Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group
Strengthening our understanding of the relationship between the Department of Defense and its industrial base
DIIG provides timely, in-depth analysis on the critical issues at the cross-section of the Department of Defense and its industrial base. With a focus on defense acquisition trends, technological innovation, security cooperation, and ongoing reform efforts, DIIG monitors important developments in the global defense industry. DIIG’s products consist of major research projects, published reports, commentaries, interviews, and events.
Contact Information
- Katy Buda
- Associate Director, Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group
- kbuda@csis.org
Media Queries
- H. Andrew Schwartz
- Chief Communications Officer
- 202.775.3242
- aschwartz@csis.org
- Samuel Cestari
- Media Relations Coordinator, External Relations
- 202.775.7317
- scestari@csis.org
Latest Analysis

Photo: Courtesy photo from JMSDF
Accelerating Australia’s Defense Capabilities and Enhancing Industrial Cooperation with the United States
Commentary by Cynthia Cook and Charles Edel — March 12, 2025

Defense Mobilization in the 21st Century
Congressional Testimony by Christine Michienzi — March 6, 2025

Enhancing Defense Industrial Cooperation Between Australia and the United States
Report by Cynthia Cook, Charles Edel, Kathryn Paik, Gregory Sanders, Henry H. Carroll, Katy Buda, and John Augé — March 3, 2025

The Arsenal of Instability: How Expanding Western Defense Production Impacts Negotiations in Ukraine
Commentary by Alexander Palmer and Audrey Aldisert — December 17, 2024

Burden Sharing via Modular Open Systems Approaches: A Collaborative Path to Affordable Mass
Commentary by Gregory Sanders and Audrey Aldisert — December 10, 2024
Featured Event
The National Defense Industrial Strategy: The Way Ahead
Featured Topics
All Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group Content
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Acquisition for Innovation: A Conversation with DUSD(A&S), the Honorable Dr. Radha Iyengar Plumb
Event — September 6, 2023
Transatlantic Defense during Wartime
Report by Cynthia Cook, Max Bergmann, Mark F. Cancian, Gregory Sanders, Sissy Martinez, Otto Svendsen, Nicholas Velazquez, and Henry H. Carroll — September 5, 2023
Acquisition for Decision Advantage: The Role of the CDAO in Scaling Software Solutions
Event — July 21, 2023
Don’t Blame ‘Just-in-Time’ Production for Challenges in the U.S. Manufacturing Industrial Base
Critical Questions by Cynthia Cook and Audrey Aldisert — July 19, 2023
"European Warfighting Resilience and NATO Race of Logistics": Audio Brief with Cynthia Cook
Podcast Episode by Cynthia Cook — July 13, 2023

Understanding China’s Gallium Sanctions
Critical Questions by Alexander Holderness, Nicholas Velazquez, Henry H. Carroll, and Cynthia Cook — July 7, 2023
European Warfighting Resilience and NATO Race of Logistics: Ensuring That Europe Has the Fuel It Needs to Fight the Next War
Brief by Anna Dowd, Dominik P. Jankowski, and Cynthia Cook — June 28, 2023
Rising Demand and Proliferating Supply of Military UAS
Report by Gregory Sanders, Rose Butchart, Astrid Price, Dan Steinberg, and Alexander Holderness — May 24, 2023
Pausing Proliferation: Facing China's Military Engine Development
Event — April 18, 2023
Managing Risk and Technology Insertion in Crewed Tactical Jet Engines
Brief by Alexander Holderness, Gregory Sanders, and Nicholas Velazquez — April 18, 2023