Digital Commons @ NDU National Defense University
Not a member yet
916 research outputs found
Sort by
Beyond Ukraine
No full textThis book is a collection of essays by leading defense theorists, exploring warfare\u27s future due to recent conflicts and technological advancements. The book is divided into four topics: the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, future war landscapes, military innovation, and the nature of future conflicts. Authors tackle questions about war’s nature and the evolving character of warfare. This highlights the necessity of broad, interdisciplinary thinking to grasp the complex and changing nature of war
Accelerating Transition of Biotechnology Products for Military Supply Chains
No full textThe limited repertoire of the biomanufacturing industry in the 20th century pales in comparison to today’s biotechnology industry, in which advancements in the fields of synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, and robotics have resulted in the rapid expansion of small-scale production capabilities and the development of corresponding high-throughput experimentation platforms that accommodate both generation and downstream processing of biologically derived materials and are poised to revolutionize the way civilian and military sectors produce materials
A New Form of Accountability in JPME: The Shift to Outcomes-Based Military Education
No full textThe programs responsible for teaching joint professional military education (JPME) Phases I and II are undergoing a significant transformation in demonstrating their mission fulfillment. Governed by the Officer Professional Military Education Policy (OPMEP), particularly OPMEP-F, implemented on May 15, 2020, these institutions are moving towards outcomes-based military education (OBME). Unlike previous versions, OPMEP-F requires programs to prove achievement on defined learning outcomes, marking a departure from merely demonstrating coverage of mandated content. This shift reflects a comprehensive change in validating JPME program success and ensuring graduates reach specified levels of achievement on defined learning outcomes
Don’t Get Lost in the Numbers: An Analytic Framework for Nuclear Force Requirements Debates
No full textThis article proposes an approach to nuclear force sizing debates based on a framework built on four analytic dimensions: overarching risk management approaches; deterrence and assurance objectives; strategic force employment guidance; and operational constraints. The answers to key questions across these dimensions provide a structure to inform debates about the appropriate size and characteristics of U.S. nuclear forces. Only after clarifying U.S. objectives across these dimensions and focusing on key considerations therein should policymakers enter nuclear force sizing debates. The resulting analysis does not advocate for any policy position or hypothesize the “correct” number of nuclear forces. Instead, the purpose of the framework is to focus nuclear force sizing debates on more fundamental assumptions regarding the role of nuclear weapons in achieving U.S. national security objectives
Applying Three Decisionmaking Models to the Lakota Sioux Wars
No full textExamining the factors leading to the decisions made by Crazy Horse, Custer, and Reno through the lenses of expected utility, cybernetic, and poliheuristic decision strategies enables objectivity in analysis and hindsight. It also offers an example of how to study three different leaders, each of whom resolved uncertainty with their decisions, even if such decisions proved disastrous. Modern leaders can utilize these same tools to make sense of complexity and to apply a framework to analyze an opponent’s past decisions, compare the findings to the present situation, and then predict future courses of action
The Political Thought of Xi Jinping
No full textΝot long after Xi Jinping assumed the post of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in November 2012, a debate among China-watchers emerged over the nature of Xi’s leadership. How ambitious was he? Would he try to change the norms of institutionalization that had existed since Mao Zedong’s death in 1976? What bureaucratic constraints would he face, and could he overcome them
Deviance and Innovation: Change in a “Society of Saints”
No full textΜilitary innovation and adaptation studies are a growth industry. Since the publication of Barry Posen’s seminal study The Sources of Military Doctrine in the early 1980s, the field has grown extensively. Despite well-known military thinkers’ recent book-length treatments of the topic, most studies of change in the military retain two key commonalities. First, nearly all assume that innovation or adaptation is inherently good and worth pursuing. Second, they agree that militaries are famously resistant to change and accept this as part of the fundamental nature of the military system. This article acknowledges the first point; indeed, modern military leaders continually claim the need for change. The second, on the other hand, is correct but flawed. Innovation and adaptation studies should not accept resistance to change as a fundamental characteristic of the military system but instead must recognize cultural openness as a necessary precondition for any existing concept of innovation or adaptation to succeed to its full potential
One Hundredth Anniversary of the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy: A Tribute in Three Verses
No full textThe year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. Established in 1924 to address America’s post-World War I mobilization challenges, the school has evolved significantly over the decades. Initially named the Army Industrial College, it later became part of the National Defense University (NDU) in 1976. Reflecting a shift to address the complex strategic landscape of the modern world, it was renamed in 2012 to its current title. This special feature highlights the school\u27s contributions, focusing on ethical challenges and the evolving role of the military profession. The articles span from the school’s historical origins to present-day issues and future uncertainties, offering insights into how military strategy and education have transformed. This milestone encourages reflection on the past, present, and future of military leadership and national security strategy
The Key to Arctic Dominance: Establishing an Arctic-Focused Subordinate Unified Command
No full textThis article discusses the strategic importance of establishing an Arctic-focused subordinate unified command under USNORTHCOM to enhance the responsiveness and resilience of the U.S. Armed Forces. With climate change reducing sea ice and increasing shipping and resource exploration, the Arctic is becoming a critical region for global security. USNORTHCOM is well-positioned to lead these efforts, aligning with national strategies and leveraging its homeland defense mission through NORAD. The proposed Arctic Command would play a vital role in coordinating military operations and addressing emerging security concerns in this rapidly evolving region
The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the New Nuclear Age
No full textThis book revisits the precarious nature of nuclear deterrence. Contemporary challenges—such as the multipolarity of nuclear powers, personalistic regimes, and the influence of social media—present new risks not seen during the Cold War. Contributors analyze these challenges alongside enduring issues, such as nuclear sufficiency and the survivability of nuclear forces. Deterrence cannot be taken for granted, especially in light of evolving technologies and the complex political dynamics of today’s nuclear powers