Space Warfare: How the U.S. Can Stay Ahead in the Orbital Arms Race
This is part 2 of a 4-part series. Read the previous posts here and subscribe to get the final post when it’s published. From Congested Orbits to Contested Battlespace The space domain has transformed in scale, scope, and strategic consequence. What once was a benign operational backdrop is now a contested warfighting domain. China and […]
Operating in a Contested Orbit: Why Culture and Doctrine Are Key Elements of Space Superiority
This is part 1 of a 4-part series. Read the previous posts here and subscribe to get the final post when it’s published. Rebuilding Strategic Advantage in Orbit In 2008, the number of tracked objects in orbit was just over 9,500. Today, that number exceeds 47,000—and rising. Satellites, debris, and maneuverable platforms crowd every regime […]
From Viable to Defendable: Designing Programs That Deliver
In defense acquisition, selecting the best technical solution is not enough. Success depends on how well that choice holds up under scrutiny—from oversight bodies, Congress, and operational users alike—while ensuring the program performs as intended. That’s where the traditional approach to Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) falls short. In this post, I’ll outline a methodology that […]
Leadership Fundamentals Series: The Importance of Building Quality into Your Organization
Whether in national defense, advanced technology, or complex systems engineering, embedding quality into the DNA of your organization from the outset leads to safer outcomes, clearer communication, stronger compliance, and more resilient operations. In a recent installment of SPA’s Leadership Fundamentals Series, Dan Elliott, a military operations analyst in the SPA Strategic Division, led a […]
Rethinking Cybersecurity: A Strategic Shift for the DoD
This is part 4 of a 4-part series. Read the previous posts here and subscribe to get the final post when it’s published. As cyber threats escalate and evolve, the Department of Defense (DoD) faces the imperative of rethinking how cybersecurity is integrated into military operations. Cybersecurity must transition from being perceived as a peripheral […]
Putting Force Design First – Logically
Noel Williams is SPA’s Fellow for USMC Strategy, Policy, and Force Development LtCol Noel Williams, USMC (Ret), SPA’s Fellow for USMC Strategy, Policy, and Force Development In a time of accelerating threats and rapid technological shifts, the U.S. military should reconsider how it approaches force design in its modernization process. Force design represents the logical […]
Strengthening National Cyber Resilience: Beyond Compliance to Mission Assurance
This is part 3 of a 4-part series. Read the previous posts here and subscribe to get the final post when it’s published. In the face of evolving cyber threats, strengthening the resilience of national cybersecurity infrastructure demands a unified and cooperative approach. While the Department of Defense (DoD) enjoys sufficient authority and capability to […]
The Evolving Landscape of Cyber Defense within the DoD
This is part 2 of a 4-part series. Read the previous posts here and subscribe to get the final post when it’s published. As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, the Department of Defense (DoD) faces critical decisions about organizing and managing its cyber capabilities. Chief among those considerations is whether the DoD should establish a […]
Navigating Change and Nuclear Policy Challenges
Given the long-term implications of nuclear modernization, maintaining strategic continuity through political transitions is essential for national security. Tom Troyano, SPA’s Fellow for Nuclear Modernization, navigated seven Presidential transitions during his 28-year tenure with the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His perspective highlights why bipartisan consensus is indispensable to a credible and resilient nuclear […]
Cybersecurity Priorities: Aligning Defense Resources with Critical Missions
This is part 1 of a 4-part series. Read the previous posts here and subscribe to get the final post when it’s published. In the increasingly complex domain of national defense, effectively prioritizing cybersecurity resources is a critical yet challenging endeavor. With finite resources, the fundamental question facing the Department of Defense (DoD) becomes clear: […]