Defense Strategy, Policy, Planning, and Budget Development
SPA assists the Office of the Secretary of Defense to ensure the lethality of critical weapon systems via near-, mid-, and long-term technology roadmaps, integrated acquisition portfolio reviews, analyses of Military Service-level acquisition programs, and studies regarding program- and mission-level risk to DoD missions. We provide expert analysis to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, assessing U.S. and adversary capabilities to identify asymmetries and areas of potential competitive advantage that may drive technology investments. Additionally, we provide subject matter expertise through detailed technical, operational, and programmatic analysis, supporting the Milestone Decision Authority role of the Under Secretary for Acquisition & Sustainment for the most critical acquisition programs for the DoD.
Nuclear Deterrence
SPA provides comprehensive strategic and nuclear deterrence analysis, bridging national strategy and policy guidance with programmatic and operational outcomes. Our uniquely qualified staff brings centuries of cumulative experience across the nuclear enterprise, including roles as military personnel, civil servants, and contractors to national leadership and DoD/inter-agency organizations on classified and sensitive programs. We apply our hands-on expertise in all-source intelligence, policy guidance, military plans and concepts, nuclear weapons and NC3 systems, acquisition programs, operations research, and modeling and simulation tools to deliver timely, data-informed analysis that ensures the credibility and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
Strategic Planning
SPA supports national security organizations and senior decision-makers with a team of subject matter experts and strategic planners who combine formal education in planning, strategy, and warfighting with extensive operational experience in strategic planning and implementation. Our planners are skilled in using advanced modeling, simulation software, and quantitative methods to deliver plans and guidance that are both strategically sound and analytically defensible. Whether generating, implementing, or evaluating strategy, SPA’s experts work independently or collaboratively to address the most complex strategic challenges for our national security clients.
Strategic Communications
In the high-stakes world of national security, how well an organization communicates about its mission is vital to long-term success. SPA’s Strategic Communications team helps clients drive organizational goals forward and better advocate for their mission by delivering the right messages to the right audiences. Our proprietary “Strategic Communications Opportunities and Recommendations for Engagement” (SCORE) tools are valuable resources that provide innovative, data-driven solutions focusing on message development, stakeholder analysis, and engagement strategy. Our experts edit, write, design, and produce communications materials to meet complex challenges so leaders can focus on the mission.
DoD Workforce Training and Instructional Design
SPA designs and delivers comprehensive training programs focused on mission readiness, operational excellence, and continuous learning. We ensure training is operationally useful and relevant by developing strategies to employ future forces, systems, and technologies, equipping every team member to meet complex security challenges. Our team also supports requirements and Acquisition Executive Management training, including classroom and online training, simulations, and survey development and analysis. We provide expertise in curriculum development, management and evaluation support, survey creation, simulation development, and classroom instruction.
Organizational Structure and Process Development
SPA supports military services in refining business processes and organizational design to accelerate modernization and strengthen readiness planning and execution. SPA provides data-driven analysis and process optimization strategies to streamline workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and align organizational structures with mission objectives. By leveraging advanced modeling, process mapping, and performance metrics, SPA identifies opportunities to enhance resource allocation and decision-making. SPA’s experience and expertise ensures that modernization and sustainment efforts are both cost-effective and operationally aligned, enabling the military to maintain readiness, extend the lifecycle of current capabilities, and adapt effectively to evolving mission requirements.
Conventional-Nuclear Integration
Nuclear force design and deterrence have been at the core of SPA’s expertise since its inception. Today, SPA also conducts high-impact conventional force-level analyses to support strategy development, force design and sizing, and operational concept design. By combining our suite of models, tools, and methodologies with our recognized experts in both conventional and nuclear force design, we help the DoD, DOE, and other organizations understand the complex integration required to fight a full-scale conflict while maintaining nuclear deterrence. From bomber and tanker fleets to the undersea domain, SPA provides trusted, data-driven insights to help develop the unified force of tomorrow.
Strategy, Policy, and Doctrine Development
Subcapabilities
Defense Strategy, Policy, Planning, and Budget Development
SPA assists the Office of the Secretary of Defense to ensure the lethality of critical weapon systems via near-, mid-, and long-term technology roadmaps, integrated acquisition portfolio reviews, analyses of Military Service-level acquisition programs, and studies regarding program- and mission-level risk to DoD missions. We provide expert analysis to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, assessing U.S. and adversary capabilities to identify asymmetries and areas of potential competitive advantage that may drive technology investments. Additionally, we provide subject matter expertise through detailed technical, operational, and programmatic analysis, supporting the Milestone Decision Authority role of the Under Secretary for Acquisition & Sustainment for the most critical acquisition programs for the DoD.
Nuclear Deterrence
SPA provides comprehensive strategic and nuclear deterrence analysis, bridging national strategy and policy guidance with programmatic and operational outcomes. Our uniquely qualified staff brings centuries of cumulative experience across the nuclear enterprise, including roles as military personnel, civil servants, and contractors to national leadership and DoD/inter-agency organizations on classified and sensitive programs. We apply our hands-on expertise in all-source intelligence, policy guidance, military plans and concepts, nuclear weapons and NC3 systems, acquisition programs, operations research, and modeling and simulation tools to deliver timely, data-informed analysis that ensures the credibility and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
Strategic Planning
SPA supports national security organizations and senior decision-makers with a team of subject matter experts and strategic planners who combine formal education in planning, strategy, and warfighting with extensive operational experience in strategic planning and implementation. Our planners are skilled in using advanced modeling, simulation software, and quantitative methods to deliver plans and guidance that are both strategically sound and analytically defensible. Whether generating, implementing, or evaluating strategy, SPA’s experts work independently or collaboratively to address the most complex strategic challenges for our national security clients.
Strategic Communications
In the high-stakes world of national security, how well an organization communicates about its mission is vital to long-term success. SPA’s Strategic Communications team helps clients drive organizational goals forward and better advocate for their mission by delivering the right messages to the right audiences. Our proprietary “Strategic Communications Opportunities and Recommendations for Engagement” (SCORE) tools are valuable resources that provide innovative, data-driven solutions focusing on message development, stakeholder analysis, and engagement strategy. Our experts edit, write, design, and produce communications materials to meet complex challenges so leaders can focus on the mission.
DoD Workforce Training and Instructional Design
SPA designs and delivers comprehensive training programs focused on mission readiness, operational excellence, and continuous learning. We ensure training is operationally useful and relevant by developing strategies to employ future forces, systems, and technologies, equipping every team member to meet complex security challenges. Our team also supports requirements and Acquisition Executive Management training, including classroom and online training, simulations, and survey development and analysis. We provide expertise in curriculum development, management and evaluation support, survey creation, simulation development, and classroom instruction.
Organizational Structure and Process Development
SPA supports military services in refining business processes and organizational design to accelerate modernization and strengthen readiness planning and execution. SPA provides data-driven analysis and process optimization strategies to streamline workflows, reduce inefficiencies, and align organizational structures with mission objectives. By leveraging advanced modeling, process mapping, and performance metrics, SPA identifies opportunities to enhance resource allocation and decision-making. SPA’s experience and expertise ensures that modernization and sustainment efforts are both cost-effective and operationally aligned, enabling the military to maintain readiness, extend the lifecycle of current capabilities, and adapt effectively to evolving mission requirements.
Conventional-Nuclear Integration
Nuclear force design and deterrence have been at the core of SPA’s expertise since its inception. Today, SPA also conducts high-impact conventional force-level analyses to support strategy development, force design and sizing, and operational concept design. By combining our suite of models, tools, and methodologies with our recognized experts in both conventional and nuclear force design, we help the DoD, DOE, and other organizations understand the complex integration required to fight a full-scale conflict while maintaining nuclear deterrence. From bomber and tanker fleets to the undersea domain, SPA provides trusted, data-driven insights to help develop the unified force of tomorrow.
