Alexander Holderness

Research Assistant, Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group
Alexander Holderness

Alexander Holderness is a research assistant with the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). His analytical focus is on issues relating to national security, government acquisition, supply chain risk, and industrial capacity. Prior to joining CSIS, Alexander worked as an intern for the U.S. Army Futures Command, Joint Army Concepts Division. He holds a BA in government and history from the College of William & Mary.

 

Programs & Projects

All Alexander Holderness Content

Filter by

1 - 10 of 11 results

Understanding China’s Gallium Sanctions

On July 3, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that it would impose restrictions on the export of gallium, a key element within the Department of Defense’s supply chain. The United States and its allies and partners are well positioned to absorb China’s attempted blow.

Critical Questions by Alexander Holderness , Nicholas Velazquez , Henry H. Carroll , and Cynthia Cook — July 7, 2023

Rising Demand and Proliferating Supply of Military UAS

There has been a significant rise in the proliferation of military uninhabited aerial systems. This report reveals drivers and implications by examining the Nagorno-Karabakh war, the Russian war in Ukraine, and contracting and international trade data.

Report by Gregory Sanders , Rose Butchart , Astrid Price , Dan Steinberg , and Alexander Holderness — May 24, 2023

Managing Risk and Technology Insertion in Crewed Tactical Jet Engines

As China makes seismic investments in its military jet engine industry, Washington will have to develop strategies to ensure the United States' enduring advantage and to continue to deliver world-leading air combat capability.

Brief by Alexander Holderness , Gregory Sanders , and Nicholas Velazquez — April 18, 2023

Powering Proliferation: The Global Engine Market and China’s Indigenization

The military turbofan engine market proliferates technology nations like China need to build modern jet engines to compete with the United States. This brief explores China’s push to modernize its capabilities and broader dynamics in the global military engine market.

Brief by Alexander Holderness , Nicholas Velazquez , Jasmine Phillips , Gregory Sanders , and Cynthia Cook — March 21, 2023

Constricting the Means of Production: Ally-Centric Cooperative Economic Deterrence

As China becomes increasingly confrontational on the world stage, the United States needs new economic tools to deter China. CSIS experts analyze a deterrence strategy that relies on working with partners and allies to target key nodes in China’s supply chain.

Commentary by Alexander Holderness and Cynthia Cook — February 14, 2023

Inflating the Risk? Contracting in the Face of Inflation

What will heightened inflation mean for the defense-industrial base? CSIS experts analyze how the Department of Defense responded to the last major bout of inflation and the relative exposure of different categories of vendors with respect to firm-fixed price contracts.

Critical Questions by Gregory Sanders and Alexander Holderness — December 1, 2022

Pathways to Implementing Comprehensive and Collaborative JADC2

This CSIS brief identifies and examines strategic level challenges in pursuing enhanced command and control infrastructure and makes recommendations to help the U.S. military as it operates as a joint force and deploys with allies and partners.

Report by Cynthia Cook , Rose Butchart , Gregory Sanders , and Alexander Holderness — September 27, 2022

Defense Acquisition Trends 2021

This report examines trends in what the DoD is buying, how the DoD is buying it, and from whom the DoD is buying based on analysis of data from the Federal Procurement Data System.

Report by Gregory Sanders , Won Joon Jang , and Alexander Holderness — March 29, 2022

2021 Defense Acquisition Trends: Topline DoD Trends after a Half Decade of Growth

Defense contract obligations grew by 8 percent in FY 2020, driven by spending on products manufactured by the Big Five defense contractors. On the cusp of a new National Security Strategy, this piece explores how a half-decade of growth has changed defense acquisition.

Critical Questions by Gregory Sanders , Won Joon Jang , and Alexander Holderness — December 2, 2021