News

CSBA Appoints David Zikusoka as Research Fellow in Aerospace Studies

January 30, 2020

CSBA today announced the appointment of David Zikusoka as a Research Fellow in Aerospace Studies. Dave will join CSBA on February 10 and will conduct research and analysis on integrated concepts of air, space and cyber power, assessing the impact of all aerospace domains on U.S. and allied strategy.

CSBA Launches Congressional Defense Seminar Series (CDSS)

October 22, 2019

CSBA officially launched its inaugural series of seminars designed for Congressional staff members on October 17 at its Washington Headquarters. The program featured an opening session for the 16 incoming CDSS Fellows hosted by former Congressman Randy Forbes (R-VA), a member of CSBA’s Board of Directors, and attended by members of the CSBA team and outside guests.

CSBA Announces Congressional Defense Seminar Fellows

October 9, 2019

CSBA is proud to announce its inaugural class of fellows for the CSBA Congressional Defense Seminar Series. This seminar series is an in-depth bipartisan program for Congressional staff members. This evening series of topical seminars aims to provide staffers with the tools to master the conceptual foundations of defense policy as well as the intricacies of contemporary national security processes.

CSBA Announces New Advisory Council of National Security and Defense Leaders

September 23, 2019

The Center Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) announced today that it has launched the CSBA Council, an advisory board composed of accomplished individuals whose interests in contemporary security debates coincide with CSBA’s mission. The CSBA Council will further the institute’s efforts to develop innovative, resource-informed defense concepts, promote public debate, and spur policies to advance the interests of the United States and its allies.

CSBA Launches Congressional Defense Seminar Series

September 10, 2019

The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), the world’s premier center for understanding future international competition and conflict, announced today the launching of its inaugural Congressional Defense Seminar Series. This highly selective program will bring together professional staff members from Congress for an evening series of topical seminars that aims to provide staffers with the tools to master the conceptual foundations of defense policy as well as the intricacies of contemporary national security processes.

Studies

Innovating for Great Power Competition: An Examination of Service and Joint Innovation Efforts

January 11, 2023 Thomas G. Mahnken, Evan B. Montgomery, Tyler Hacker

Following nearly two decades of counterinsurgency in the Greater Middle East, the United States Department of Defense finds itself looking to the Cold War for lessons on how to adapt to the operational challenges presented by China and Russia. To modernize its platforms, doctrine, and force structure to compete with and defeat 21st-century great power competitors, the military services and the Department of Defense as a whole are seeking to promote conceptual, organizational, and technological innovation within the U.S. armed forces.

Studies

Chinese Lessons From the Pacific War: Implications for PLA Warfighting

January 5, 2023 Toshi Yoshihara

Senior Fellow Toshi Yoshihara surveys Chinese histories of the Pacific War to discern lessons that mainland analysts have drawn from the ocean-spanning struggle. He examines the extensive Chinese-language literature on the great battles at Midway, Guadalcanal, and Okinawa and pinpoints the operational insights that Chinese strategists have gleaned from them. The selected campaigns involved warfighting that will feature prominently in a future Sino-American conflict: carrier air warfare, contested amphibious landings, expeditionary logistics, and electronic warfare.

Studies

Moving Pieces: Near-Term Changes to Pacific Air Posture

November 18, 2022 Carl Rehberg, Josh Chang

The threat to U.S. and allied air facilities in the Indo-Pacific region is increasing. Current air force posture is vulnerable to adversary first strike due to insufficient posture resiliency—the ability of deployed forces to survive, operate, and regenerate under adversary attack. The recently announced decision to replace the permanent F-15C Eagle squadrons at Kadena Air Base with a rotational deployment only reduces the effectiveness of U.S. Indo-Pacific air forces in the event of a conflict. Defense planning in recent years has outlined recommendations to improve the defense of both facilities and others in the region, but these recommendations have only been partially implemented at best.

Testimonies

Testimony before the Senate Committee on Armed Services Regarding Nuclear Strategy and Policy

September 21, 2022 Eric Edelman

On September 20, 2022, CSBA Counselor, Eric S. Edelman and Franklin C. Miller, Principal at The Scowcroft Group, testified before the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services regarding nuclear strategy and policy.

Studies

Arming America’s Allies: Historical Lessons for Implementing a Post-INF Treaty Missile Strategy

August 24, 2022 Eric Edelman, Josh Chang, Tyler Hacker

In the aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019, then-Secretary of Defense Mark Esper indicated that he believed it would be useful to deploy conventional intermediate-range ballistic missiles in the Indo-Pacific region. But it is not yet clear that allied or partner governments in either this region or in Europe would be willing to host such capabilities on their territory.

Studies

Rings of Fire: A Conventional Missile Strategy for a Post-INF Treaty World

August 24, 2022 Eric Edelman, Chris Bassler, Toshi Yoshihara, Tyler Hacker

Since its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 2019, the United States has been free to develop new medium and intermediate-range conventional missiles to strengthen its conventional deterrence posture. The military services have tested and fielded a variety of systems that could bolster their long-range strike capabilities and proposed still others. To date, however, Washington lacks a clear path for how the various service initiatives might contribute collectively to a broader precision-strike complex.

Innovating for Great Power Competition: An Examination of Service and Joint Innovation Efforts

Chinese Lessons From the Pacific War: Implications for PLA Warfighting

Moving Pieces: Near-Term Changes to Pacific Air Posture

Arming America’s Allies: Historical Lessons for Implementing a Post-INF Treaty Missile Strategy

Rings of Fire: A Conventional Missile Strategy for a Post-INF Treaty World

Deterrence and Defense in the Baltic Region

Featured Event

Report Release Webinar: Chinese Lessons From the Pacific War: Implications for PLA Warfighting

CSBA Appoints David Zikusoka as Research Fellow in Aerospace Studies

CSBA Launches Congressional Defense Seminar Series (CDSS)

CSBA Announces Congressional Defense Seminar Fellows

CSBA Announces New Advisory Council of National Security and Defense Leaders

CSBA Launches Congressional Defense Seminar Series

CSBA Appoints Roger M. Poor as Chief Financial Officer

Latest Publications

Innovating for Great Power Competition: An Examination of Service and Joint Innovation Efforts

Chinese Lessons From the Pacific War: Implications for PLA Warfighting

Moving Pieces: Near-Term Changes to Pacific Air Posture

Testimony before the Senate Committee on Armed Services Regarding Nuclear Strategy and Policy

Arming America’s Allies: Historical Lessons for Implementing a Post-INF Treaty Missile Strategy

Rings of Fire: A Conventional Missile Strategy for a Post-INF Treaty World