Defense industry & innovation

Forward Defense addresses the critical challenges facing the US defense industrial base—from acquisition barriers to emerging technology integration. Through expert analysis, strategic dialogue, and high-level convenings, it shapes policy solutions that drive innovation, strengthen industrial resilience, and support the defense needs of the US and its allies and partners. By bringing together the key stakeholders at the heart of public-private partnerships, the portfolio helps tackle the most pressing challenges to US national security.

Sign up for updates from Forward Defense to hear the latest on trends, strategies, and military challenges shaping tomorrow.

Report

Aug 27, 2026

AI and autonomy in contested operations

By Owen J. Daniels

Any potential major conflict the United States engages in will be shaped by AI and autonomous systems. US forces should expect their systems to operate in denied, degraded, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) conditions imposed by jamming techniques, cyber-attacks, and anti-satellite capabilities designed to sever the connectivity and wreak havoc on military operations.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Policy

Report

Jun 30, 2025

Second-order impacts of civil artificial intelligence regulation on defense: Why the national security community must engage

By Deborah Cheverton

Civil regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) is hugely complex and evolving quickly, with even otherwise well-aligned countries taking significantly different approaches. At first glance, little in the content of these regulations is directly applicable to the defense and national security community.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Technologies

Report

Mar 27, 2025

Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare: Final report

By Whitney M. McNamara, Peter Modigliani, Tate Nurkin

The Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare presents a software-defined warfare approach, offering recommendations for the DoD to adopt modern software practices and seamlessly integrate them into existing platforms to enhance and strengthen defense strategies.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Policy

Dispatches

Jun 10, 2026

Increasing defense spending isn’t enough. The US and its allies must also guarantee interoperability.

By Joshua VerGow and Barry Pavel

Rising defense spending is creating a generational opportunity. But allied interoperability should be built into these new systems from the start.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 19, 2025

Three things to note in the UK’s new Defence Industrial Strategy

By Deborah Cheverton

“Defence is an Engine for Growth,” according to an important new British military strategy published on September 8.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Jun 4, 2025

The Pentagon’s software approval process is broken. Here’s how to fix it.

By Hannah Hunt

To equip US military personnel with the tools they need, the Department of Defense must treat secure software delivery as a warfighting imperative.

Cybersecurity Defense Technologies

Staff

Maeve Cuddy

Associate Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Staff

Abigail Rudolph

Assistant Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Staff

Maggie Spence

Program Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Conflict Defense Industry

Fellow

Steven Grundman

Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Stephen Rodriguez

Senior Advisor

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

Fellow

Robert Bassett Cross MC

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Deborah Cheverton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Industry

Fellow

Scott Cooper

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Civil Society

Fellow

Adam Hammer

Nonresident Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Hannah Hunt

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Fellow

Jongsun Kim

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Linda Lourie

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Artificial Intelligence Australia

Fellow

Whitney McNamara

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Rob Murray

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Tate Nurkin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

China Defense Industry

Advisory Council member

Arnold Punaro

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Bilal Saab

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Forward Defense develops and shapes policy solutions that build US military power to deter war and secure the future.

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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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