Research & Analysis

Senior Fellow Thane Clare argues that defense innovation failure is caused by the diffusion of decision-making authority across the Department of Defense. He uses the case studies of Admiral Rickover and General Schriever to illustrate how empowering leaders to plan, prioritize, and act protected from bureaucracy enables innovation success.

Thomas G. Mahnken and Thomas P. Mahnken examine how the strategic value of the Indo-Pacific region has been reflected in efforts to build regional expertise among the U.S. armed Services. They examine the past, present, and future of the Services to assess how much they have shifted to reflect changing geographic priorities.

Eric Edelman discusses the novel challenge facing the United States: the need to simultaneously deter two nuclear peers. He provides an overview of Chinese and Russian nuclear capabilities and the importance of modernizing the U.S. system of nuclear command, control, and communications as a key enabler in deterring nuclear decapitation.

Captain Chad P. Wanek examines the U.S. automotive industry’s conversion to wartime production during World War II. Using tank manufacturing as a case study, the analysis shows how the United States overcame corporate-regulatory friction, mitigated infrastructure shortages, and adapted to continuous design changes while scaling production of complex systems.