeholders, the project promotes policies and strategies to enhance defense-industrial performance. Arsenals of Democracy Affiliates are the Project’s core constituents, an exclusive community of not more than 24 companies and individuals which finance its activities.
In 2025, the project will focus on three key drivers of change:
- The defense-industrial strategy and policies of the new administration
- Disruption to the prevailing business model of defense companies
- The impact of advanced technology on how ministries and industries deliver weapons
Speaker series
The Arsenals of Democracy project also works to engage its community of interest through three convenings of its featured speaker series.
Captains of Industry
Serving as a public platform, this initiative enables leading business executives to actively engage in comprehensive discussions about how their companies are addressing key public interests. The platform focuses on exploring the intersection of corporate responsibility and public policy, examining how regulatory frameworks and market dynamics influence business operations and societal impact. Executives share insights and strategies on navigating complex policy landscapes while contributing to the broader economic and social good.
Stewards of Industrial Policy Series
A prestigious stage for government leaders to articulate their commitment to managing and advancing the industrial capabilities crucial for national defense. It highlights their role in implementing strategic policies and fostering collaborations that enhance defense readiness. The address serves as a platform for unveiling significant policy initiatives, discussing the integration of new technologies, and outlining goals that ensure the nation’s defense sector remains robust and innovative in the face of emerging global challenges.
Corporate Strategy Forum
The centerpin of the Project is its Corporate Strategy Forum, a not-for-attribution roundtable discussion over breakfast which features government officials and business executives in candid discussion about the public policies and corporate strategies which shape the aerospace and defense sector.
Become an Affiliate of the Arsenals of Democracy Project
Companies and individuals may become Affiliates of the Arsenals of Democracy Project for a pledge of financial support which is determined on a sliding scale from $5,000 to $30,000. Affiliates enjoy priority access to the Corporate Strategy Forum and four invitation-only dinners which follow the Project’s public convenings.
Past events
Project Team
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About the Program
Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.
