Highlighted content

Describe the kind of content you are highlighting here, why you are highlighting, and what it says about the work your program focuses on and how it makes an impact in the real world. Below, select three top pieces of commentary & analysis to feature from the past days or weeks. Update monthly via board process with Graeme Cranston-Cuebas and Vriddhi Sujan.

All impact stories

In the News

Feb 13, 2025

Soofer interviewed for USA Today article on Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’

By Atlantic Council

On February 11, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was interviewed for a USA Today article entitled, “Will Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’ missile defense make Americans safer? It’s complicated.” The article quotes Soofer’s response to Trump’s executive order, citing his claim that it is “even more bold, I would suggest, than Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative.”

China Defense Policy

In the News

Feb 13, 2025

Soofer’s report ‘First, we will defend the homeland’ quoted in SPIEGEL article on Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’

By Atlantic Council

On January 29, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in a SPIEGEL article with the translated title, “That’s why Trump wants an American Iron Dome.” The article cites his recent Atlantic Council report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense,” where he warns of the threat to US territory from missiles.

China Defense Policy

In the News

Feb 6, 2025

Soofer quoted in Matthew Kroenig’s Foreign Policy article arguing for an ‘Iron Dome’

By Atlantic Council

On February 5, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in a Foreign Policy article by Matthew Kroenig, Vice President and Senior Director of the Scowcroft Center. The argument piece was titled, “The United States Needs an Iron Dome.” Kroenig quotes Soofer’s recent report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland […]

China Defense Policy

In the News

Feb 6, 2025

Elliot Ackerman outlines the strategic case for taking Afghan refugees after 2021 Taliban takeover in a New York Times article

On February 1, Elliot Ackerman, a nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, published a piece in the New York Times that discussed the hundreds of remaining Afghan refugees, especially those who assisted US and allied forces, still struggling to find a new home abroad. In the opinion piece, Ackerman argued that accepting the “stranded” Afghans […]

Afghanistan English

In the News

Feb 6, 2025

T.X. Hammes proposes containerized weapons for US Navy merchant fleet in US Naval Institute Proceedings

On February 3, T.X. Hammes, a nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, wrote with Captain R. Robinson Harris, US Navy (ret.) in the US Naval Institute’s Proceedings, that deploying containerized weapons on merchant ships would bolster the US Navy’s capacity to manage the growing threat from China.

China Conflict

In the News

Feb 5, 2025

McNamara published in Pell Center series on espionage of US intellectual property

By Atlantic Council

On February 5th, Whitney McNamara, nonresident senior fellow at Forward Defense, published a piece in the Pell Center’s series on China’s widespread espionage targeting critical intellectual property threatens US economic and military power.

China Cybersecurity

In the News

Feb 3, 2025

Soofer quoted in Washington Post article on Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’

By Atlantic Council

On January 30, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in a Washington Post article titled, “Could Trump’s Iron Dome work? Only if Canada attacks Detroit.” The article quotes Soofer’s recent report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense” on how refocusing missile defenses will “enhance US nuclear survivability.”

China Defense Policy

In the News

Feb 2, 2025

Grundman featured in Newsweek on Hegseth

By Atlantic Council

On February 2, Steve Grundman, a senior fellow at Forward Defense, was featured in a Newsweek article discussing the likelihood that Hegseth will serve Trump’s full term as defense secretary.

Defense Policy National Security

In the News

Jan 31, 2025

Punaro on Fox Business on the DC plane crash and Tulsi Gabbard

By Atlantic Council

On January 31st, Arnold Punaro, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was featured on Fox Business to discuss the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the DC plane crash and Tulsi Gabbard’s Senate confirmation hearing.

Intelligence Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jan 30, 2025

Punaro mentioned in 1945 on the US all-volunteer force

By Atlantic Council

On January 30th, Arnold Punaro, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was mentioned in a 1945 article on the US all-volunteer force.

Defense Policy Security & Defense