Policy and Strategy. Future Warfare, Concepts, and Capabilities. Budgets and Resources.

The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) is the world’s premier independent think tank dedicated to shaping the future of U.S. defense strategy.

Our mission is to develop innovative, resource-informed defense concepts, promote informed public debate, and spur action that advances U.S. and allied interests.

Our vision is to set the terms of debate for the future of national defense and drive change in concepts, force structure, and resources to prepare the United States and its allies to compete and win in an era of great power competition and conflict.

Our work is guided by enduring values: Independence. Objectivity. Integrity. Innovation. Expertise. Quality.

Four Decades of Independent Research on Defense

Since its founding in 1983 as the Defense Budget Project, CSBA has been a leading source of independent, path-breaking research and analysis on the future of defense, defense strategy, and defense budgets and resources. Today, we remain at the forefront of understanding strategic competition and great power rivalry. We are:

  • Independent and rigorous. We provide timely, impartial, and insightful analysis to senior decision makers in the executive and legislative branches, the media, and the broader national security community.
  • Focused on the future. Our work addresses existing and emerging threats to U.S. national security, evolving concepts of warfare, and the strategic and budgetary choices that shape U.S. defense.
  • Drivers of transformation. We uncover ideas and foster debate that help to transform the U.S. national security establishment to meet future challenges.

The heart of CSBA is our team of uniquely qualified defense experts. Our community includes veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, with over 130 years of combined operational experience, alongside experts who have served in senior policymaking positions within the Department of Defense, Department of State, and the National Security Council.

Thank You to Our Supporters

CSBA’s work is possible thanks to the foundations, corporations, and government partners that support our mission of public education and informed debate. Their support allows us to conduct in-depth research and analysis that directly inform U.S. and allied defense strategies, policies, force structures, and budgets.

Below are the organizations that have sponsored our efforts over the past five years.

  • Austal USA
  • Australian Department of Defence
  • Australia Northern Territory
  • BAE Systems Inc.
  • The Boeing Company
  • Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Carnegie Corporation of New York
  • Chemring Group
  • China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI)
  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
  • Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
  • The Doris & Stanley Tananbaum Foundation
  • Embassy of Japan
  • Estonian Ministry of Defense
  • Fincantieri/Marinette
  • Free University Brussels
  • General Atomics
  • Hanwha Defense USA
  • Huntington Ingalls Industries
  • Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
  • Japan Ministry of Defense
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
  • KKR Global Institute
  • Kongsberg Defense Systems, Inc.
  • L3 Harris Technologies
  • Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • Longview Foundation
  • Metron
  • Mitsubishi Corporation
  • Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
  • National Defense University
  • NEC Corporation
  • Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs
  • Office of the Secretary of Defense/Office of Net Assessment (ONA)
  • Office of the Secretary of Defense/Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE)
  • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
  • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (AT&L)
  • Palantir Foundation
  • Peraton
  • Polski Instytut Spraw Miedzynarodowych (PISM)
  • Project S Technologies
  • RTX Corporation
  • Russia Strategic Initiative
  • Sasakawa Peace Foundation
  • Sarah Scaife Foundation
  • Saronic Technologies
  • SEACOR Holdings
  • Secretary of Defense Executive Fellows Program
  • Siemens Government Technologies
  • Smith Richardson Foundation
  • Solugen
  • Submarine Industrial Base Council
  • Taiwan Ministry of National Defense
  • TCOM
  • Textron Systems
  • United Kingdom Ministry of Defence
  • United Kingdom Royal Air Force
  • United States Air Force
  • United States Air Force Office of Commercial and Economic Analysis
  • United States European Command
  • United States Marine Corps
  • United States Navy
  • United States Pacific Fleet

Support Independent Defense Research

CSBA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We accept support from foundations, corporations, government partners, and individuals who share our commitment to independent, non-partisan analysis. Contributions enable the in-depth research that informs U.S. and allied defense strategy, force structure, and budgets.