The Defense Enterprise Today: Strategy, Structure, and Future Prospects

Overview

The Defense Enterprise Today will offer practical insights into the current state of the defense enterprise—strategic environment, budget, acquisition, military forces, and technology— and prepare participants to understand and adapt to the major changes that the Trump administration and DOGE are implementing. The overarching questions are: where is the change, what represents continuity, and how can organizations adapt?  The course will examine the emerging Trump defense strategy and the state of U.S. alliances in Europe and the Pacific, and assess global challenges that might drive crises and conflict: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and terrorism. Participants will apply concepts from the seminars in an interactive strategy exercise that brings together the different pieces of the enterprise.

Curriculum

Seminars

The Defense Enterprise Today: Strategy, Structure, and Future Prospects curriculum includes a series of interactive seminars addressing a wide range of strategic, policy, technical, and budgetary issues in the defense domain.

• Strategic Context: The "Trump Doctrine"
• China: Politics, Capabilities, and the Threat of War
• Russia: The Ukraine War, the U.S. Response, and Beyond
• NATO and Europe
• Israel, Iran and the Middle East
• Terrorism, Irregular Warfare, and the "Gray Zone"
• Strategy and Budget Exercise

Interactive Strategy Exercise

This integrative exercise challenges participants to apply lessons from the seminars.  They will collaborate in small groups to design their own national defense strategy and then structure forces, acquisition programs, and support capabilities to carry out that strategy, all within a constrained budget. At the end of the exercise, CSIS experts will provide detailed feedback to the participants, addressing the trade-offs they have made and the potential implications of their choices for national security.

Eligibility

CSIS is seeking a professionally diverse cohort of mid-career practitioners with 5 to 10 years of experience from across the U.S. and international military, government, private sector, and academic communities interested in increasing their knowledge of the U.S. defense enterprise. Applicants may be seeking a baseline understanding of U.S. defense issues broadly, knowledge of how different elements of the defense enterprise fit together, and/or deeper insights into particular areas important to U.S. defense. The course is structured to accommodate this range of learning. The selection committee will consider candidates' professional background as well as demonstrated interest in the fields of international security, defense, or other related areas.

How to Register

The online registration form includes a statement of interest, brief bio, and attachment of a resume.

Alumni

Previous and current participants include representatives from:

Central Intelligence Agency, Harvard University Kennedy School, IBM, Institute for Defense Analyses, Marine Corps University Krulak Center, Morgan Stanley, National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), National Defense University, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies, Royal Australian Air Force, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), U.A.E. Ministry of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Navy, U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Victorian Government Australia Trade and Investment Office, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army War College.