http://www.pnsr.org/feedGen.aspxThe latest News and Events from Project on National Security Reform.(c) 2012 Project on National Security Reform.5WASHINGTON, DC - The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) released today a new report, "The Legal Affairs Roundtable Series on National Security Transformation." It calls on the legal community, especially the American Bar Association, to "contribute their authoritative voice[s] to the public debate on needed changes" to the national security system. The report represents the work of more than eighty dedicated national security attorneys, practitioners, and subject matter experts, including Secretary Michael Chertoff, Admiral Dennis Blair, Judge James Baker and General Stanley McChrystal. During three roundtables, participants debated the legal impediments to, and remedies for, the optimal performance of the national security system — specifically addressing the National Security Council, unity of effort proposals and the Intelligence Community. Additionally, during a concluding conference, participants discussed the legal challenges to making reforms and the role of the legal community. Although based upon the discussions during the roundtable series, the resulting report is solely the responsibility of PNSR. A grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York funded the roundtable series. The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Law and National Security, Bingham McCutchen LLC and the Bipartisan Policy Center’s National Security Preparedness Group joined PNSR as sponsors. Arnold & Porter LLP and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars also supported the roundtable series. The majority of roundtable participants concluded that sweeping reform of the national security system, which encompasses the complex whole of all national security institutions, is necessary. They found the system "mostly 'stove-piped' and hierarchical, posing roadblocks to integrated [whole-of-government] consideration of national security policy and issues." Most roundtable participants recognized that the current National Security Council apparatus "struggles to be an effective management and integration arm of the president in a security environment characterized by increasing complexity, uncertainty and speed." Debated remedies included expanding the role of the national security advisor to serve as a national security manager and strengthening the ability of the National Security Staff to integrate the expertise and capabilities of departments and agencies. Concerning unity of effort in national security operations abroad, participants generally agreed on "the need for better interagency cooperation and for executive cross-agency authority to be developed." They concluded, "Existing solutions, such as czars and lead agencies, have proven inadequate." In particular, participants urged improved integration by departments and agencies in their execution of U.S. regional policy abroad and the need for interagency teams in the field. Despite passage of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, participants found "the required level of integration across the sixteen components of the Intelligence Community has not been achieved." Key areas for reform focused on the role of the Director of National Intelligence, oversight of the Intelligence Community and information-sharing policies. Noting the important role of lawyers in any reform effort, the concluding conference produced several recommendations for the legal community: • Develop a definition for national security law and an agreed-upon body of statutes and executive orders that make up this law. • Draft and advance transformation proposals in all forms. • Outline the scope of executive authority in making institutional changes and what reforms require legislative action. • Advocate publicly for national security transformation. • Review how congressional organization affects attempts to create a whole-of-government approach to national security issues. For further comment, please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/208/interior.aspFri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) today released "America's First Quarter Millennium: Envisioning a Transformed National Security System in 2026," a paper prepared by Christopher Holshek, PNSR Senior Associate. Holshek will present ideas from the paper at today's National Defense University symposium, "Forging an American Grand Strategy." The paper encompasses many transformative concepts developed by PNSR and its partners over the past five years. The paper may be found at: http://www.pnsr.org/data/images/pnsr_americas_first_quarter_millennium.pdf To view the website for the paper and post comments, click here. Overview "America's First Quarter Millennium" finds the United States no longer the dominant power and standing at a crossroads. Of the two roads in front of the nation, the paper notes, "One way lays the path of inertia and declining returns from an aging national security system. The other way is the 'road less travelled by,' leading to greater security and prosperity for future generations." Given the magnitude of required institutional changes, the paper observes, "To commit to this road, we must first envision its destination: a transformed national security system. A clear vision of a newly created system will point the way ahead for change, reduce fear of the unknown, attract commitment, and demonstrate that transformation is doable." PNSR envisions "an anticipatory, collaborative, agile, and innovative system capable of combining all elements of national strength, integrating intelligence, making timely and informed decisions, and taking decisive action." It would be characterized by "whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approaches, unity of purpose and effort, and prioritized investments emphasizing strengths and opportunities." Many changes would model organizational reforms successfully adopted by the private sector. This short, modular paper seeks to inspire a true "national conversation" to envision this future. It is a public-working-draft, casting a wide net among stakeholders to capture the best of America's collective wisdom. Written in the past tense, it looks back in order to look forward. Components of the envisioned system include: comprehensive strategy; foresight and anticipatory governance; strategic management; interagency high-performance teaming; integrated and flexible national security resourcing; role of Congress; public-private partnering and global networking; and our greatest strength - human capital. About the Author Col. Christopher Holshek is a retired U.S. Army Reserve civil affairs officer. After leaving the Army, Holshek took an 8,000 mile tour of the country on his Harley-Davidson and created a blog, "Two Wheels and Two Questions," where he reflected on America's place in the world and experiences from his career. Over the years, he has had significant input to the development of civil-military policy and doctrine in the U.S. military, NATO, and United Nations. Effectively fusing his parallel civilian and military careers, he is a rare American who has served in United Nations peace operations in both civilian and military capacities. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/207/interior.aspWed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - James R. Locher III, President and CEO of the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR), said he was "really proud" on Monday, May 2 after hearing about the successful raid on Osama bin Laden by U.S. Navy SEALs the day before. Locher, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict and architect behind the Cohen-Nunn legislation that created U.S. Special Operations Command, played a significant role in building modern special operations forces. Kathryn Boughton, a reporter for the Litchfield County Times, interviewed Locher after he spoke at the Kent Memorial Library the day of the raid. He said, "In Kent, I talked about Gen. Stanley McChrystal and what he had done in terms of creating interagency teams. I suspect we saw that same approach in Pakistan. It is exactly the kind of collaboration and teamwork that we really need--but it is a real exception." Locher's comments drew from a recent study in PNSR's research agenda. Released by the Institute of National Strategic Studies (INSS), "Secret Weapon: High-value Target Teams (HTT) as Organizational Innovation," authors Christopher Lamb and Evan Munsing describe the power of interagency teams and what makes them work. Foreign Policy defense blogger and Center for a New American Security Senior Fellow, Thomas Ricks, wrote of the study, "this is one of the most interesting monographs I've read in some time... The most compelling part of the study is the discussion of interviews with former members of the high-value targeting teams about what worked and why." Three key innovations -- networked-based targeting, the fusion of intelligence and operations, and the integration of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency -- required unprecedented collaboration between diverse departments and agencies and special operations forces. In order to succeed, the teams required common purpose, clearly delegated authorities, a small size, co-location, and a supportive organizational context. The case study also illustrates the lack of interest in interagency teams, why they atrophy, and why in all likelihood the United States will fail to institutionalize this powerful new capability. Locher said, "The next time we have a need, we will be fortunate to have someone like Gen. McChrystal, because what he did is not institutionalized." In addition, as written on the PNSR blog, "even at this high point of success, high value target teams cannot be the sole solution to America's security challenges." Yet, if the U.S. government can bring the same effectiveness used in the bin Laden raid to address other security problems (for example, U.S. development aid to Pakistan), it could transform the future of U.S. national security. Colonel (retired) Christopher Holshek, a PNSR Senior Associate, wrote in The Huffington Post: "...National security writ large had not only become more globalized by 9/11, it had also become more humanized. Outside Iraq and Afghanistan, with which Washington has largely been obsessed for nearly a decade, in places like Africa that represent the bulk of security and development challenges around the world, "human security" and civil society challenges such as poverty and food security, rule-of-law and justice, governance, economic development and job creation, and public health contextualize the security problem. Human security is about individuals and communities, empowered by global interconnectivity and the 24/7 media -- terrorists as much as protest organizers." However, Locher warns, the U.S. government is too slow at adapting to the rapid changes occurring in the world, especially at a time of fiscal constraint. He said, "We have always been able to win ugly by throwing money at a problem, but that is no longer the case. We have lost our margin for error and we are headed for a decade of austerity, when even great programs are being killed. The times call for a national security system that is effective, efficient, participatory, and agile. Unfortunately, we don't have it. We have the opposite of that -- a system that is archaic, designed 63 years ago, that still clings to Cold War concepts. How can we secure our children's future with our grandparents' government?" Locher says in Washington, "Everyone is working as hard as they can to stay ahead of the 24-hour-a-day news cycle... There is no time to worry about institutional reform." Institutional reform is integral to the future of U.S. national security. As the PNSR blog states, "the special operations forces that conducted the bin Laden operation were themselves a product of Congressional reforms from the late 1980s. Legislation offered by Senator Sam Nunn and Senator William Cohen and supported by many others passed into law and created the U.S. Special Operations Command. As a result, the United States has the world's finest special operations forces." As the U.S. reflects on the lessons learned from 9/11 to the demise of bin Laden, as the end of the heavy American presence in Iraq and Afghanistan comes into view, and as the Middle East reshapes itself, it is high-time to transform the U.S. national security system for the next chapter of the American power and influence in the world. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/206/interior.aspThu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) is pleased to announce that Jonathan D. Breul has joined PNSR's Guiding Coalition, a group of preeminent national security leaders working to transform the national security system. Mr. Breul joins former Director of National Intelligence Admiral Dennis Blair, former Treasury Deputy Secretary Robert Kimmitt, and former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge as recent appointments to the Guiding Coalition. Breul, formerly Senior Advisor to the Deputy Director for Management in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), currently serves as the Executive Director of the IBM Center for The Business of Government. Of PNSR's work, Breul noted, "The Project on National Security Reform is providing much deeper awareness and understanding of the need for fundamental reform to our national security system and an insightful view of the changes today's world demands." During his time at OMB, Breul served as the senior career executive with primary responsibility for government-wide general management policies. He helped develop the President's Management Agenda, was instrumental in establishing the President's Management Council, and led the development and government-wide implementation of the Government Performance and Results Act. In addition to his OMB activities, he helped Senator John Glenn (D-Ohio) launch the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act. PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III said, "Jonathan Breul brings great expertise and experience to the Guiding Coalition. He is at the forefront of advanced management thinking. Having worked at the highest level of government, Jonathan has an invaluable perspective on how new management approaches could benefit our national security system." Mr. Breul is also an elected Fellow of the National Academy Public Administration (NAPA), and an adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's Graduate Public Policy Institute. He holds a Masters of Public Administration from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts from Colby College. "The national security system is grossly inefficient. Jonathan Breul's expertise in formulating and implementing government-wide performance improvements will be vitally important as PNSR develops reforms to strengthen the national security budgeting process," said Locher. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/204/interior.aspThu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) is pleased to announce Margaret Cope, a recently retired Air Force Colonel, has joined PNSR as a Senior Advisor. Colonel Cope is a transformational leader with over 25 years of success as a logistics officer with command and staff experience, including assignments in squadrons, groups, wings, logistics centers and headquarters. Her last assignment was in the Pentagon, HQ USAF in the Logistics Directorate, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installations and Mission Support. As the Air Force lead to the federal interagency logistics program, she developed the Air Force's contributions and collaborated with other agencies from the Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security and General Services Administration to establish the Whole of Government Logistics Effort. "My recent experience as Air Force lead developing the Whole of Government Logistics Effort clearly demonstrated the urgent need and value of interagency collaboration and the expansion from whole of government to whole of nation and in some cases whole of world to meet the rapid pace of threats, challenges and opportunities for our national security. I am delighted to join PNSR as it leads the transformation of our national security system to sustainability." She also championed the Air Force Maintenance Strategic Plan, transforming maintenance, inspection, and accounting processes that had remained virtually unchanged for 40 years. Colonel Cope's guidance was instrumental in the Air Force Repair Network Transformation, a plan for modernizing the 55 year old maintenance organization of the entire Air Force into a lean and flexible system. Prior to assuming her position at the Air Staff, Colonel Cope was the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, where she assisted in leading 13,000 military and civilian personnel. Colonel Cope also oversaw an $8.4 billion budget for global logistics support of cargo, warning and control, bomber, and stealth bomber aircraft. Colonel Cope represented the Air Logistics Center Commander at executive-level meetings with local, state, and federal government and industry. Colonel Cope has additional experience in human capital, including building the initial Air Force Reserve Acquisition/Scientist and Engineer Career Developmental Team, and serving as a key senior advisor and member of the Aircraft Maintenance Career Development Team. Her leadership and oversight of the two teams ensured the Air Force provided over 8,000 officers with career guidance, resulting in the selection of over 758 highly qualified officers for command positions. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/205/interior.aspTue, 29 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Project on National Security Reform is pleased to announce Chuck Lutes, a recently retired Air Force Colonel, has joined the PNSR as a Senior Advisor. Until retirement, Colonel Lutes served as the Director for Nonproliferation on President Obama’s National Security Staff at the White House, and previously as Director for Counterproliferation Strategy on President George W. Bush’s National Security Council staff. “My twenty-eight year military career took me from the flight line to the White House, and has convinced me of the need for reform at every level of our national security system,” said Colonel Lutes. “We owe it to our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen and to the American taxpayer to transform our government to make it more flexible and agile to meet the security threats of the 21st century. I am pleased to be part of that effort through PNSR.” “Chuck brings with him recent insight from the highest levels of U.S. policymaking, deep knowledge of national security issues from space to nuclear weapons, and education in organizational analysis,” said PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III. “Chuck’s experience makes him a perfect fit for PNSR. We are thrilled to have him with us.” Chuck Lutes is also an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) at the National Defense University and a Senior Analyst with The Tauri Group, an innovator in analytical consulting that applies creative, responsive problem-solving to homeland security, defense, and space enterprises. While on active duty as an Air Force Colonel Lutes also served as a Senior Military Fellow at INSS, and in the Directorate for Plans, Policy and Strategy (J5) on the Pentagon’s Joint Staff as Chief of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Division, Chief of Strategic Plans, and Chief of Engagement Strategy. Chuck Lutes holds engineering degrees from Duke University and the Air Force Institute of Technology, and has completed doctoral coursework in Human and Organizational Learning through the Executive Leadership Program at The George Washington University. He was also a National Security Fellow at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/203/interior.aspMon, 28 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - On February 23, the second roundtable event in a series addressing legal affairs on national security transformation took place at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. "Unity of Effort in National Security Operations Abroad" examined the practical, political, and legal aspects of alternative means to promote unity of effort in these instances. The American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Law and National Security, Bingham McCutchen LLC, the Bipartisan Policy Center National Security Preparedness Group, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) co-sponsored the event, made possible through the generous support of the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Participants included over forty legal and subject-matter experts with experiences ranging from U.S. federal military and civilian service, state governments, law firms, and think tanks. Topics covered the importance of unity of effort in national security operations, how this unity of effort might be achieved and the recommendation to apply the model of an expanded chief-of-mission authority to the problem. Regional frameworks for managing national security affairs abroad and the PNSR recommendation to establish integrated regional centers were also discussed. The roundtable event concluded with a discussion on the use of cross-functional interagency teaming at the sub-regional level. Roundtable Chair and President and CEO of PNSR James R. Locher III stated: "As part of the discussion today, we answered the question that unity of effort is not only possible, but it is imperative. The experience and expertise of the participants provided great insight as to possible ways to proceed forward in addressing the lack of unity of effort on multiple levels of our national security operations abroad." This roundtable event was the second in a series of three roundtables and will include a concluding conference. The final roundtable will take place in May and will focus on intelligence reform. During the concluding conference, a final report will be produced to broaden awareness among participants and stakeholders of the process of shaping the legal instruments required to achieve national security transformation. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/202/interior.aspFri, 25 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) recently released a paper entitled "Chief of Mission Authority as a Model for National Security Integration" authored by Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) affiliates Dr. Christopher Lamb and Ambassador Edward Marks. This paper is a significant accomplishment for the national security transformation research agenda on interagency teams. Please find a link to the full report below: http://www.ndu.edu/inss/docUploaded/INSS%20Strategic%20Perspectives%202_Lamb%20.pdf Overview of the Paper Interagency teams -- groups of people with diverse expertise given the authority to manage a single national security issue -- are a national security system innovation that could increase the government's responsiveness to threats and opportunities. Currently, the system lacks strong integrating authorities to achieve this. To understand how interagency teams can function, Dr. Lamb and Ambassador Marks studied the Chief of Mission Authority granted to Ambassadors to manage embassies around the world. Embassies are staffed with people from myriad agencies: diplomats, military and intelligence officers, law enforcement professionals, development specialists and many others. Dr. Lamb and Ambassador Marks recommend expanding the use of Chief of Mission authority to "Mission Managers", leaders who would be empowered to run other interagency teams throughout the national security system. National security professionals usually receive authoritative direction only through their home department or agency, leading to friction when working on teams whose membership reflects multiple departments. In the paper, Dr. Lamb and Amb. Marks argue, "'Unity of command' from the President on down through the functional departments and agencies seems to preclude "unity of effort" for missions that are intrinsically interagency in nature and cut across those same chains of command." Implementation of these recommendations would require a legislative initiative to create Mission Managers, Senate confirmation of particular nominees and Congressional funding on a case-by-case basis of larger interagency efforts. The intent would be to give the national security system the structural flexibility and agility required to address the fast-moving challenges of today and tomorrow. About the Authors Dr. Lamb is Distinguished Research Fellow and Director of the Center for Strategic Research at INSS at the National Defense University. In 2008 Dr. Lamb was assigned to the PNSR study of the national security system, which led to the 2008 report, "Forging a New Shield." Prior to joining INSS in 2004, Dr. Lamb served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Resources and Plans where he had oversight of war plans, requirements, acquisition, and resource allocation matters for the Under Secretary of Defense (Policy). Ambassador Marks was a Foreign Service Officer of the United States from 1959-1995, retiring with the rank of Minister-Counselor. During his career he served in many countries in Africa, in the Office for Combating Terrorism, and at the United Nations. He has been a consultant to the World Food Program and the United Nations Development Program (on reorganization of the foreign affairs ministries of several countries that were former members of the Soviet Union). He is currently an active consultant, lecturer, and writer on crisis management and U.N. affairs. He is also the Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Foreign Service Journal. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/201/interior.aspFri, 18 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMTFirst Secretary of Homeland Security to Contribute Guidance on Critical National Security Concerns WASHINGTON, DC - The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) is pleased to announce that The Honorable Tom Ridge has joined PNSR's Guiding Coalition, a group of pre-eminent national security leaders working to transform the national security system. Secretary Ridge joins former Director of National Intelligence Admiral Dennis Blair, former Treasury Deputy Secretary Robert Kimmitt and former OMB Director James Nussle as recent appointments to the Guiding Coalition. Ridge, the nation's first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and former governor of Pennsylvania, is currently president and CEO of Ridge Global, an international security and risk management firm, headquartered in Washington, DC. Of PNSR's work, Ridge said, "Every day I see the serious challenges in the national security system that PNSR is working to resolve. I am pleased to contribute to PNSR's important mission." During his tenure as secretary of DHS, Ridge worked with more than 180,000-plus employees from a combined 22 agencies to create an agency that facilitated the flow of people and goods, instituted layered security at air, land and seaports, developed a unified national response and recovery plan, protected critical infrastructure, integrated new technology and improved information sharing worldwide. Ridge served as secretary of this historic and critical endeavor until February 1, 2005. PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III said, "I am delighted that to welcome Secretary Ridge as a member of the PNSR team as we enter an exciting phase of continuing growth and maturity. His deep experience as a governor of change in Pennsylvania and as the first secretary of homeland security will be a tremendous asset." Prior to his appointment at DHS, Ridge became the first director of the White House Office of Homeland Security following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Ridge's charge was to develop a comprehensive homeland security strategy and coordinate the government's efforts to strengthen the country's protection against terrorist attacks. Ridge was twice elected governor of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2001, where he led the state to excel in economic development, education, health and the environment. In 1982, he became one of the first Vietnam combat veterans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and was overwhelmingly re-elected by Pennsylvania voters five times. Ridge graduated with honors from Harvard University in 1967 and received his J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law. "Tom Ridge brings perspectives from state government, the executive branch, and legislative branch - all incredibly important given that our national security requires that we work together throughout all levels of government to keep our nation secure," said Locher. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/200/interior.aspWed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) today launched Two Wheels and Two Questions: A Journey through America in Search of Personal and National Identity, a personal memoir by PNSR Senior Associate Christopher Holshek (Colonel, US Army, retired) reflecting on America and its place in the world. First written as a PNSR blog and then summarized in a Huffington Post article, “America and the Long Goodbye,” the book chronicles Chris Holshek’s reflections and experiences during an extended motorcycle tour across America following his retirement from the military in early 2010. In addition to his work as a PNSR Senior Associate, Chris Holshek is a civilian civil-military adviser with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s Defense Institution Reform Initiative. While in the Army he served in civil-military operations in numerous positions, including command of the first civil affairs battalion to deploy to Iraq in support of Army, Marine and British forces, and as a staff officer for United Nations multinational peacekeeping missions. He participated in the development of Army, Joint, NATO, and UN policies and doctrine for civil-military, stability, and interagency operations, as well as contributed to the State Department’s recent Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. “Chris Holshek’s personal reflections on his 30-year service in the U.S. Army and his journey across America are personal testaments to why national security transformation is the critical question of our time” said PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III. “They ground us in the reality of how our defective system affects the lives of real Americans and provides new thinking on how the national security system of the twenty-first century should function. I commend Chris for his selfless national service and his poignant insights that could help us transcend our current national security paradigm.” In May 2010, newly retired Colonel Holshek set out from Washington D.C. on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in search of the answer to two fundamental questions: “What does it mean to be an American?” “And what does that mean for America and the rest of the world?” Chris rumbled through the American South and Southwest to the Pacific Coast and returned through the Great Plains and the American Heartland. His trip also had a detour, escorting some students from the George Mason University to the African nation of Liberia. In the book, Chris chronicles his many encounters, including meeting his uncle, a Vietnam War veteran, and bantering with a shrimp boat captain while oil from the BP well polluted the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Pondering his travels, Chris saw the value of seeing America from both the “outside-in” and the “inside-out.” He discovered insights into the American character in its national parks and presidential homes and gained an appreciation of the enduring flow of American history as he traversed the routes of the Transcontinental Railroad and Lewis and Clark expedition. The conclusions he draws are both thought-provoking and timely as the United States looks for national renewal, to reinvent its government through a national security transformation and to use its leadership to secure a safe and prosperous world for generations to come. “I realized that, like America, I found myself in mid-life transition, as I wandered between the military and civilian worlds at home as well as abroad,” Chris noted. “As I meandered through America on my Harley, reflecting both backwards and ahead in my life, it became clear I could never return to the structured and more predictable world of the military. That’s gone now, so I have to move on.” For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/199/interior.aspSat, 29 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - In last night's State of the Union address, President Obama put forth a powerful vision for the nation. Included in that vision was the important goal "to merge, consolidate and reorganize the federal government in a way that best serves the goal of a more competitive America." To successfully achieve this task we must transform our inefficient and ineffective national security system, the largest component of our broken government. Renowned government transformation agent and President and CEO of the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR), James R. Locher III, provides commentary on this issue here: Like many Americans, I tuned in to watch the State of the Union Address last night. And beforehand, like most, I had several thoughts and anticipations on topics President Obama would choose to address. As the president and CEO of the Project on National Security Reform, I was pleased to see so many corresponding themes between the President's vision for America and ways in which PNSR can help to advance America toward that vision. The President was absolutely right, "the world has changed," and we must change with it. On many levels, this has already occurred. Individuals all over the nation have adapted to the changing pace and order of the current times. However, to make this change on a larger scale - the scale of government - will require much more effort and coordination...and undoubtedly, government transformation. At PNSR, we often describe transformation with words like "innovation" and "reinvention". Last night, the President chose these words as well. He eloquently laid out the task ahead, and challenged us all with comments like: "The future is ours to win. But to get there, we can't just stand still," and "That's what Americans have done for over 200 years: reinvented ourselves." In my opinion, the single most telling excerpt from the State of the Union Address, was the following: "We shouldn't just give our people a government that's more affordable. We should give them a government that's more competent and more efficient. We can't win the future with a government of the past." Our Declaration of Independence states, "governments are instituted among men to ensure these rights" (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness). How can we ensure these basic principles with such an outdated government structure, the largest component of which is our national security system? From domestic natural disasters to foreign policy, from the economy to education, and from terrorism to national infrastructure, these are all parts of our national security. Government transformation starts with transformation of our national security system. I believe the way ahead is straightforward. We need effective strategic management, prioritized investment, a unifying culture, adaptive structures, and comprehensive accountability and oversight. An improved national security system would equip our nation and government to manage and overcome the complex and interconnected security challenges of the 21st century. The president has provided a more detailed vision for transforming the national security system in the National Security Strategy with twelve organizational goals paralleling PNSR's recommendations. PNSR has developed the specific steps that are necessary. What is needed now is the political will to make these imperative changes. It must be a bipartisan campaign with both branches having important roles. The president will need put action behind last night's words. PNSR and others are ready to help with bold intellectual, political, and implementation ideas. We can't win the future without transforming the national security system. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/198/interior.aspWed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) is pleased to announce that former Director of National Intelligence Admiral Dennis Blair rejoined PNSR’s Board of Directors and Guiding Coalition, where he served previously from 2007 to 2009. The 25-member Guiding Coalition includes former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, former Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Norman Augustine, and former U.S. Supreme Allied Commander of Europe General Wes Clark. "My service as Director of National Intelligence confirmed my conviction that our national security system needs transformation. It is full of dedicated and hard-working officials, but its antiquated structure does not serve the nation's current and future needs," said Admiral Blair. “I am delighted that Denny Blair has brought his powerful intellect and visionary leadership back to PNSR,” said President and CEO James R. Locher III. “The nation owes Denny a debt of gratitude for his dedication to America’s security and prosperity and his devotion to public service. His depth of experience and understanding of the security environment of the 21st century will once again be invaluable in PNSR’s work.” During his previous term at PNSR, Admiral Blair also served as the Project’s Deputy Executive Director. Admiral Blair served as Director of National Intelligence in the Obama administration from January 2009 to May 2010, overseeing and working to transform the sixteen intelligence agencies. Prior to joining the administration, he held the John M. Shalikashvili Chair in National Security Studies at the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) and General of the Army Omar N. Bradley Chair of Strategic Leadership at Dickinson College and the U.S. Army War College. From 2003-2006, Blair led the Institute for Defense Analyses as president and CEO. Prior to retiring from the U.S. Navy in 2002, Admiral Blair served as Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command, the largest U.S. combatant command with an area of responsibility covering half of the earth’s surface. He also served as the Director of the Joint Staff, first Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support, and on the National Security Council staff. In addition to being awarded four Defense Distinguished Service Medals and numerous decorations from foreign governments, Admiral Blair graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and received a master's degree in History and Languages from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/197/interior.aspMon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) announced today publication of a major study recommending a system to produce and manage a cadre of National Security Professionals (NSP) equipped to handle complex 21st century issues. The study, The Power of People: Building an Integrated National Security Professional System for the 21st Century, recommends the phased establishment of an Integrated National Security Professional (INSP) system. The INSP system is designed to function collaboratively across agency and government boundaries. PNSR believes this human capital system is urgently needed to produce and retain the necessary personnel with the requisite training and experience in whole-of-government approaches, to work in permanent, temporary, and emergency assignments. The current agency-centric system, established by Executive Order 13434 in 2007, is not robust enough to do the job. The new system must be rooted in 21st century practices of collaboration and integration, facilitated by technology, and centrally managed by a Board with a Senate-confirmed director. PNSR identifies several guiding principles for establishing an INSP system. The study recognizes that "one size may not fit all" for individuals and agencies. NSPs should qualify for progressive levels of achievement/rank. NSPs should self-select to pursue NSP qualification, bolstered by incentives, with entry and training laterally or at an early career stage. An INSP system must attract the next generation. The INSP system should be implemented in stages over a period of five to seven years. The four stages of implementation are: 1) further development of agency-specific capabilities, especially training, in the current NSP system; 2) establishment of a NSP Qualification Program and the beginning of centralized management of some system aspects; 3) formalization of the INSP system; and 4) realization of a whole-of-government INSP system that includes individuals from the federal government and state and local entities. Pilot programs in each phase would help ensure successful implementation of the system. The study presents general and stage-by-stage recommendations as well as specific next steps for both the executive and legislative branches. In conducting the study, PNSR interviewed and met regularly with representatives of departments, agencies, and other organizations with national security missions. As the study developed, PNSR consulted with a distinguished group of experts with deep experience in national security, human capital, government performance, and change management. PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III commented, "This study emphasizes the enormous importance of the collaborative ability of National Security Professionals, whether they serve on emergency teams or toil every day with others to solve the complex problems we face. PNSR is pleased to have had the opportunity to suggest practical ideas to meet the need. Action on such ideas, step-by-step, to build a new system will be foundational to securing America's future." The independent study, mandated by Congress in the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act and performed under a Department of Defense contract, has been forwarded to the executive branch and Congress. The study can be found here. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 643-7049 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/196/interior.aspWed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - In today's Washington Post, renowned American journalist and political commentator E.J. Dionne called for President Obama to revive his presidency through a bold and persistent campaign for national reform and renewal. The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) applauds his rationale and suggests that the key to restoring the faith of the American people, as well as preserving America’s world leadership role, is to engage the nation in envisioning and co-creating the future in a comprehensive transformation effort. In his op.ed. “Can Obama find his morning in America?”, Dionne asserts that “Obama was elected for many reasons in 2008, but the country's underlying desire to reverse this sense of decline was central to his victory.” He argues, “Obama's biggest failures in his first two years lay in not fully grasping the opportunity this intimation of crisis created and in not appreciating that he was being asked to do more than fix the economy.” Dionne advises Obama: “What's lacking is a coherent call for reform and restoration that is unapologetically patriotic and challenging.” The preeminent lens through which to develop this campaign is national security transformation. Organized for a world that no longer exists, the U.S. national security system has become dangerously inefficient, ineffective, and myopic. It cannot handle the increased complexity of a radically different security environment; the pace, variety, and interdependence of new non-traditional threats (climate change, failing schools, economic decline, etc); or the rising competition for resources and for leadership of the world community. Our government is adapting too slowly to rapidly changing national security challenges and opportunities, cannot take whole-of-government or whole-of-nation approaches, and lacks a strategy to inform its plans and actions. The transpartisan PNSR has been pursuing a bold transformation agenda for the past the four years, and this work has not split along party lines. Political leaders are beginning to understand that this desperately needed set of reforms could become a bipartisan priority. Momentum for this change within the Obama administration is already building; it has positioned itself in favor of many elements of the transformation agenda. The administration’s May 2010 National Security Strategy gave prominent attention to the need to “update, balance, and integrate all the tools of American power” in a whole-of-government approach. Its Cabinet officers, including Vice President Biden, Secretaries Clinton and Gates, former National Security Advisor Jim Jones, and former Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair, have expressed strong support for national security transformation. Secretary Gates has called adapting and reforming our 63-year old national security apparatus “the institutional challenge of our time.” PNSR stands ready to help the U.S. government co-create practical, innovative solutions that will provide the basis for a new national security system and bring about its political realization and implementation. It is focused solely on this mission. PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III commented, “Reform and renewal of the national security system is not only the #1 national security issue, it is also one on which the two parties can work together. Please join the call for President Obama to forcefully and steadfastly lead this patriotic and historic mission to overcome the nation’s most critical challenge.” For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (646) 662-4092 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/195/interior.aspMon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - As the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform releases its recommendations on reducing United States government spending, the Project on National Security Reform's (PNSR) experts provide the following commentary and resources on fiscal responsibility and national security transformation: PNSR EXPERT COMMENTARY James R. Locher III, President and CEO - "Headlines about setbacks in Afghanistan, Iraq, terrorism, counterproliferation, and other challenges often vividly portray the ineffectiveness of the U.S. national security system in the 21st century. Less visible, but equally troubling, is the system's gross inefficiency and wastefulness. The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform should press for transforming the system to realize huge savings. In a $1 trillion national security budget, the potential for massive cost reductions is enormous. Why is the system wasting money? First, it has no foresight mechanism; it doesn't begin to work on problems until they are expensive-to-solve crises. Second, the budget process is not oriented on what we hope to achieve -- our missions and other outcomes; it funds capabilities that the departments desire which are often misaligned with our needs. Third, departments and agencies don't work as teams; they work in isolated stovepipes, often with costly duplication or conflicting objectives. A transformed national security system can dramatically strengthen the nation's security and at less cost. Over to you, Erskine and Alan." Nancy Bearg, Senior Advisor - "The members of the Deficit Commission have been thinking hard about change. Their recommendations are a new, daring way of thinking about how fundamental changes -- difficult as they are -- are essential to the strength of this country. The Project on National Security Reform has a new way of thinking too -- and it relates directly to deficit reduction: transform the way we think about and act on national security. Make it whole-of-government and whole-of-nation. Reform processes and perspectives to include all instruments of national power in preventing and solving problems. The current system is increasingly crippled in dealing with modern challenges. Transforming the system into a more integrated whole will result in more efficient and effective use of our national security resources, resulting in less cost. National security transformation is an idea whose time has come -- just in time to be put in the mix of crucially important, daring ideas to set this great country on sounder and safer fiscal and national security footing." John Depenbrock, Chief Operating Officer - "There can be no transformation of our national security system without fiscal responsibility and some sacrifices by all citizens. Indeed, comprehensive national security transformation will lead to economic security that will serve our nations' community of interests by placing America on a positive and prosperous economic foundation as we move forward in the 21st century." Rahul Gupta, Senior Advisor - "We are in a dire budgetary situation where our security is being destabilized by our lack of economic prowess, yet we believe we cannot reduce defense spending. The first problem we have to acknowledge and fix is that the national security budget is derived through an outdated process that imposes no demands for prioritization or rationalization of capabilities across the portfolio of investments. For this reason, no one really knows if additional spending buys more security. We continue to buy additional planes, ships, and other major equipment even though less expensive platforms could provide the same capability. The second problem we must recognize is that the Pentagon and other departments have yet to fully comply with the CFO Act and present fully auditable financial statements for each major acquisition and do so with all of the costs clearly identified. Until then, there will no true accountability for the costs of systems and therefore no reliable data to prioritize and rationalize. The third problem is due to a combination of acquisition practices and culture. We must acknowledge that the national security community has yet to benefit fully from performance- and service- based contracting for much of its consumables. Even though the laws call for commercial approaches to acquisition, DOD has yet to fully develop and implement these practices. In addition, the staff that has to carry out these different practices lack the training to be successful or the sponsorship to fully execute. To save hundreds of billions per year will require (1) prioritization and rationalization, (2) transparency, auditability, and accountability, and (3) modern acquisition processes and acquisition staff trained in these methods." Daniel Langberg, Deputy Director for Interagency Teams and Planning - "Secretary Clinton and Admiral Mullen have each recognized national debt as a pressing national security concern. Under this broadened scope of national security, national security transformation would enable a more strategic and long-term approach by institutionalizing capabilities such as scanning and long-term assessments of the strategic environment, as well as visioning and long-term strategy development. Institutionalizing these and other much-needed capabilities on a whole-of-government basis would allow for a clearer picture of the strategic environment, wiser prioritization of our national security investment portfolio, and a stronger grasp of long-range impacts of near-term decisions -- insights that could have gone a long way in helping to avoid the situation we are in today." Jack LeCuyer, Distinguished Fellow - "Transformation of the national security system and fiscal responsibility are two sides of the same coin. This is about more than just the Defense and State Department budgets. It is about taking the president's national security strategy which includes a broadened definition of national security and asking how to implement it in an efficient and effective way to ensure outcomes that truly enhance our national security and maintain our leadership role in the global environment. The next required step in this process of aligning resources with national security objectives is the development and promulgation of the president's planning and resource guidance for national security missions to the departments and agencies with the requirement to review each of the major departmental quadrennial reviews in light of this guidance. Each of these reviews to date has been accomplished in a vacuum of strategic guidance from the top -- and each of these reviews is more about maintaining a share of the budget to develop departmental capabilities than they are about ensuring a truly integrated whole-of-government approach to accomplishing the goals outlined in the president's national security strategy. We have the opportunity to do a system check and to ensure that we have properly aligned resources -- both for "hard" and "soft" power elements of national power -- into a seamless and integrated interagency national security budgetary approach. We need not do more; we cannot afford to do less. Let us begin that path toward transformation of the national security system today." Dale Pfeifer, Director of Network Development and Strategic Communications - "In testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Secretary Clinton recently argued that the U.S. budget deficit and debt be addressed "as a matter of national security, not only as a matter of economics." It is essential we identify strategies to improve the fiscal situation in the medium term and to achieve fiscal sustainability over the long-run. To do this, budget processes should evolve to allow the government to manage budgets more innovatively. For example, transitioning from allocating resources by departments and agencies to a prioritized mission is likely to allow for substantial savings and increased effectiveness." Tom Rautenberg, Director of Strategy and Development - "National security transformation drives fiscal responsibility by demanding breakthrough efficiency and effectiveness in ways that are measurable and based on scientific evidence. Thus, now that the President's Commission has put defense and intelligence spending in play, transformational thinking can help us spend our dollars more wisely." Rei Tang, Research Analyst - "Outdated budgeting processes seriously hamper the ability of the national security system to conduct policy without wasteful and inefficient spending. From the $52 billion spent on Iraq War reconstruction to the sprawl of the national security system since 9/11, reports and studies have repeatedly noted the inefficiencies and costs from a scattered and ad hoc approach to national security spending. This occurs even as the United States recognizes a coming fiscal crisis, often deemed a national security issue by the nation's military leadership. Even more troubling, the United States faces emerging national security challenges that are piling up as the government remains slow to anticipate and react. National security transformation has the potential to save billions while increasing the effectiveness of the government, and would put our institutions in a better place to deal with our fiscal issues." PNSR Senior Staffer - "How could national security transformation contribute to fiscal responsibility? It is nearly impossible to overstate the importance of resource allocation in the execution of policy. Yet one of the overarching themes we see in our goal for national security transformation is that government spending is not aligned with our national security strategy. Additionally, there is no overarching fiscal plan that takes a wholistic, government-wide view. What is needed is a system that helps to unite agencies on the strategic level, which, in turn would address the fiscal issue. To quote an early PNSR publication, the system is “simply not designed to address interagency needs” (Forging a New Shield). National security transformation would provide an organizational framework to better align strategy and resources." PNSR REPORTS & PUBLICATIONS - Michael Leonard, Matching Policy and Strategy with Resources: An Issue Brief (2009). - Turning Ideas in Action (2009), Alignment of Strategy and Resources (Chapter 3). - Forging a New Shield (2008), Resource Management (Part 4). - PNSR Resource Working Group, Annotated Bibliography (2007). For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (646) 662-4092 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/194/interior.aspWed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded a grant to the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) to conduct a series of events on the legal issues of national security transformation. The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Standing Committee on Law and National Security, Bingham McCutchen LLC, and the National Security Preparedness Group of the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) will collaborate with PNSR on these events. New and revised legal instruments, including laws, executive orders, presidential directives, and regulations, are required as key mechanisms of governmental change. This series of events will pave the way to a more integrated approach to the legal issues involved in transforming the U.S. national security system to better handle the challenges of the 21st century. PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III stated, “Advancing national security reform requires the study and resolution of important legal issues. PNSR is delighted to join three preeminent organizations studying these issues -- ABA’s Standing Committee on Law and National Security, Bingham McCutchen, and BPC’s National Security Preparedness Group -– in advancing the collective understanding of these issues.” This project includes three roundtables, a concluding conference, and a report for use by the Executive Branch, Congress, and reform-minded private organizations. Major themes for discussion will include National Security Council authorities, dual chains of command in interagency operations, and intelligence reform. The first roundtable will be held on December 8. PNSR, ABA, Bingham McCutchen, and BPC will bring a unique and fresh approach to these issues, applying the lessons of existing efforts, broad knowledge of the national security environment, and a wealth of talent with experience throughout and beyond the government. Expert panels consisting of former officials who have deep expertise in these thematic areas and who have led large-scale government reforms will participate in these events. PNSR appreciates the Carnegie Corporation’s foresight in investing in this necessary step to transform the antiquated U.S. national security system into a more dynamic, adaptive, efficient, and effective model. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (646) 662-4092 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/193/interior.aspWed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, D.C. - The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) announced today that the Honorable Robert M. "Bob" Kimmitt has joined PNSR’s Guiding Coalition of senior national security practitioners. Following his service as Deputy Secretary of the Treasury (2005-09), Mr. Kimmitt rejoined the law firm WilmerHale, where he serves as a senior international counsel. He is also Independent Chairman of the Deloitte Center for Cross-Border Investment. Mr. Kimmitt has had a distinguished career in government and the private sector. He was posted as Ambassador to Germany (1991-93) and served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (1989-91), General Counsel for the U.S. Treasury (1985-87), and Executive Secretary and General Counsel of the National Security Council (1983-85). Mr. Kimmitt also served in the U.S. Army, including a combat tour in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, and retired as a major general in the Army Reserve. During 1997, Mr. Kimmitt was a member of the National Defense Panel, and from 1998 to 2005 he was a member of the Director of Central Intelligence’s National Security Advisory Panel. In the private sector, Mr. Kimmitt held senior positions in three businesses: Vice Chairman and President of Commerce One, a software company; Executive Vice President for Global Public Policy at Time Warner, Inc.; and managing director at Lehman Brothers. He had first joined WilmerHale in 1997, serving for three years as a partner focused on international matters. Of Mr. Kimmitt’s membership on the Guiding Coalition, PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III said, "Bob Kimmitt brings unsurpassed experience and expertise on national security matters to PNSR’s historic mission. Having worked over three decades at the highest levels of the national security system, Bob will provide powerful insights as to the needed direction and pace of reforms. His knowledge from his time at the Department of the Treasury will be especially helpful in strengthening PNSR’s efforts to ensure that financial and economic perspectives are fully integrated into national security decision-making." Locher added, "I have the greatest respect for Bob Kimmitt’s intellect and judgment. I am delighted to have him join PNSR’s team." Project on National Security Reform media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.orgNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/192/interior.aspWed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) today joined with Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY) in announcing a bipartisan bill touted as “the most noteworthy [national security] reform since the 2004 reorganization of the intelligence community.” The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) applauds this effort, which aims to strengthen the development of interagency national security professionals. Recent months have seen many calls for sweeping reforms to enable a whole-of-government approach, including those in the National Security Strategy and the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel’s report. The Skelton-Davis bill (H.R. 6249) would take a significant step toward answering these calls through the establishment of an Interagency National Security Professional Education, Administration, and Development System (INSPEAD System). PNSR has been working for nearly four years to assist in the transformation of the antiquated national security system. Recent work has focused heavily on the personnel and human capital dimension. On June 25 of this year, the Department of Defense, acting as the Executive agent for the President, selected PNSR to conduct a study on interagency national security professionals, pursuant to a mandate in section 1054 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2010. PNSR’s report is due to Congress with the president’s comments by December 1, 2010. PNSR’s President and CEO, James R. Locher III, praised the bill, saying, “I commend Congressmen Skelton and Davis for their leadership in introducing this bill. Their willingness to work across party lines sets an example that I hope many others in Congress are prepared to follow. We need a broad coalition to stand up and put national security transformation in its rightful place as a priority that transcends partisan divides.” Contact: Project on National Security Reform media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/191/interior.aspThu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The new issue of Homeland Security Affairs -- a journal of the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) -- contains an article on interagency organizations that is rooted in PNSR's 2010 report, Towards Integrating Complex National Missions: Lessons from the National Counterterrorism Center's Directorate of Strategic Operational Planning. The article -- Organizational Innovations in Counterterrorism: Lessons for Cyber-security, Human Trafficking, and Other Complex National Missions -- argues that today's national security environment demands whole-of-government approaches to complex national missions ranging from combating terrorism and trafficking in persons to securing cyberspace. These and many other twenty-first century security challenges require an agile and integrated response; however, our national security system is organized along functional lines (diplomatic, military, intelligence, law enforcement, etc.) with weak coordinating mechanisms across these functions. Daniel R. Langberg, article author and Deputy Director of the PNSR study, stated: "Recent reforms in the U.S. government counterterrorism community offer valuable insights into this challenge as well as lessons that should be considered in the context of other complex national security missions." The article highlights the fact that key functions such as strategy development, linking strategy to resources, planning, and assessments are not being fulfilled on a whole-of-government basis for several high priority national missions. Drawing on PNSR's analysis of NCTC's Directorate of Strategic Operational Planning, the author explores the potential of interagency organizations and teams as national level integrating mechanisms that can support the National Security Staff in fulfilling these and other functions on a whole-of-government basis for complex national security missions such as cybersecurity. The article is available from the Homeland Security Affairs website at: http://www.hsaj.org/ For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (646) 662-4092 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/190/interior.aspWed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Office of the Secretary of Defense has awarded a contract to the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) to study and propose a system for the career development and management of interagency national security professionals. This study fulfills a requirement prescribed in section 1054 of the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act. The study is to support efforts to improve the quality of interactions among agencies engaged in national security and increase their overall interoperability -- especially in times of national crisis from natural disasters or national security threats. PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III stated, "This is an important study for advancing national security reform. Interagency national security professional staff with the right skills and capacity to deal effectively with the strategic challenges of the 21st century are crucial. The way the system manages national security professionals greatly affects their career choices, including their willingness to work across departmental boundaries." PNSR will study current efforts at developing interagency national security professionals, professional development, coordination, incentives for collaboration, potential funding mechanisms, and the feasibility of integrating and coordinating military, state and local personnel in a national security professional development system. PNSR will coordinate its work with interagency representatives, the Office of Personnel Management, National Security Staff, and departments and agencies. PNSR will bring a unique and fresh approach to the problem, applying the lessons of existing efforts, broad knowledge of the interagency environment, and a wealth of talent with experience throughout and beyond the government. Expert panels consisting of former officials who have led large-scale government reforms will advise the study. In this study, PNSR will partner with PRTM, a leading management consulting firm that specializes in operational transformation. PRTM brings experience from the commercial and federal government sectors in performance management, strategic planning, and human capital. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (646) 662-4092 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/189/interior.aspWed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) Independent Panel, a group of distinguished Americans with deep experience and expertise in the national security arena that includes Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) Guiding Coalition member John Nagl, offered a bold endorsement of national security reform in its report, released July 29. After an intense evaluation of the QDR with a view to the long term, the Panel called for sweeping reforms in the national security system. PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III said, "I am heartened by the growing chorus for national security reform, especially coming from this high-level group representing the best of the national security establishment." The Report stated,"[T]he Panel notes with extreme concern that our current federal government structures – both executive and legislative, and in particular those related to security – were fashioned in the 1940s and they work at best imperfectly today... A new approach is needed." The Panel's recommendations, similar to PNSR's, included improving integration through legislation, providing education and incentives for personnel to work in "whole of government" assignments, creating a unified national security budget, establishing interagency teams, and instituting a new National Security Strategic Planning Process. The Panel also called for enhanced civilian “whole of government” capacity and reform of international security assistance. The Panel’s recommendations are the second articulation of the need for organizational reform in recent months. The Obama administration’s National Security Strategy, released in May, gave prominent attention to the requirement for dramatic changes to national security institutions. The Report used strong words to convey its findings: "The issues raised in the body of this Report are sufficiently serious that we believe an explicit warning is appropriate... The potential consequences for the United States of a ‘business as usual’ attitude towards the concerns in this Report are not acceptable." Locher said, "Reaching the kind of system envisioned by the QDR Independent Panel will be a difficult process taking years. The most logical starting points are a roadmap for change that starts with pilot projects and expands them, and an implementation plan for the goals laid out in this president's National Security Strategy. The Independent Panel has issued a powerful call to action, and as always, PNSR is ready to assist." Contact: Project on National Security Reform (202) 390-0559 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/188/interior.aspThu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - Three Project on National Security Reform experts released the following statements on the Washington Post's "Top Secret America" series: James R. Locher II, President and CEO: "It is not surprising that serious deficiencies and disconnects have been discovered in the intelligence community. The authority of the Director of National Intelligence is not commensurate with the position's vast responsibilities and management challenges. The sixteen intelligence agencies remain too separate and independent to produce the unity of effort today's intelligence work demands. The same problems plague the entire national security system, where the integrating mechanisms - the NSC and HSC systems - are institutionally weak compared to the power and influence of the departments and agencies. As long as we have antiquated organizational arrangements at the national and intelligence-community levels that are incapable of effectively dealing with the complexity and speed of today's security environment, we are going to be disappointed, if not shocked, by the results." James M. Loy, Guiding Coalition: "The recent series of articles in the Washington Post dubbed "Top Secret America" offers yet another example of the enormous difficulty we're having adjusting to the challenges we must handle in post-9/11 world. The complexity index of the new security environment has been multiplied by a factor of some number still being determined. Cold War tools are not up to the task. The vertical silos of older times often were sufficient to protect America's interests. Today's challenges, however, demand a horizontal approach which is foreign to many but must be learned quickly. The definition of national security then was diplomacy, defense, and intelligence. Today's challenges demand attention from experts in Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Treasury, just to name a few. Today's challenges demand strategy development and planning guidance so as to efficiently protect our nation. We have to align resources to those strategy elements. We have to become good at multiple-node interagency-team alignments, and we must produce the skill sets in our leaders that emphasize collaboration, agility, and adaptability. The Post articles suggest we have a long way to go in achieving those goals and that we may be wasting valuable resources in and out of government. If you read the new National Security Strategy, you come to the same conclusion. It's time to quit writing papers and talking. It's time to get at the hard work of making the changes to our national security apparatus that will bring it into the 21st Century." Steven Trevino, Senior Advisor: "The recent exposé on the US Intelligence Community illustrates some of the deep, systemic flaws in the overall U.S. National Security system. Assessing the evolution of the U.S. National Security system since 1947 through the various adjustments to address the shifting, changing nature of the threats and challenges we face also helps us to understand the how the system became what it is today. The common thread in any astute analysis points to a prevailing sub-optimization of how nation state resources are applied in a strategically integrated fashion to achieve predetermined outcomes. We lack a coherent strategic planning and implementation framework with which to guide the methodical engagement of increasingly limited resources to achieve strategically reasoned outcomes that take into account increasing complexity and accelerating change across the spectrum of vital national interests. The recently released National Security Strategy Report reflects a bold well reasoned view of America's fast changing role in the world and how we as a nation can fulfill a strategic purpose that makes rational sense in light of growing resource constraints. What is missing in the Roadmap, Measures and Metrics as aspects of a comprehensive implementation plan that can align vision, purpose, and goals with resources of all kinds. This approach to an NSS strategic implementation plan can also serve as a means by which to better align our political and policy divisions and optimize the program management capabilities by the vast legion of contractors and dedicated government workers referenced in the Washington Post article. Adopting such an audacious approach will call for extraordinary leadership and very hard choices in how we as a struggling nation allocate our still considerable vast resources. How we commit to an implementation plan of this nature will serve as a strong indicator of how we will emerge in the world of the next decade." The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) is a nonpartisan organization working to modernize and improve the United States' national security system to better protect the American people against 21st century dangers. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (646) 662-4092 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/187/interior.aspThu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III testified today before the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in a hearing on “Interagency National Security Reform: Pragmatic Steps Towards a More Integrated Future.” In his testimony, Locher presented ten pragmatic near-term steps that can be taken to move forward on creating a more effective and functional interagency national security system (below). Also appearing before the committee were: Dr. Gordon Adams, Distinguished Fellow, Henry L. Stimson Center; Dr. James R. Thompson, Associate Professor of Public Administration, University of Illinois – Chicago; and Mr. John Pendleton, Director of Force Structure and Planning Issues for the Defense Capabilities and Management Team, U.S. Government Accountability Office. On the potential for action, Locher told Chairman Vic Snyder (D-AR) and other subcommittee members that “there is much that can—and must—be done today. Each recommended reform step would contribute significantly to integrating and improving the overall national security system. Collectively these steps are only part of the needed national security reform, but they are synergistic, practical, doable, and necessary.” See the written testimony here, oral testimony here, and video here. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (646) 662-4092 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org Pragmatic, Near-Term Steps for Consideration by the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee 1. Require the president to submit an implementation plan for the organizational changes prescribed by the new National Security Strategy. 2. Require the assistant to the president for national security affairs to submit a plan for achieving the needed organizational capacity of the National Security Staff pursuant to the National Security Strategy. 3. Commission a ten-year road map for the entire national security reform agenda. 4. Require the president to conduct a Quadrennial National Security Review to establish the security goals and priorities of the United States. 5. Require the director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit illustrative, integrated budgets for two mission areas – combating terrorism and development – with the President’s Budget Request for FY2012. 6. Establish an interagency personnel system to create the proper incentives, education, and training for personnel assigned to interagency positions. 7. Establish a Center for Organizational Performance at the National Defense University or another institution that would undertake comprehensive assessments of organizational performance in the national security community. 8. Require the secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to submit a plan on how they intend to improve the curricula of the military war colleges to provide an appropriate level of education on interagency affairs and national security reform. 9. Require the director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) to submit a plan for overcoming obstacles to improved performance by NCTC, especially by its Directorate of Strategic Operational Planning. 10. Hold joint hearings with a subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (maybe the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, as it aligns with this subcommittee in its oversight and investigations jurisdiction) to examine interagency issues. a. National Security Strategy b. Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Iraq and Afghanistan c. Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) d. Strategic communications programs of departments and agencies ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/186/interior.aspWed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - The new National Security Strategy includes many ideas from PNSR's Forging a New Shield (November 2008) and Turning Ideas into Action (December 2009). These recommendations included broadening the scope of national security, balancing and integrating all elements of national power, updating our national security organizational capacity and processes for the 21st Century, adopting a longer view for national security, emphasizing the need for attention to the foundations of national power, aligning resources with strategy, embracing integrated whole-of-government approaches to national security missions, and promoting integration of homeland security and national security efforts to include collaboration with state, local, and tribal governments as well as nongovernmental entities and private enterprise. PNSR comments: • The National Security Strategy broadens the scope of national security to reflect the emerging challenges of the 21st Century and recognizes the interdependence between American competitiveness and American power in the world. PNSR Senior Advisor Nancy Bearg comments, " The strategy greatly expands the concept of national security beyond the traditional concerns of the Defense and State Departments. Its attention to the foundations of national power – a sound fiscal policy, education, energy, science and technology, and health – is an important development, as is the emphasis of using all elements of national power." • PNSR Distinguished Fellow Jack LeCuyer notes: " We have been given the substance of the new national security strategy that mirrors many PSNR recommendations. The new National Security Strategy clearly delineates what is different from the Cold War strategic environment and how our national security strategy must adapt to these changes. In so doing, the new strategy also sets forth a strong rationale for institutional reform of the national security interagency system to meet these challenges but does not reveal how the administration plans to put these ideas into practice to underwrite success." • In summary, PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III said, " The National Security Strategy envisions a bold transformation of the national security system. To achieve the organizational capacity to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, the Obama administration must initiate sweeping reforms to the current antiquated system. The administration now needs to provide the details of its reform initiatives and a roadmap on how it plans to achieve a modern national security system." Follow our discussion on what reforms the Obama administration will need to undertake to achieve the new organizational capacity articulated by its National Security Strategy on LinkedIn. For further comment please contact: Project on National Security Reform (646) 662-4092 media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/185/interior.aspFri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - Colonel Christopher "Chris" Holshek, U.S. Army Reserve (Retired) , has joined the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) as a Senior Associate. PNSR will host his new blog, "Two Wheels and Two Questions," as he rides across America on his Harley Davidson. Colonel Holshek’s blog will reflect on his experience in the Army Reserve and on America's place in the world in the 21st century. Colonel Holshek comes to PNSR after serving as a liaison from U.S. European Command (EUCOM) to the U.S. Agency for International Development, where he helped coordinate the Haitian earthquake relief. Colonel Holshek also served as EUCOM’s liaison to PNSR. Having served in Kosovo, Liberia, and Iraq, he possesses a wealth of experience from a career at the nexus of the three Ds: defense, diplomacy, and development. After receiving his commission at New Mexico Military Institute, Colonel Holshek earned two Bachelor’s degrees at the George Washington University, majoring in International Affairs, German Language and Literature, and History. He earned a Master of Arts International Relations from Boston University in 1990, and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2006. In announcing Colonel Holshek's arrival at PNSR, President and CEO James R. Locher III said, "Chris' experience at the frontlines of the challenges of the 21st century, managing complex groups of stakeholders, and working across boundaries, provides PNSR with a valuable new member. He can offer personal insights on the challenges of adapting our national security institutions for the future." Contact: Project on National Security Reform media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/184/interior.aspWed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - PNSR is pleased to announce a new partnership with PRTM Management Consultants, LLC, the government-oriented subsidiary of PRTM Inc, a global management consulting firm based in Washington DC, that possesses special expertise in national security, high-performance management and business transformation. PRTM focuses on bridging the gap between business strategy and execution through operational strategies that help its clients achieve their desired results. PRTM’s partnership will enable PNSR to become a center of excellence and a “living example” of best practice in action, in the domains of management and information science. A blended PNSR-PRTM team will be formed to provide best-in-class strategic problem-solving services. To cement this relationship, PNSR is delighted to announce that Rahul Gupta, a partner with PRTM Management Consultants, LLC, has joined PNSR as a senior advisor. Rahul’s expertise lies in strategy, policy, and best practices implementation related to national security and other domains. Before joining PRTM, Rahul served in the government in several capacities in both the legislative and executive branch and with several commissions. Rahul was an Assistant Director and Senior Legislative Advisor at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), professional staff on the Congressional Joint Intelligence Inquiry on the events of 9/11, and Chief of Program Analysis for the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), Community Management Staff. He is the recipient of several GAO and DCI awards—including a GAO Meritorious Service citation. Rahul has also received official recognition for outstanding contributions and performance from several members of Congress, the NIMA Commission, and the 9/11 Intelligence Inquiry. In welcoming Rahul and PRTM Management Consultants, LLC, PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III said, “PRTM’s track record and expertise along with Rahul’s impressive career, first-hand knowledge, and experience in the very problems we are working to solve will prove invaluable to PNSR. I am excited that they have joined our effort, and I look forward to harnessing their intellect and energy in pushing our mission forward.” Contact: Project on National Security Reform media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/183/interior.aspTue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - PNSR is pleased to announce the addition to its Guiding Coalition of Dr. John A. Nagl, recognized national security strategy expert. Dr. Nagl serves as President of the Center for a New American Security and as a member of the Defense Policy Board. Dr. Nagl is a subject matter expert in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, national security strategy, organizational learning, and adapting U.S. military forces and operations to the changing security environment. He served as an armor officer in the U.S. Army for 20 years, leading American forces, training Iraqi and Afghan units, teaching national security studies at Georgetown University and the United States Military Academy, and staffing senior leaders at the Pentagon, eventually retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Dr. Nagl earned his doctorate from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He is the author of Learning to Eat Soup with a Knife: Counterinsurgency Lessons from Malaya and Vietnam and was on the writing team that produced the U.S. Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual. Dr. Nagl is a leading contributor of ideas in finding new approaches to confront today’s national security issues. In welcoming Dr. Nagl, PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III said, “Dr. Nagl’s keen intellect, distinguished career, and understanding of key national security organizational issues make him a valuable addition to the Guiding Coalition. I am very pleased to have him on board as PNSR works towards reforming the national security system for the 21st Century.” Contact: Project on National Security Reform media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ### News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/182/interior.aspWed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI) has introduced a bill to require a Quadrennial National Security Review (QNSR). The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) commends this effort to establish overarching goals to create unity of purpose among departments and agencies pursuing national security objectives. The bill (H.R. 4974) states that “the President shall, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Congress, and the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies responsible for national security, conduct a quadrennial national security review… to set forth the security goals, including long-term and short-term security goals, of the United States.” Co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Ike Skelton (D-MO), Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Bill Owens (D-NY), Jane Harman (D-CA), Geoff Davis (R-KY), Mac Thornberry (R-TX), and John Carter (R-TX). This year has seen an unprecedented number of narrower reviews, including the Quadrennial Defense Review, Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, Quadrennial Intelligence Community Review, and Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. Congressman Langevin’s bill would integrate these efforts and finally institutionalize a whole-of-government approach to setting our national security priorities. The bill notes that PNSR “similarly recommended that the United States needs to develop an overall strategy to provide timely resources and adequate authorities for supporting our national security goals.” PNSR’s President and CEO, James R. Locher III, praised the bill, saying, “PNSR is pleased to see Congressman Langevin’s leadership on this issue. Production of an interagency National Security Review every four years will be a significant step along the path of national security reform. It will provide the whole government – and Congress – with a common strategy to guide planning and resource allocation across departments and agencies.” Contact: Project on National Security Reform media@pnsr.org www.pnsr.org ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/181/interior.aspThu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC - Steven Trevino, well-known national security and resilience specialist, has joined the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) as a Senior Advisor. Mr. Trevino brings a wealth of expertise to the PNSR team with extensive senior leadership experience in complex problem solving and integrated strategic planning, as well as risk and resilience planning in support of national and global challenges. In welcoming Mr. Trevino, PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III said, “Steve is a valuable addition to PNSR, with a distinguished career spanning 25 years in national security and intelligence. His work with many elements of the Executive and Legislative Branches will greatly inform PNSR’s efforts to reform the national security system. PNSR is fortunate to have someone as knowledgeable and experienced as Steve contributing to our organization.” Mr. Trevino is a former Senior Advisor to the Department of Energy on advanced technology applications in support of global problem solving and also served as a Defense Intelligence Officer and contributor to the President’s Annual Report on National Security Strategy during the Reagan Administration. Mr. Trevino’s distinguished career most recently includes serving as the Senior Director for National Security with Keane Federal Systems, Inc., a global services firm providing IT optimization services. He leads the Keane Center for Mission Assurance and Resilience, which serves as an advisor to US government organizations with respect to enterprise-level mission assurance solutions, including strategic planning, quality assurance, performance management and independent verification & validation. Mr. Trevino previously served as a Senior Executive Advisor with Booz Allen & Hamilton providing U.S. mission assurance and global resilience solutions. PNSR was established in 2006 as a non-profit organization to propose and implement reform of the U.S. national security system and has attracted over three hundred current and former senior officials as contributors to its programs. General James Jones, current National Security Advisor, and Admiral Dennis Blair, current Director of National Intelligence, and several other prominent members of the current administration are PNSR alumni. News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/180/interior.aspThu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMTA new report from the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) provides an independent, comprehensive, fresh critique of the National Counterterrorism Center’s (NCTC) mission to integrate whole-of-government counterterrorism capabilities. The report, prepared with the cooperation of NCTC and other agencies, examines the Center’s Directorate of Strategic Operational Planning (DSOP). Going beyond the current discussion on information and intelligence sharing, the report identifies long-standing systemic impediments in the counterterrorism community and recommends practical reforms. The study was informed by a team of renowned experts led by two of the nation’s most distinguished counterterrorism practitioners: Juan Zarate, former Deputy National Security Advisor for Counterterrorism to President Bush, and Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, former Director of Combating Terrorism at the National Security Council under President Clinton. The study team identified underlying problems that plague the counterterrorism structure. The report calls for strengthening the interagency processes that serve as the connective tissue among government agencies. It serves to elevate the current debate on airport security equipment and “connecting the dots” to more strategic issues related to interagency planning, assessments, and resources that are vital to the long-term success of the mission. According to James R. Locher III, PNSR President & CEO, “Interagency strategic planning at NCTC is a promising innovation, but important steps are necessary for this innovation to achieve its full potential. Because NCTC is operating in an unreformed national security system, it faces systemic barriers to becoming a more efficient interagency mechanism for the counterterrorism community.” Philip Zelikow, the 9/11 Commission’s Executive Director, states, “The 9/11 Commission proposed NCTC as a prototype for a novel way of organizing an important sector of national security work in our government. This study is the first really serious analysis of whether the NCTC’s whole-of-government planning effort has met expectations.” The review, based on the results of extensive research and engagement with government stakeholders, includes steps that the President, National Security Staff, NCTC, and Congress could take immediately to further national security reform. The report can be found at http://www.pnsr.org News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/179/interior.aspTue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMTA new study from the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) calls for systemic reform at the regional level to strengthen the National Preparedness System (NPS). The NPS was defined by the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) of 2006. The PNSR white paper, Recalibrating the System: Toward Efficient and Effective Resourcing of National Preparedness, cites fundamental and interrelated structural and process problems plaguing the current system. It recommends direct funding from the Federal Government—instead of resourcing through grants—for national catastrophic planning and assessments. Resourcing primarily via grants, with their oversight and reporting requirements, fosters intergovernmental relationships that can be more adversarial than collaborative and thus not optimal for unity of purpose. The study recommends that the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency finance an intergovernmental, interagency Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Staff (RCPS) in each region. State and local authorities would assign representatives to an RCPS for temporary duty and receive federal reimbursements under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Mobility program. There would be no financial onus on the states or locals—a major and legitimate concern, especially with today’s budget deficits. “It’s only at the regional level,” says PNSR Distinguished Fellow John F. Morton, who directed the study, “where we can get to consensus for that region. These standing regional staffs would be where federal, state, tribal, territorial, local, private sector, and non-governmental organization representatives would come together daily, from the beginning, as co-equal partners to build a bottom-up, collaborative culture of preparedness—or even resilience—and the collaborative regional programs to go with it.” Standing RCPSs would work with existing planning, training, and exercise units in the states and at the local level to conduct catastrophic risk assessments, catastrophic operational planning and exercise validation, catastrophic capability inventories via negotiated processes through which states could identify gaps for targeting grants and other resources, and regional evaluations and self-assessments informed by regionally determined performance metrics. To produce the study, the PNSR Homeland Security Team assembled over 20 experts, including former senior representatives from DHS and FEMA, state and local government officials, and the private sector. The report can be found at http://www.pnsr.org/web/page/623/sectionid/579/pagelevel/2/interior.asp. CONTACT info@pnsr.org John Morton jmorton@pnsr.org (410) 263-0036News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/177/interior.aspFri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe Department of Homeland Security recently announced the creation of a new office of Intergovernmental Affairs, an office proposed by PNSR in a white paper distributed to DHS leadership in the spring of 2009. The aim of the office is to better coordinate homeland security initiatives between state, local, territorial, and tribal authorities, and their DHS home base. Led by PNSR homeland security expert Josh Filler, PNSR proposed the creation of an office with this mission in a white paper distributed to Secretary Janet Napolitano, Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute, Under Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate Rand Beers, and Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs Juliette Kayyern, along with representatives from some twenty homeland security and emergency management stakeholder associations. Important to the necessary establishment of this office, the paper emphasizes, is “the [current] absence of a robust department-level intergovernmental coordination office… [as it] impedes the ability to ensure national success in meeting homeland security imperatives.” This view was shared by DHS in housing this office within the Executive Office of the Secretary. Further, In in establishing an Office of Intergovernmental Affairs as PNSR’s Homeland Security team proposed, a key element to success is that the office is viewed as credible by state, local, and tribal authorities. The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs “must have effective, consequential ‘in-reach’ within DHS and across the component agencies,” the paper asserts. In commenting on the new office, Secretary Napolitano said, “The new DHS Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) reflects my commitment to strengthening the Department’s engagement with state, local and tribal partners across the country. As a former Governor, I understand the importance of close coordination between all levels of government as we work to ensure the safety and security of all Americans. The new IGA office will integrate outreach efforts across the Department under a single, primary point of contact at DHS headquarters—enhancing our capabilities as we work to create a national culture of readiness and resilience.” To read more about PNSR’s proposals, download the paper here. We invite your comment and feedback to info@pnsr.orgNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/176/interior.aspThu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON -- PNSR is pleased to announce a new addition to its Guiding Coalition, retired four-star Marine General Anthony 'Tony' Zinni. General Zinni most recently served as interim President and CEO of BAE Systems and is respected for his foresight and informed opinion on national security affairs. Possessing a storied military career, General Zinni’s service was highlighted by his tour as Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command from 1997-2001. General Zinni has also led or been key to several presidential and other diplomatic missions involving conflicts in Somalia, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Israel-Palestine, Indonesia, and the Philippines. General Zinni’s expertise and vision is a powerful addition to PNSR’s Guiding Coalition, which is comprised of former senior federal officials and others with extensive national security experience. The bipartisan group is helping to communicate to the government, policy community, and public the urgency of national security reform in an ever-expanding world of national security issues. The Guiding Coalition also helps orient PNSR reports, most recently the Project’s update on national security reform, Turning Ideas Into Action. In welcoming General Zinni, PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III said, “General Zinni’s impressive military career, first-hand knowledge, and experience in the very problems we are working to solve will prove invaluable to PNSR. I am excited that Tony has joined our effort, and I look forward to harnessing his intellect and energy in pushing our mission forward.” CONTACT Michael Drohan michael.drohan@pnsr.orgNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/175/interior.aspMon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMTThe Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) would like to recognize The Center for American Progress (CAP) for their new report, Integrating Security: Preparing for the National Security Threats of the 21st Century, and to congratulate the Center for its ongoing effort to promote national security reform. The CAP report rightly highlights some of the most serious threats to our national security and makes excellent recommendations that are congruent with the Project on National Security Reform analysis and recommendations in Forging a New Shield and Turning Ideas Into Action. Among other recommendations, we strongly concur on the importance of issuing an integrated national security strategy and creating a unified national security budget. Creating and publishing a National Security Strategy is a key task of the Obama Administration. As retired Marine General Anthony Zinni, who is a new member of PNSR’s Guiding Coalition, says in the CAP report, this document “will be the follow-up to the initial speeches and communication and it will be the authority for our own government structure, all the way down because from the strategy cascades the actions and the organization and the allocation of resources to make that [strategy] happen.” It indeed will help in ensuring that the U.S. Government can consider and bring to bear all elements of national power. American leadership is at the core of many international concerns. Having a strong systemic approach to our own security and having a unified and coherent national security plan only enhances our leadership. Reports, such as Integrating Security, and other related research documents produced by CAP, PNSR, and others, mutually strengthen and promote national security reform efforts. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/11/integrating_security.htmlNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/173/interior.aspThu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMTLast week, PNSR was afforded a great opportunity by World Politics Review, a forum we hold in high regard for its writers' insight and depth of analysis of important issues. WPR hosted three op-eds authored by PNSR President and CEO, James R. Locher III, adapted from PNSR’s recently released report, Turning Ideas Into Action. Each piece focused on a significant initiative discussed or recommendation made in TIIA, and explained their objective. The first in the series focused on PNSR’s call for a Next Generation State Department, one that “possesses [and] exercises sufficient authority to manage the full range of international civilian programs effectively:” http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/Article.aspx?id=4648 The second explains the need for empowered interagency teams. In an era of “czars,” the president still runs high-risk with this unchecked, informal set up, and institutionalization of stand-up issue teams would be beneficial to the way national security is managed: http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/Article.aspx?id=4663 The third op-ed deals with the need of improvement to high-level, national security strategic planning. “With the National Security Staff consumed with day-to-day priorities, and without comprehensive strategies for the medium- and long-term timeframe in place, planning and budgeting inevitably lack coordination and coherence,” Locher said. http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=4673 Please follow the links to read each op-ed at World Politics Review, and download the whole Turning Ideas Into Action report here. Also, please share your thoughts in the comments section of our blog, or by emailing info@pnsr.org.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/172/interior.aspMon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMTThe latest report from the Project on National Security Reform, Turning Ideas Into Action, gauges progress in national security reform in the Executive Branch and Congress, reiterates and refines recommendations from PNSR’s previous report, Forging a New Shield, and outlines specific next steps that must be taken by the government to implement systemic transformation. Findings and messages: • Reform is underway. Progress is being made toward a national security system able to respond more effectively to 21st-Century challenges and opportunities. The vision is a collaborative, agile, and innovative national security system that horizontally and vertically integrates all elements of national power. • President Obama supports national security reform. He and others in the administration have spoken of the complex challenges facing the United States and the need for change. Initial steps have been taken, but the system remains stove piped rather than an integrated, horizontal interagency collaboration. The system lacks unity of purpose and strategic direction, partially because strategy and resources are not aligned. Further, all elements of national power are not routinely considered in decisions and strategies. Also of note: Congress lacks the proper structure to exercise oversight of interagency activities. • Rhetoric and initial steps are not enough. It’s time to stop talking and start doing national security reform. The broken system must be fixed. We cannot afford to handle the next crisis poorly, nor be unprepared for it. • Specific steps can be taken now on the path to reform by the President and other key players. They are listed in the executive summary and conclusion of Turning Ideas Into Action. • Reform will take sustained effort and leadership. It is time for champions to step forward and push it to the next level. PNSR stands ready to assist, as it continues to work on implementation with stakeholders across the whole reform front. Since release last fall of its seminal report on national security reform, Forging a New Shield, PNSR has been working on the implementation phase. Specific initiatives include: • Redesign of the National Security staff in order to facilitate end-to-end management of interagency processes • Development of the interagency system, especially human capital system and information sharing • Next Generation State – reform of the State Department structure and processes • Focus on empowered interagency teams, such as the Directorate of Strategic Operational Planning of the National Counterterrorism Center • National Preparedness System to strengthen integrated intergovernmental homeland security planning Turning Ideas Into Action is the statement of what PNSR hopes to achieve in reforming the United States' critically important, yet lumbering and outdated, national security system. National security reform affects every citizen of the United States—the necessary changes may be esoteric and bureaucratic in nature, but the end result is a more effective government for a safer America.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/171/interior.aspTue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON -- In a speech on the changed nature of warfare, Army Vice Chief of Staff, General Peter Chiarelli, singled out the Project on National Security Reform’s work on comprehensive reform across the interagency. Addressing the annual interagency symposium sponsored jointly by National Defense University and the Army Combined Arms Center last week, General Chiarelli said that there has been no real progress over the past five years in reforming the interagency to meet the demands of the new strategic environment. However, he noted that work on the issue done by PNSR could stand up to naysayers. General Chiarelli said that PNSR’s recommendations are authoritative because of the experience of project leader Jim Locher. Locher was a principal architect of the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 that modernized the military along joint lines. The Army Vice Chief of Staff said that PNSR had prepared a new report for the President recommending what can and should be done to achieve needed reform in the days ahead. On the subject of the military, Chiarelli said that his experience as a former commander in Iraq had taught him that, “Warfare - as we know it- has changed forever. The new nature of warfare requires that soldiers today be versed and agile enough to operate across the continuum – from high intensity conflict or major combat operations to counterinsurgency, peacekeeping, and humanitarian efforts. Simply put, every soldier must be a utility player.” General Chiarelli called on Americans to work together--soldiers, government civilians, the NGO community, contractors and volunteers--to maximize the full measure of the elements of national power. He said the security and stability of the nation and world depend on it. News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/170/interior.aspThu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON -- PNSR is pleased to welcome to its Guiding Coalition, former Director of National Intelligence, Mr. John M. "Mike" McConnell. McConnell is currently Senior Vice President at Booz Allen and a member of the firm’s leadership team. Mr. McConnell's distinguished career includes having served as Director of National Intelligence, Director of the National Security Agency, and as an intelligence officer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense. PNSR's Guiding Coalition is comprised of former senior federal officials and others with extensive national security experience. The bipartisan group is helping to communicate to the government, policy community and public the urgency of national security reform and the findings of PNSR's report, Forging a New Shield. In welcoming Mr. McConnell, PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III said, "Mike's keen intellect, distinguished career and understanding of organizational issues make him a valuable addition to the Guiding Coalition. I am very pleased to have him on board as PNSR works towards implementation of its recommendations for reforming national security."News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/168/interior.aspThu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON -- Today PNSR commemorates the eighth anniversary of the most devastating attack on the United States since Pearl Harbor. We remember the victims and their families, and honor the heroism of the fire fighters, police officers, emergency workers and everyday Americans who rushed to help those in need after the unprecedented attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Over the past eight years, the United States has reacted to the tragedy by making progress towards strengthening our nation’s security. In 2007, with bipartisan support, Congress enacted legislation to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, in both its domestic and foreign-policy dimensions. By so doing, Congress addressed major vulnerabilities in the system and improved our homeland security across the board. But there is much more work to be done. It is widely understood that the security environment of the 21st century differs significantly from that which the national security system was created to address following World War II. Regrettably, the system is still organized to combat the last challenge, not those that lie before it. Despite the shock of 9/11, we have failed to keep pace with the rapidity and scope of change in the world. While the U.S. government has made incremental modifications, it has failed to produce an integrated, agile, and anticipatory system that can adequately meet today’s challenges. One of the basic problems that led to 9/11 and plagues us still is that the system does not know what it knows. Information is not shared between agencies, knowledge is neither captured nor leveraged, and collaboration across the interagency is close to impossible. For example, according to the 9/11 Commission report, “NSA information that would have helped identify Nawaf Al Hamzi [one of the hijackers of the plane flown into the Pentagon] in January 2000” was not properly shared with relevant agencies. Although the information was accessible, someone would have had to ask for it first before it could have been widely disseminated. Quoting the report again, “Agencies uphold a ‘need-to-know’ culture of information protection rather than promoting a ‘need-to-share’ culture of integration.” Eight years after the attacks and five since the landmark report was published, this still remains the case. These problems are more a reflection of prevailing mindsets and outdated processes than technological challenges. The technology exists in the private-sector; government needs to adapt that technology to its needs, and shift to the information-sharing culture that current generation technology enables. PNSR is currently involved in creating an on-line, real-time, national security collaboration environment that will be the foundation for making information-sharing a reality. Improved information sharing is part of the bold, carefully crafted plan of comprehensive reform the United States needs in order to institute a national security system that can manage and overcome the challenges of our time. In its 2008 report, Forging a New Shield, PNSR laid out recommendations that begin to resolve the problems affecting the current system. If implemented, PNSR’s recommendations would constitute the most far-reaching governmental design innovation in national security since the passage of the National Security Act in 1947. PNSR has a singular focus: to be a valuable resource for holistic reform of the national security system so that the nation can successfully address 21st-century challenges and opportunities. Perhaps the victims of that horrific day in 2001 can best be honored by transforming the system to ensure such an event never occurs again. PNSR stands ready to help. Contact: media@pnsr.org Michael Drohan (703) 387-7608 (o) (703) 470-3202 (c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/167/interior.aspFri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMTAs PNSR's report, Forging a New Shield, states, the U.S. national security system must improve at "linking resources to goals through national security mission-based analysis and budgeting." As part of the organization's ongoing analysis, PNSR's team of resource experts, led by Michael Leonard and Steve Johnson, have submitted an issue brief. You can download the brief here From the brief: Starting in the early 1990s, and especially since 2001, the rising complexity of potential threats and the importance of interagency cooperation in accomplishing national security missions have revealed systemic weaknesses. Some of the more serious such problems are related to national strategy development and aligning resources with strategy, which implies cross-agency resource allocation. Resource reform is critical if we want our national security system to address complex security threats and major emergencies effectively. National security priorities and the budget should be linked so that policymakers can make decisions across the whole of the national security system. Ultimately, relevant portions of individual agency budget requests should be integrated into a national security budget display that is based on high-level strategy and missions.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/166/interior.aspThu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON -- PNSR is pleased to welcome Jim Nussle, former director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to the project's Guiding Coalition. Mr. Nussle has had a distinguished public service career, specializing in budgetary issues. Mr. Nussle served as Director of OMB from September 2007 through January 2009, overseeing a broad portfolio of presidential initiatives, from the chief executive’s fiscal agenda to policy decisions. In this capacity, he served in the National Security Council, Homeland Security Council, National Economic Council, and National Domestic Policy Council. Prior to leading OMB, Mr. Nussle represented Iowa’s 1st district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007. As a member of Congress, he served on the Ways and Means, Agriculture, Banking, and Budget Committees. Mr. Nussle chaired the Budget Committee for three successive terms starting in 2001. After leaving government, Mr. Nussle founded The Nussle Group, a government relations and strategic consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. “I am very pleased to welcome Jim to the Guiding Coalition of the Project on National Security Reform,” PNSR CEO and President James R. Locher III said. “His knowledge and expertise of budgetary issues, in both the legislative and executive branches, are important assets to PNSR. His advice will be invaluable as PNSR refines its recommendations on improving the link between resource allocation and strategic objectives.” Contact: media@pnsr.org Frances Hardin (703) 387-7613 (o) (202) 640-9387(c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/165/interior.aspFri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- PNSR is pleased to welcome Dale Pfeifer as Director of Network Development. Ms. Pfeifer brings to PNSR a wealth of experience in this area, as well as in the fields of leadership research and growth. Prior to joining PNSR, Ms. Pfeifer was Deputy Director of Leadership Programs and Global Networks at the EastWest Institute, based in New York. At EWI, she designed, built and managed the Global Leadership Consortium, a network of top security think tanks. She also had overall supervision of EWI program initiatives. From 2005 to 2008, Ms. Pfeifer was Acting Director and Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Leadership at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. In that position, she provided strategic leadership and oversight of the center’s research program with a focus on cross-cultural, inter-group and global leadership. Ms. Pfeifer holds an MS in Management and a post-graduate diploma in Business Administration, both from Massey University, New Zealand. In announcing Ms. Pfeifer’s arrival at PNSR, President and CEO James R. Locher said, "Dale’s training and experience in networking development and leadership, combined with her background in international affairs, make her a valuable addition to PNSR. I am pleased to have her join PNSR as we work towards implementation of our recommendations."News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/164/interior.aspMon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- PNSR is pleased to welcome former Marine Colonel Alan Mangan as a Distinguished Fellow. Col. Mangan brings a wealth of expertise to PNSR, with extensive experience in the U.S. military, government and private sector. He has worked on policy issues in senior positions in areas such as interagency integration, strategic planning and military operations. Col. Mangan’s eminent career includes, most recently, service as Deputy Team Leader of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Al Anbar, Iraq. From 2006-2007, he was Chief of the Interagency Integration Branch at the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In that capacity, he led the Pentagon’s implementation of the interagency segments of the Quadrennial Defense Review. After leaving the Marine Corps, he was Vice President of Diamond International Logistics, Inc., a private company. While there, he led the organization from sales of $4 million to $6 million in a single year. Col. Mangan holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, a Master of Business Administration from the London School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science from the United States Naval Academy. In announcing Col. Mangan’s arrival at PNSR, President and CEO James R. Locher said, “Alan brings to PNSR a wealth of first-hand experience and expertise on interagency issues. PNSR will benefit tremendously from his intellect and know-how.” Contact: media@pnsr.org Frances Hardin (703) 387-7613 (o) (202) 640-9387(c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/163/interior.aspFri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- The Senate FY10 Intelligence Authorization bill cites findings of PNSR that point to the urgency of overhauling the country's national security system. In its recently released authorization bill, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence quotes a section of PNSR’s preliminary findings entitled “Enduring Security in an Unpredictable World: the Urgent Need for National Security Reform.” Title VI of the Intelligence authorization bill establishes the “Foreign Intelligence and Information Commission,” which would evaluate the collection, reporting and analysis of foreign intelligence and information and provide recommendations to improve or develop such processes or systems to include the development of an inter-agency strategy. The bill’s findings, which support the need for the commission, quote from PNSR’s preliminary report of July 2008: (A) “The lack of a national security strategy that clearly links ends, ways, and means and assigned roles and responsibilities to each department has encouraged a proliferation of department-level strategies. These department strategies are uncoordinated and do not systematically generate capabilities required for national objectives. (B) The resource allocation process is not driven by any overall national plan or strategy for achieving broad objectives, and the results or effectiveness of the budgeting process cannot be measured against such objectives. (C) The national security system tends to overemphasize traditional security threats and under emphasize emerging challenges.” PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III said, “It is very gratifying to see that PNSR’s findings are bolstering these legislative steps aimed at reforming national security. PNSR is poised to assist both the legislative and executive branches as they move forward with this effort.” Contact: media@pnsr.org Frances Hardin (703)387-7613 (o) (202)640-9387News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/162/interior.aspMon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON -- July 26 marks a signal event in U.S. history, the signing of the National Security Act by President Harry S. Truman in 1947. World War II had ended and as the Cold War was beginning, President Truman and his advisors began laying the foundation for a national security system. The 1947 act created the National Security Council to integrate the policies and procedures of the departments and agencies concerned with national security; established the precursor to the Department of Defense, unifying all military services under a single entity, and established, for the first time, a permanent peacetime intelligence capacity, the Central Intelligence Agency. The framers of the ’47 act were visionaries who anticipated the national requirements for a Cold War strategy. What they established was right for the time, but 62 years later, the national security system is not only showing its age, recent catastrophic events have shown that the system is broken and the nation at risk. Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has struggled to adjust to the 21st Century international security environment, characterized by complexity, uncertainty, and speed. The nature of this environment increasingly demands tight integration of national capabilities, yet the integrating mechanism remain weak and largely unchanged. As the Guiding Coalition of the Project on National Security Reform notes in PNSR’s landmark report, Forging a New Shield, “The legacy structures and processes of a national security system that is now more than 60 years old no longer help American leaders to formulate coherent national strategy. They do not enable them to integrate America’s hard and soft power to achieve policy goals. They prevent them from matching resources to objectives, and from planning rationally and effectively for future contingencies. As presently constituted, too, these structures and processes lack means to detect and remedy their own deficiencies.” As we mark the anniversary of the signing of the act that created the country’s national security system, PNSR calls attention to its recommendations for reforming the system (found at www.pnsr.org, see Forging A New Shield) which, if enacted, would institute a system that can manage and overcome the challenges of our times. The American people deserve nothing less.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/161/interior.aspSun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON -- PNSR is pleased to welcome Washington veteran Nancy Bearg as Senior Advisor. Ms. Bearg brings a wealth of expertise to PNSR with extensive high-level experience in foreign policy, defense, and economic development in the US government, Congress and the non-profit sector. She has worked on policy issues in multiple areas including conflict prevention, management, intervention, and post-conflict peace building; strategic and conventional forces; peacekeeping and humanitarian operations; refugees; United Nations; poverty and development; US-Muslim relations; and public diplomacy. Ms. Bearg’s distinguished career includes serving from 1981-1982 as Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs to then Vice-President George H.W. Bush – the first woman to do so – and Director for International Programs and Public Diplomacy on the National Security Council staff, 1989-1993. From 1978 to 1981, she worked in the Pentagon, first as Director of Policy Analysis for Near East, Africa, and South Asia, then as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower, Resources and Military Personnel. In an earlier legislative career, Ms. Bearg served as the first woman professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, 1971 -1975 and worked at the Congressional Budget Office. After leaving government, Ms. Bearg served as Director of the International Peace, Security and Prosperity Program at the Aspen Institute; as President and CEO of EnterpriseWorks/VITA, an international development non-profit organization; and as Senior Advisor at Search for Common Ground on a US-Muslim relations initiative. Ms. Bearg, who is currently writing a book on sabbaticals, is the author/editor of five books published by The Aspen Institute as well as earlier publications on tactical air forces, peacekeeping operations, and the Balkans. She is on the Advisory Board of the Alliance for Peacebuilding, is a longtime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and previously served on the executive board of Women in International Security (WIIS). She holds a BA from Willamette University in Oregon and a Masters in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In welcoming Ms. Bearg, PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III said, “Nancy’s impressive analytical skills, illustrious career and wide range of knowledge and diverse experience make her a valuable addition to PNSR. I am delighted to have her on board as PNSR works towards implementation of its recommendations for reforming the US national security system.”News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/159/interior.aspFri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON -- PNSR extends hearty congratulations to its colleague Roger Carstens whose TV program "The Wanted" debuted this week on NBC to rave reviews. Carstens, a former Green Beret, counterterrorism expert and authority on unconventional warfare, is one of three co-stars in the real-life espionage series that centers on manhunts. Carstens was a regular contributor to the PNSR blog site until he was approached by NBC to co-star in its reality-based series. Some of Carstens’ essays on aspects of national security may still be read on the PNSR blog site at www.pnsr.org. “The Wanted” was given a rave review by Washington Post critic Tom Shales who said that the show’s “. . . substance is strong and the overall effect is a highly charged knockout.” PNSR President and CEO James R. Locher III praised Carstens, saying that “Roger’s experience in counterterrorism and unconventional warfare – areas that came under my purview when I served as an assistant secretary of defense – help in conveying a strong sense to Americans of the very real threats to the national security. It is these threats that the Project on National Security Reform is working to diminish with its mission of national security reform.” -30- PNSR is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization – funded and supported by Congress – dedicated to the modernization and improvement of the U.S. national security system to better protect the American people against 21st century dangers. To that end, it is working for the recommendations of its report, Forging a New Shield, to become public policy and/or law, as applicable.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/158/interior.aspThu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- PNSR welcomes the amendment to the Defense Authorization Act offered by Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky) on the House floor on June 25. Mr. Davis’ amendment supports the development of a cadre of national security professionals across departments of the Federal government. One of PNSR’s central recommendations in its landmark report, Forging a New Shield, called for the establishment of a national security professional corps. PNSR is encouraged by Rep. Davis’ support for this concept and looks forward to continuing efforts to put these ideas into action. Rep. Davis cited the need to enhance national security by integrating the military and civilian elements of national power. He noted the current lack of a permanent, institutionalized system for developing required skills and experience and called on the White House to address the issue: “My amendment, simply put, would require the President to commission a study by an executive agency to develop national security professionals across departments of the Federal Government to provide skilled personnel for planning and conducting national security interagency operations. It is critical that we achieve a transformation in national security education, training and interagency experience to produce national security professionals who are able to work seamlessly together. By requiring the President to commission such a study on an interagency national security professionals program, my amendment lays the foundation for that transformation.” PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III said, “I am very pleased to see a major step taken to advance one of PNSR’s key recommendations – the development of a National Security Professional Corps. I salute Rep. Davis for this important amendment to the Defense Authorization Act.” -30- The Project on National Security Reform is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization –funded and supported by Congress – dedicated to the modernization and improvement of the U.S. national security system to better protect the American people against 21st century dangers. To that end, it is working for the recommendations of its report, Forging a New Shield, to become public policy and/or law, as applicable. Contact: media@pnsr.org Frances Hardin (703)387-7613 (o) (202)640-9387 (c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/156/interior.aspWed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) praises the Project on National Security Reform in its report accompanying the FY 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, passed June 25. The committee report applauds PNSR’s work and singles out its reform proposals to provide an overarching, interagency concept of operations and to create a civilian cadre of true national security professionals. The FY 2010 Defense Authorization Act authorizes crucial funding for United States servicemen and women and their families, as well as critical military construction and weapons systems. Regarding PNSR, the HASC report accompanying the act states: “The committee believes many of the PNSR’s recommendations have merit and wishes to call the Administration’s particular attention to those recommendations that suggest ways in which to: (1) Provide an overarching interagency concept of operations; and (2) Create a cadre of civilians that are truly ‘national security’ professionals.” Congratulating the HASC, James Locher III, executive director of PNSR, said, “The committee members, under the direction of Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO), have once again showed tremendous leadership in formulating this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. We are encouraged by the committee’s support for PNSR’s proposals and applaud their efforts on behalf of national security organizational reform.” PNSR is particularly supportive of the committee’s encouraging words for the National Security Professional Development (NSPD) program and the existence of an NSPD Integration Office. “The committee believes NSPD should be a priority for all agencies engaged in national security matters,” the report reads. -30- PNSR is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization –funded and supported by Congress – dedicated to the modernization and improvement of the U.S. national security system to better protect the American people against 21st century dangers. To that end, it is working for the recommendations of its report, Forging a New Shield, to become public policy and/or law, as applicable. Contact: media@pnsr.org Frances Hardin (703)387-7613 (o) (202)640-9387 (c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/155/interior.aspThu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) congratulates Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-CA) of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for his leadership in securing House passage of comprehensive legislation to strengthen U.S. foreign policy efforts. The full Congress has not enacted a foreign affairs authorization since the final months of fiscal year 2002. Foreign affairs authorization bills are essential for effective congressional oversight of the conduct of foreign affairs. The regular passage of such an authorization bill is a key recommendation of the Project on National Security Reform. The bill (HR 2410) would authorize programs for two years; fiscal 2010 and 2011. About $18 billion is authorized for fiscal 2010, an amount that matches the administration’s request. The bill includes language that reflects several recommendations found in PNSR’s report, Forging a New Shield, in the areas of strategic management, knowledge management and human capital. In particular, the bill would: • require the president to present a national security strategy for U.S. diplomacy and development every 4 years, similar to the Pentagon’s Quadrennial Defense Review. • require the establishment of a Lessons Learned Center (LLC) within the Department of State. The LLC would collect, analyze, archive and disseminate observations, practices and lessons learned by Foreign Service Officers and support personnel at Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The purpose is to increase, enhance and sustain the ability of the department and agency to fulfill their missions. • authorize the Secretary of State to add 1500 new Foreign Service officers (FSO) over the next two years. USAID would be authorized to hire 700 more members over the next two years as well. • provide for training in conflict mitigation and resolution as well as in how to proceed in unstable situations. Additionally, members of the Foreign Service would be able to obtain advanced education and training in academic and other institutions to improve the diplomatic corps’ ability to respond to modern challenges. The Senate Foreign Relations committee has not yet scheduled a markup of a comprehensive State Department authorization bill. News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/154/interior.aspThu, 18 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- PNSR extends hearty congratulations to Carlos Pascual on the announcement by President Obama of the intent to nominate him for the position of U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Mr. Pascual, a member of the Guiding Coalition of PNSR, is vice president and director of the Foreign Policy Program at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. Pascual was a career foreign service officer for 23 years. He served as the State Department’s Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization and prior to that as Coordinator for U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia. Pascual was also U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine from October 2000 until August 2003. He formerly served as a special assistant to President Clinton and National Security Council senior director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia. Upon confirmation, Mr. Pascual would be the sixth PNSR Guiding Coalition member to join the Obama administration. The others appointed by the President are Gen. James Jones (National Security Advisor), Adm. Dennis C. Blair (Director of National Intelligence), James Steinberg (Deputy Secretary of State), Michèle Flournoy (Under Secretary of Defense), and Ashton Carter (Under Secretary of Defense). Two former PNSR working group leaders have also joined the administration: Kathleen Hicks (Deputy Under Secretary of Defense) and Vikram Singh (Special Assistant, Dept. of Defense). Congratulating Mr. Pascual, PNSR Executive Director Jim Locher said, “Carlos Pascual contributed importantly to the work of the Project on National Security Reform. His intellect, former experience and expertise make Carlos an excellent choice as Ambassador to Mexico.” Contact media@pnsr.org Frances Hardin (o) (703) 387-7613 (c) (202) 679-6668News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/150/interior.aspTue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- PNSR today hails the intended nomination by President Obama of Brigadier General James B. Smith to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. James Smith is International Business Development Executive with Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems having previously served as Raytheon’s Vice President of Government Business and Vice President of Precision Engagement. Before joining Raytheon, Gen. Smith was director of Navy C2 systems with Lockheed Martin Mission Systems. As an Air Force officer, Gen. Smith served as deputy commander at the Joint Warfighting Center of the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Virginia, where he was responsible for managing the joint force exercise and training development program. His distinguished aviation career includes combat sorties during Desert Storm. He commanded the 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 325th Operations Group. He served as the CSAF chair at the National War College and as Vice Director of Operations for the North American Air Defense Command. Gen. Smith previously served as commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base in Japan. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in military history from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master’s degree in history from Indiana University. Gen. Smith is a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College, the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College. Congratulating General Smith, PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III said “General James Smith is a friend of the Project on National Security Reform, and we are pleased that President Obama has selected him for a key ambassadorial position. His wife, Janet Breslin-Smith, is a senior PNSR staff member, leading our efforts to bring about national security reform in Congress. “ CONTACT Frances Hardin (o) (703) 387-7613 (c) (202) 640-9387 Frances.hardin@pnsr.orgNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/149/interior.aspMon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- PNSR hails President Obama's decision to integrate fully the White House staff supporting national security and homeland security. This move, which closely parallels recommendations in PNSR’s landmark report, Forging a New Shield, eliminates an artificial division of the White House staff who deal with overlapping issues of national and homeland security. The president’s new policies particularly align with PNSR’s perspective that the current national system is imbalanced and inefficient. “These decisions reflect the fundamental truth that the challenges of the 21st Century are increasingly unconventional and transnational, and they demand a response that effectively integrates all aspects of American power,” said the statement by the president. PNSR is especially enthused to see President Obama address the artificial division of homeland security and national security. The president’s order calls for the full integration of White House Staff supporting national security and homeland security. PNSR Executive Director Jim Locher is available to journalists for interview or comment on President Obama’s changes to the White House. He is also a frequent public speaker on the subject of national security. Please see contact information above.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/148/interior.aspThu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON -- Thomas R. Pickering, former ambassador to the U.N. and member of the PNSR Guiding Coalition, will appear before the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia. The hearing, entitled National Security Reform: Implementing a National Security Service Workforce, will examine current national security professional development programs, and the challenges of creating and improving the current national security workforce. Thursday April 30, 2009, 2:30 p.m. Room 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building Ambassador Pickering will call for improving the national security workforce as an essential element for addressing the increasing and evolving threats of the 21st century. Pickering makes a series of proposals to improve the current workforce based on the Project’s report, Forging a New Shield. The recommendations envision a system in which workforce issues are thought about strategically, a common culture is developed, investment is made in the workforce, and strategic leadership is encouraged. The report’s recommendations, include: developing a National Security Human Capital Strategy and a accompanying implementation plan; creating a Human Capital Advisory Board to assist the President and National Security Council; enacting career planning processes and requiring national security professionals to fulfill rotational assignments; training and educational requirements; creating career professional development programs such as a national security fellowship; enacting and enhancing the National Security Education and Training Consortium; recruiting talent through tuition reimbursement and loan repayment plans; and building a personnel float to enable career development opportunities. -30- The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization working to modernize and improve the U.S. national security system to better protect the American people against 21st century dangers. Contact media@pnsr.org Jordan Smith (703) 387-7628 (o) (202) 569-0099 (c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/147/interior.aspWed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON-- National Security Advisor Jim Jones is making clear that it will not be business as usual for the national security system. In a recent memo and in a speech to the Munich Conference on Security Policy, General Jones announced his intention to lead a top-to-bottom transformation of the National Security Council to meet the realities of the new century. General Jones is calling for an end to stove-piping in order to make the interagency process strategic, agile, transparent, and predictable. The Project on National Security Reform is gratified by Jones’ goals, which closely parallel the recommendations contained in its report, Forging a New Shield. Jim Jones was a member of PNSR’s board at the time the report was being researched and written. In addition to Jones, several members of the Obama national security team were associated with PNSR as board members or in other key roles. In his March 18 memo, Jones notes that the United States is navigating an environment in which traditional organizations and means of response to global challenges may be inadequate or deficient. In order for the country to succeed, he calls for the cohesive integration of all elements of national power. PNSR applauds several initiatives in particular: Jones believes that a strategic process will ensure that all who should be heard will be heard and the emergence of premature policy consensus will be avoided. An agile system will enable the NSC to cope with multiple crises simultaneously. Transparency would make the council responsive to the views and perspectives of all NSC members. Finally, Jones emphasizes the importance of the strategic implementation of decisions in such a manner that concrete results are achieved within the agreed time. In his Munich speech, Jones urged reform upon the transatlantic alliance, saying that the world has changed but that the alliance has not yet changed with it. Echoing the changes he intends for the NSC, Jones called upon NATO to be less reactive and more proactive, less rigid and more flexible; less stationary and more expeditionary, and more -not less- essential to transatlantic collective security. PNSR Executive Director Jim Locher is available to journalists for interview or comment on the reform process now underway at the NSC. He is also a frequent public speaker on the subject of national security. Please see contact information above. -30- PNSR is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization –funded and supported by Congress – dedicated to the modernization and improvement of the U.S. national security system to better protect the American people against 21st century dangers. To that end, it is working for the recommendations of its report, Forging a New Shield, to become public policy and/or law, as applicable. Contact Frances Hardin (703)387-7613 (o) (202)640-9387 (c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/146/interior.aspFri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMTCarter served as a PNSR Guiding Coalition member until joining the Obama-Biden Transition Team in November. He is a professor of science and international affairs at Harvard University’s School of Government. He served as assistant secretary of defense for international security policy from 1993 to 1996 in the Clinton Administration. He also served on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Countering Terrorism and advised on the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. In response to Carter’s nomination, PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III issued the following statement: “Ash Carter is incredibly talented on a wide range of defense issues, including acquisition matters. Given the Obama Administration’s determination to fix serious problems in the defense acquisition system, Ash Carter is a wise choice for this assignment. PNSR was indeed fortunate to have Ash Carter as a member of its Guiding Coalition.” In addition, former PNSR Working Group Leader for Processes Kathleen Hicks has been appointed Deputy Under Secretary of Defense in charge of planning, strategy and force development. Of the Hicks appointment, Locher said, “Kath Hicks contributed to PNSR’s analytic efforts for more than two years. Her knowledge of the policy, strategy, planning, execution, and assessment processes was invaluable to our work.” Carter and Hicks join four other PNSR alumni with extensive government experience and supportive of the need to overhaul the U.S. national security system tapped to serve in the Obama Administration. The others are: General James L. Jones as National Security Advisor, Admiral Dennis C. Blair for Director of National Intelligence, Michèle Flournoy as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and James B. Steinberg as Deputy Secretary of State. “These six PNSR alumni understand the organizational problems that are plaguing the national security system and what needs to be done to fix them. PNSR looks forward to providing assistance to their efforts,” Locher said. “ The other members of the Guiding Coalition and the entire PNSR community congratulate Ash Carter, Jim Jones, Denny Blair, Jim Steinberg and Michèle Flournoy and Kath Hicks on their selections for these important positions.”News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/145/interior.aspWed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC-- PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III testified Thursday February 12 before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in a hearing on “Structuring National Security and Homeland Security at the White House.” At issue is a proposal to merge the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council. Locher spoke in favor of PNSR’s recommendation to combine the the two councils into one entity, to be called the President’s Security Council. Locher appeared with former HSC Secretary Thomas Ridge, Former Assistant to President George W. Bush for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Frances Fragos Townsend, and Christine Wormuth, a senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. On the potential for merging, Committee Chairman Senator Joseph Lieberman, ID-Conn., said, “I have one clear bottom line – that whatever structure emerges, it is essential that homeland security policy issues are given sufficient staff, resources, and attention within the White House and that a process exists to effectively coordinate them. I look forward to engaging with the Administration on this matter in the coming months.” Locher’s oral and written statements before Lieberman and the rest of the HSGAC appear below. Testimony from Ridge, Townsend, and Wormuth can be found here . Download or view James R. Locher III's written statement here Oral Statement Chairman Lieberman, Senator Collins, Committee Members, thank you for inviting me to discuss the organization for national security and homeland security in the White House and across the federal government. Most fundamentally, I believe that drawing a bright line between national security and homeland security – as current arrangements do -- is a mistake. The nation would be better served by merging the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council into a single council, but with safeguards to ensure that homeland security issues are not lost in a unified system. This hearing addresses a key issue: How should the highest level of the U.S. Government be organized to protect the nation’s security? It is important, Mr. Chairman, to put this specific issue into a much larger context. The overall national security system -- including its national security and homeland security components – is broken. About the seriousness of our organizational problems, the Project on National Security Reform’s Guiding Coalition, made up of twenty-two distinguished Americans, stated in its November report: “We…affirm unanimously that the national security of the United States of America is fundamentally at risk.” The basic problem is the misalignment of the national security system with 21st century challenges. Today’s threats require a tight integration of departmental expertise and capabilities. We need highly effective teams that stretch horizontally across departmental boundaries. Our government, however, is dominated by rigid, bureaucratic, competitive, vertically-oriented departments and agencies. In sum, we have horizontal problems and a vertical organization. This misalignment results from a gross imbalance. We have powerful departments and agencies while our integrating mechanisms – the National Security Council and Homeland Security Council and their staffs – are weak. Missing are robust mechanisms capable of producing tight, effective integration. This imbalance was a design flaw of the National Security Act of 1947. This flaw was carried forward into the Homeland Security Council which was modeled on the 60-year-old National Security Council. In recent years, there has been compelling evidence of the inadequacy of current arrangements: the terrorist attacks of 9/11, troubled stability operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and poor response to Hurricane Katrina. These setbacks are not coincidental; they evidence our organizational dysfunction. Bold transformation of the national security system must happen. Otherwise, we will suffer repeated setbacks, wasted resources, and declining American power and influence. Among the early reform topics to address is the issue of this hearing -- how to organize our integrating mechanisms. In response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, we bifurcated national security into two major components: national security and homeland security. This bifurcation served the important function of jump starting our attention to many long neglected tasks in protecting the American homeland. Although additional improvements are needed, we have succeeded in elevating these tasks to an appropriate level of attention. The basic question now becomes: does this bifurcation at the very top of the government serve our needs in handling the increasingly complex and rapidly changing security environment of the 21st century? The answer is no. Dividing out security components at the water’s edge is artificial and creates an organizational barrier, gaps, and seams that weaken our overall security posture. The security challenges that the United States faces must be viewed in the context of one global system. National security and homeland security are subsystems of the larger global system. But the overarching organizing principle for the U.S. national security system must be the global system. We must assess this system as a whole and understand it in the global security environment. Decisions on our policy, strategy, planning, development of capabilities, and execution will maximize our security when they are taken in an integrated, system-wide context, not when they are artificially subdivided. Moreover, by having separate national security and homeland security councils, we force the president to integrate across this divide. He does not have the time or capacity to do so. This past week, General Jim Jones, President Obama’s national security advisor, discussed the major changes that the president and he intend to make at the top of the national security system. In an interview in the Washington Post this past Sunday and a speech on the same day in Munich, General Jones stated that the National Security Council would expand its membership and have increased authority to set strategy across a wide spectrum of international and domestic issues. In essence, many if not all of the functions of the Homeland Security Council may be subsumed into the National Security Council. At the same time, General Jones has asked John Brennan to do a sixty day review to ensure homeland security issues will receive appropriate attention in a merged council. The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) agrees fully with the changes that General Jones outlined. Our own recommendations parallel the direction that President Obama and General Jones have set. This convergence is not surprising. General Jones served on PNSR’s Guiding Coalition, as did other Obama appointees – Admiral Denny Blair, Jim Steinberg, and Michèle Flournoy. Merging the NSC and the HSC is a critical step towards building a more coherent and unified approach to national security – in the broadest sense of the term. Though I believe that a merger is a necessity, it must be undertaken with safeguards that will ensure homeland security issues remain at the forefront of national security affairs. Merging the NSC and the HSC must be done in a way that ensures that homeland security issues receive the focus and resources they deserve. As this committee approaches this issue, it has two hats to wear. The first hat is as the Senate’s overseer of the homeland security function. The second hat – focused on government affairs – ranks more important in examining this issue. To make a wise decision on this organizational question, we must take a whole-of-government perspective focused on the global system. Doing so reveals the value of the new direction that the Obama Administration intends to pursue. This committee worked hard to create the Department of Homeland Security and to guarantee in law a functioning Homeland Security Council. The idea of merging the HSC with the NSC is intended to preserve and enhance the key roles of both councils through integration, not subordination. And since the details of the integration are still under study by the new administration, I trust that this committee's views can help shape the final arrangements. I believe that you should view integration as an opportunity for preserving high-level focus on homeland security issues, not as a threat to that vital function. Mr. Chairman, Senator Collins, and Committee Members, thank you for the opportunity to testify on this important issue. I look forward to answering any questions you may have.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/143/interior.aspThu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTAmericans should applaud the bold changes that President Barack Obama and General James L. Jones are bringing to the National Security Council, said PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III. In response to a Feb. 8 Washington Post article “Obama’s NSC Will Get New Power, Locher issued the following statement: “The Obama Administration and General Jones understand that the national security system is outmoded at best, and at worst, puts the nation at risk. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the troubled operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as the inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina, show that the current system is failing badly. We should not wait for another catastrophic event to take place on American soil before recognizing the extent of the system’s flaws. We must approach the national security challenges of the future with a renewed sense of urgency. Too often, our unity of purpose has been clouded by competing departmental interests, leaving our security entirely on the ability of national leaders to overcome bureaucratic wrangling. The administration’s decisions provide encouraging evidence that the newly assembled national security team will marshal all the instruments of national power and work as one with a singular vision and purpose. General Jones’ new direction is both visionary and pragmatic. Breaking away from the norm is essential to freeing ourselves from the confines of the old, broken system. But it will take more than one man to reform the national security system. Congress must pass a new National Security Act to replace the obsolete legislation created in 1947. Still, for now, Americans can take solace that General Jones, one of its top leaders, has taken that first step.” Contact media@pnsr.org Frances Hardin (703) 387-7613 (o) (202) 640-9387 (c) Judith Evans (703) 387-7610 (o) (202) 679-6668 (c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/141/interior.aspMon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTThe Center for Biosecurity endorses the conclusions and recommendations of Forging a New Shield, a report from the Project on National Security Reform. Without question, the “. . . national security structures designed in 1947, and incrementally tweaked ever since, arose and evolved in response to a singular, unambiguous threat to the United States and its constitutional order that was expressed principally in military terms . . . ” [page ii, Executive Summary] are not the structures required for the national security challenges of the 21st century. While it is never easy to implement large-scale changes in government, today’s challenges demand bold actions. The recommendations in this report came from a coalition of more than 300 national security experts from think tanks, universities, federal agencies, law firms, and corporations. This eclectic team was led by a 22-member Guiding Coalition, including General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret) the National Security Advisor designee. From the UPMC website: http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/commentary/2009-01-07-endorseforgingnew%20shield.htmlNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/142/interior.aspMon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, D.C.-- PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III applauds the analysis and recommendations in the Defense Department's Quadrennial Roles and Missions Review Report. He is encouraged that the Defense Department has affirmed several key themes and recommendations illustrated by the Project on National Security Reform’s recently released report entitled, Forging a New Shield. The DOD report adds strength to a growing chorus of government leaders, think tanks, and academics calling for a new integrative and collaborative approach to securing our nation. Both the Project’s report and DOD’s report recognize the urgent need for strategic planning and guidance at the national level. The Project has recommended National Security Planning Guidance to be issued annually by the President. Likewise, the DOD report urges “a whole-of-government strategic planning document that outlines national objectives, priorities and specific actions for improving interagency coordination and operational planning.” Additionally, the Project’s report identified the need for new funding, budgetary, and oversight processes that account not only for departmental capabilities, but national missions and outcomes. The DOD report similarly finds that, “Funding and authorities dedicated solely to individual agencies may not be sufficient to ensure that the activities of multiple agencies are fully integrated and that all seam issues between organizations are addressed.” Locher was encouraged by the release of the DOD report. “With the release of the QRM, Secretary Gates has again demonstrated leadership that transcends parochial interests for the sake of national interests,” said Locher. He added the U.S. needs more visionaries, willing to pursue a new national security system that is aligned with the modern security environment. “Our country is wearing concrete shoes in a security environment that demands speed and agility,” said Locher. “The need for fundamental reform is urgent and the consequences of inaction are dire.” The Project has gained the attention of many Washington insiders as several members of the PNSR Guiding Coalition members were recently appointed to senior positions in the Obama Administration, including National Security Advisor General Jim Jones and Director of National Intelligence Admiral Denny Blair. James Locher is available for interviews to discuss the PNSR recommendations. PNSR is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization funded by Congress, foundations and corporations to carry out a comprehensive examination of the U.S. national security system. For more information, visit www.pnsr.org Contact media@pnsr.org Frances Hardin (703) 387-7613 (o) (202) 640-9387 (c) Judith Evans (703) 387-7610 (o) (202) 679-6668 (c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/144/interior.aspWed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMTThree other former Guiding Coalition members also selected to serve in Obama Administration WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) today congratulates former Guiding Coalition member James B. Steinberg on his confirmation as Deputy Secretary of State. Steinberg, who served as a deputy national security advisor to President Bill Clinton, had most recently served as dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. He is the fourth member of PNSR’s Guiding Coalition to be selected to serve on President Barack Obama’s national security team. PNSR also praises the earlier selections of General James L. Jones as National Security Advisor, Admiral Dennis C. Blair for Director of National Intelligence and Michèle Flournoy to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. In response to Steinberg’s confirmation, PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III issued the following statement: “Jim Steinberg possesses incredible policy formulation skills. To the Project on National Security Reform, he brought his vast experience and expertise from his time on Capitol Hill, his early service in the State Department, and his assignment as deputy national security adviser. Jim is well-versed in the foreign policy challenges of the 21st Century, the need for strengthening the State Department, and the urgent requirement to establish effective mechanisms for integrating the expertise and capabilities of all national security departments and agencies.” In selecting General Jim Jones as National Security Adviser and Admiral Denny Blair as Director of National Intelligence, President-elect Barack Obama has added two highly capable, experienced leaders to his national security team. Jones and Blair distinguished themselves in challenging leadership assignments throughout their varied national security careers. They bring the right mixture of leadership, experience, and knowledge to confront the complex threats of the 21st Century. “PNSR has recommended that the National Security Adviser position be transformed into a National Security Manager. The president needs a principal national security assistant who is much more than just an adviser. The top assistant must help produce unity of purpose and unity of effort and ensure that the national security system is decisive, agile, and fast. General Jones would excel in this new role. “Admiral Blair is extremely well prepared to lead the intelligence community. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is still under development, and Denny Blair understands the organizational changes that are required. As his career has demonstrated, he has the leadership skills to bring about these changes and integrate the expertise and capabilities of the sixteen intelligence components. “Michèle Flournoy is an outstanding selection for the Defense Department where she had previously served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and threat reduction. She is well-grounded and highly effective in policy formulation and implementation, and represents another superb selection by the incoming administration. “The other members of the Guiding Coalition and the entire PNSR community congratulate Jim Jones, Denny Blair, Jim Steinberg and Michèle Flournoy on their selections for these important positions.”News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/140/interior.aspFri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMTWASHINGTON, DC-- The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) today hailed the selection by President-elect Barack Obama of PNSR Guiding Coalition members Admiral Dennis C. Blair for Director of National Intelligence and Michèle Flournoy to Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. PNSR also congratulates General James L. Jones on his earlier selection as the National Security Adviser. In response, PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III issued the following statement: “In selecting General Jim Jones as National Security Adviser and Admiral Denny Blair as Director of National Intelligence, President-elect Barack Obama has added two highly capable, experienced leaders to his national security team. Jones and Blair have distinguished themselves in challenging leadership assignments throughout their varied national security careers. They bring the right mixture of leadership, experience, and knowledge to confront the complex threats of the 21st Century. “PNSR has recommended that the National Security Adviser position be transformed into a National Security Manager. The president needs a principal national security assistant who is much more than just an adviser. The top assistant must help produce unity of purpose and unity of effort and ensure that the national security system is decisive, agile, and fast. General Jones would excel in this new role. “Admiral Blair is extremely well prepared to lead the intelligence community. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is still under development, and Denny Blair understands the organizational changes that are required. As his career has demonstrated, he has the leadership skills to bring about these changes and integrate the expertise and capabilities of the sixteen intelligence components. “Michèle Flournoy is an outstanding selection for the Defense Department where she had previously served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and threat reduction. She is well-grounded and highly effective in policy formulation and implementation, and represents another superb selection by the incoming administration. “The other members of the Guiding Coalition and the entire PNSR community congratulate Jim Jones, Denny Blair and Michèle Flournoy on their selections for these important positions.” ### CONTACT media@pnsr.org Frances Hardin (703) 387-7613 (o) (202) 640-9387 (c) Judith Evans (703) 387-7610 (o) (202) 679-6668 (c) www.pnsr.orgNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/138/interior.aspFri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMTWatch Jim Locher's introduction here Watch Admiral Dennis C. Blair's presentation here Download the full report here Download only the executive summary here Watch Executive Director James R. Locher III and Deputy Executive Director Adm. Dennis C. Blair discuss the release of Forging A New Shield, PNSR's recommendations to overhaul the U.S. national security system, during a press conference held at the National Press Club December 3, 2008. Press Release for the Event: WASHINGTON-- The national security system must be massively reorganized if federal agencies are to cooperate and collaborate more effectively to combat the multitude of threats facing the U.S. in the 21st century, according to recommendations released today by the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR). The PNSR recommendations outlined in Forging A New Shield would replace a national security system created 60 years ago, that despite many marginal attempts to reform, often discourages agencies from working together on joint assignments and policy implementation to respond to crises and effectively manage national security affairs. The recommendations comprise a broad set of mandates to improve the national security system by streamlining integrated strategy and policy among agencies and programs, improving coordination with a newly established network for sharing information, providing better job training for employees and consolidating Congressional oversight, the report says. Among the PNSR’s key recommendations are: • Establishing a President’s Security Council to replace the National Security Council and Homeland Security. • Creating an empowered Director for National Security in the Executive Office of the President. • Initiating the process of shifting highly collaborative, mission-focused interagency teams for priority issues. • Mandating annual National Security Planning Guidance and an integrated national security budget. • Building an interagency personnel system, including a National Security Professional Corps. • Establishing a Chief Knowledge Officer in the PSC Executive Secretariat to ensure that the national security system as a whole can develop, store,retrieve and share knowledge. • Forming Select Committees on National Security in the Senate and House of Representatives. “To respond effectively and efficiently to the complex, rapidly changing threats and challenges of the 21st century security environment requires tight integration of the expertise and capabilities of many diverse departments and agencies,” says PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III. “Current organizational arrangements provide only weak mechanism for such integration.” PNSR’s Locher presented the recommendations today during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The 800-page report culminates two years of study in which more than 300 national security experts identified the problems within the system, and produced more than 100 case studies to document the research and analysis. Since the passage of the National Security Act in 1947, the world has changed dramatically from the single Cold War threat to a multitude of diverse challenges – ranging from rogue regimes to terrorists to transnational criminals. The terrorist attacks of 9/11, troubled stability operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina provide compelling evidence of the inadequacy of the current system. Twenty-two members of the PNSR Guiding Coalition, which includes former senior federal officials with extensive national security experience, unanimously agreed that the U.S. national security system needs reform. Joining Locher at the conference were Guiding Coalition members former U.S. Pacific Commander-in-Chief Dennis G. Blair, former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Admiral James M. Loy, former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John McLaughlin and former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Thomas Pickering. “The focus must shift to national missions and outcomes,” says Admiral James M. Loy, former deputy secretary of Homeland Security. “This will require strategic direction to produce unity of purpose and more collaboration to achieve unity of effort.” Through its research and analysis, PNSR has determined the following problems with the current system: • The system is grossly imbalanced, favoring strong departmental capabilities at the expense of integrating mechanism. • Executive Branch department and agencies are shaped by their narrowly defined core mandates rather than by the requisites of broader national missions. • The need for presidential integration to compensate for the systematic inability to integrate or resource missions overly centralizes issues management and overburdens the White House. • A burdened White House cannot manage the national security system as a whole to be agile and collaborative at any time, but it is particularly vulnerable to breakdown during protracted transition periods between administrations. • Congress provides resources and conducts oversight in ways that reinforce all these problems and make improving performance extremely difficult. CONTACT media@pnsr.org Judith Evans (703) 387-7610 (o) (202) 679-6668 (c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/137/interior.aspTue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMTDownload the full report here Download only the Executive Summary here WASHINGTON-- The national security system must be massively reorganized if federal agencies are to cooperate and collaborate more effectively to combat the multitude of threats facing the U.S. in the 21st century, according to recommendations released today by the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR). The PNSR recommendations outlined in Forging A New Shield would replace a national security system created 60 years ago, that despite many marginal attempts to reform, often discourages agencies from working together on joint assignments and policy implementation to respond to crises and effectively manage national security affairs. The recommendations comprise a broad set of mandates to improve the national security system by streamlining integrated strategy and policy among agencies and programs, improving coordination with a newly established network for sharing information, providing better job training for employees and consolidating Congressional oversight, the report says. Among the PNSR’s key recommendations are: • Establishing a President’s Security Council to replace the National Security Council and Homeland Security. • Creating an empowered Director for National Security in the Executive Office of the President. • Initiating the process of shifting highly collaborative, mission-focused interagency teams for priority issues. • Mandating annual National Security Planning Guidance and an integrated national security budget. • Building an interagency personnel system, including a National Security Professional Corps. • Establishing a Chief Knowledge Officer in the PSC Executive Secretariat to ensure that the national security system as a whole can develop, store,retrieve and share knowledge. • Forming Select Committees on National Security in the Senate and House of Representatives. “To respond effectively and efficiently to the complex, rapidly changing threats and challenges of the 21st century security environment requires tight integration of the expertise and capabilities of many diverse departments and agencies,” says PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III. “Current organizational arrangements provide only weak mechanism for such integration.” PNSR’s Locher presented the recommendations today during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The 800-page report culminates two years of study in which more than 300 national security experts identified the problems within the system, and produced more than 100 case studies to document the research and analysis. Since the passage of the National Security Act in 1947, the world has changed dramatically from the single Cold War threat to a multitude of diverse challenges – ranging from rogue regimes to terrorists to transnational criminals. The terrorist attacks of 9/11, troubled stability operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina provide compelling evidence of the inadequacy of the current system. Twenty-two members of the PNSR Guiding Coalition, which includes former senior federal officials with extensive national security experience, unanimously agreed that the U.S. national security system needs reform. Joining Locher at the conference were Guiding Coalition members former U.S. Pacific Commander-in-Chief Dennis G. Blair, former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Admiral James M. Loy, former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John McLaughlin and former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Thomas Pickering. “The focus must shift to national missions and outcomes,” says Admiral James M. Loy, former deputy secretary of Homeland Security. “This will require strategic direction to produce unity of purpose and more collaboration to achieve unity of effort.” Through its research and analysis, PNSR has determined the following problems with the current system: • The system is grossly imbalanced, favoring strong departmental capabilities at the expense of integrating mechanism. • Executive Branch department and agencies are shaped by their narrowly defined core mandates rather than by the requisites of broader national missions. • The need for presidential integration to compensate for the systematic inability to integrate or resource missions overly centralizes issues management and overburdens the White House. • A burdened White House cannot manage the national security system as a whole to be agile and collaborative at any time, but it is particularly vulnerable to breakdown during protracted transition periods between administrations. • Congress provides resources and conducts oversight in ways that reinforce all these problems and make improving performance extremely difficult. CONTACT media@pnsr.org Judith Evans (703) 387-7610 (o) (202) 679-6668 (c)News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/136/interior.aspWed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMTThe National Security Council: A Legal History of the President's Most Powerful Advisers By Cody M. Brown Washington, D.C., Nov. 26, 2008 – As the world becomes increasingly complex and interconnected, the role of the National Security Council has evolved into a potent instrument for the President to bring all parts of the federal government together to tackle international and domestic security crises facing America. In “The National Security Council: A Legal History of the President’s Most Powerful Advisers,” published by the Project on National Security Reform, author Cody Brown examines for the first time how Presidents have used legal instruments to determine the form and influence of the NSC since its creation 60 years ago. Congress established a broad statutory framework for the NSC in the National Security Act of 1947. Although Congress has amended the statute several times, including in 2007 to add the Secretary of Energy as a member, Congress has left unchanged the basic functions of the NSC. “Over time, it is clear that the NSC has evolved from a limited advisory council to a vast network of interagency groups that are deeply involved in integrating national security policy development, oversight of implementation, and crisis management,” writes Brown, PNSR’s Chief of Legal Research. “This evolution has not been the result of congressional action, but rather presidential determination, rooted in increasingly complex tasks of managing and optimizing U.S. national security.” Brown will discuss his book as part of a conference, “The National Security Council: Insights and Recommendations for the President-Elect,” to be held by PNSR on Monday, Dec. 1 at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. The event also will include a panel discussion with Chris Shoemaker and Alan G. Whittaker on the role of the NSC in the 21st Century. Shoemaker is a former NSC staff member for Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and author of “The NSC Staff: Counseling the Council.” Whittaker is the Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs for the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University and author of an annual review of the NSC and interagency system. In his book, Brown sketches historical themes and offers insights about the NSC since World War II, asserting that presidents have shaped the formal NSC system through presidential directives, executive orders and reorganization plans. “These legal instruments generally have the force of law if issued pursuant to legitimate constitutional or statutory authority,” he writes. “…Directives have been, and continue to be, most instrumental in shaping the substructures and processes of the NSC. Directives are often classified, and unlike executive orders, are unpublished.” From Harry Truman to George W. Bush, presidents have wrestled with creating the optimal internal conditions, substructures and procedures for developing and implementing national security policy through the NSC, Brown writes. Just in the past two decades, presidential administrations enacted significant changes that set a new modern standard for the NSC. George H.W. Bush brought stability to the system. Bill Clinton achieved continuity between administrations and deliberately integrated economic policy with national security policy. George W. Bush elevated domestic security to a national level with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. “Each president has made an independent determination of the type of NSC that would best serve the nation,” Brown writes, “with some arrangements proving more advantageous than others, but each with its own unique qualities.” PNSR comprises a 23-member Guiding Coalition that includes former senior federal officials with extensive national security experience. The project is a nonpartisan and non profit organization . ###News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/133/interior.aspTue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMTEffective November 18th, PNSR has moved its offices to: 4075 Wilson Boulevard, Ninth Floor Arlington, VA 22203 703-387-7600 Please update your information to reflect this change. Thank you. News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/131/interior.aspTue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMTFormer National Security Advisor to Presidents George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford, and PNSR Guiding Coalition member, General Brent Scowcroft discusses what issues he sees as needing attention in reforming America's national security Policy. Watch HereNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/130/interior.aspMon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMTVideo of Richard Weitz of the Hudson Institute discussing his study on Managing U.S.-China relations at the PNSR Case Studies Conference,has been added to the PNSR website.The conference was held at the Hudson Institute, September 29th, 2008, Watch hereNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/129/interior.aspMon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMTFormer NCIX Director Michele Van Cleave's address to PNSR's Case Studies Vol. 1 release conference September 29th, 2008 at the Hundson Institute. Van Cleave discusses the challenges she faced in her position, as well as how to move forward in resolving them. Watch the four parts hereNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/128/interior.aspMon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMTNew Video of Jim Locher and John McLaughlin's presentations at the intruduction of PNSR's Case Studies Vol. 1 publication, held at the Hudson Institute, September 29, 2008. Watch Here Downloads: Jim Locher Video John McLaughlin VideoNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/127/interior.aspWed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMTNorman Augustine, retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin, discusses the need for national security reform. Download here.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/125/interior.aspMon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMTMichelle Van Cleave discusses her role as former National Counterintelligence Executive. News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/126/interior.aspSun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMTFeaturing Former Director of Central Intelligence John McLaughlin and former National Counterrorism Executive Michelle Van Cleave. News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/124/interior.aspMon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT NEWS RELEASE DOWNLOAD CASE STUDIES CONTACT media@pnsr.org Judith Evans (202) 373-6653 (o) (202) 679-6668 (c) STUDY FINDS INTERAGENCY GAPS HURT U.S. COUNTERINTELLIGENCE EFORTS WASHINGTON –The Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX) has failed to get federal agencies to work together to implement a proactive U.S. strategy to combat foreign intelligence threats because it was never given the necessary authority or responsibility, according to the former head of the office. Michelle Van Cleave writes in a study issued today that the NCIX was given the mission – but not the power – to unite U.S. counterintelligence operations divided among the FBI, CIA, Army, Navy and Air Force. She says there is no formal strategic program to defeat foreign intelligence threats because the leadership of the historically independent counterintelligence agencies largely ignored NCIX guidance and strategic direction. Van Cleave’s study, prepared for the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR), is her first public comment about the difficulties she faced as the nation’s first statutory head of counterintelligence from 2003 to 2006. She was appointed by President George W. Bush. “The statutory intent (of Congress in creating the NCIX) has been frustrated at every turn,” Van Cleave writes in the study. “Strategic integration takes a back seat to individual agency priorities. National leadership exists in name only. Across the government, our CI (counterintelligence) capabilities are in decay. We seemingly cannot get ahead of the cycle of losing talent. And the potential costs of failure are profound.” Van Cleave presented her study today as part of a conference held by PNSR at the Hudson Institute to highlight the release of PNSR’s first volume of case studies documenting problems in America’s national security system. A study on U.S.-China relations was also presented at the conference, which was called “Making a Case for Restructuring U.S. National Security in the 21st Century.” PNSR is directed by a 25-member Guiding Coalition that includes former senior federal officials with extensive national security experience. The project is located within the Center for the Study of the Presidency, a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization. “We’ve conducted more than 100 case studies to give us a foundation of research for our analysis and findings,” said PNSR Executive Director James R. Locher III. “This has enabled us to produce the most comprehensive evaluation of America’s national security system in more than 60 years.” Former Deputy Director of Central Intelligence John McLaughlin, who is a member of the Guiding Coalition, joined Locher at the conference today to discuss PNSR’s Preliminary Findings Report issued in July. Locher also discussed PNSR’s plans to issue a second report later this year making recommendations to Congress and the next president to update America’s national security system. PNSR’s first report says the National Security Act of 1947 is outdated and needs a massive restructuring. The report points out that it is important for U.S. government agencies to be able to work together across bureaucratic lines to meet today’s national security challenges. CHINA STUDY Richard Weitz, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and director of the PNSR Case Study Working Group, also spoke at the conference to discuss his case study “Managing U.S. China Crises.” The study examines how the need for national security reform extends to the U.S. government’s relations with the People’s Republic of China. It analyzes three U.S.-China crises that occurred under different presidential administrations and shows that well-integrated strategies were often hard to implement within the bureaucracy of the U.S. government. The crises Weitz discusses involve: the Chinese military’s decision to use force to suppress unarmed student demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in 1989 (during the administration of President George H.W. Bush); the 1999 bombing by U.S. aircraft of China’s embassy in Belgrade during the Kosovo War (during the administration of President Bill Clinton); and the 2001 collision between an American EP-3 surveillance plane and a Chinese fighter aircraft off China’s coast (during the administration of President George W. Bush). Weitz notes that patterns emerged as each presidential administration dealt with China crises. “Absent close presidential attention, the [U.S.] agencies would often develop and pursue their own China policies, contributing to undesirable policy incoherence,’’ Weitz writes. “Serious problems arose when the crisis occurred early in a presidential transition since the new administrations had yet to establish fully functioning interagency processes or secure Senate approval of many mid-level political appointees.” Weitz adds that “the main achievement of the U.S. government response to all the crises involved costs avoided – normally not a major accomplishment, but important here, when mismanaging events could have escalated into nuclear war.” NCIX STUDY In her study of the NCIX, Van Cleave said the office was created as an independent agency that reported directly to the president, but was absorbed into the newly created Office of the Director of National Intelligence in 2005. Initially a supporter of the merger, Van Cleave soon concluded that the DNI office had become part of the problem. She expected that the DNI would delegate his counterintelligence responsibilities to the NCIX. Instead, DNI deputies were given control of the counterintelligence budget, along with authority for tasking counterintelligence collection and analysis. The result was that the NCIX was swallowed into the DNI bureaucracy, writes Van Cleave, and became just another bureaucratic layer rather than the unifying leader that Congress had intended. The NCIX office then became further estranged from the president’s national security team – particularly after Congress gave the DNI the authority to appoint the NCIX. “Instead of protecting this careful consolidation of national leadership when the NCIX was brought under the new DNI, the old model of functional divides, with its old problems, resurfaced,” Van Cleave writes. The NCIX received little support from counterintelligence managers during the development of the first national strategy because agencies were reluctant to embrace a national strategy over their own internal priorities, according to Van Cleave. The FBI, for example, which gets the lion’s share of U.S. counterintelligence funding and is the lead counterintelligence agency for the government, unilaterally withdrew most of its employees from the NCIX office, Van Cleave writes. In addition, the FBI issued its own national strategy for counterintelligence two months after the NCIX’s presidentially approved strategy was issued. In another instance, the NCIX asked each counterintelligence agency to align its programs and resource allocations against the new national strategic counterintelligence objectives. “Miraculously, all existing departments and agency CI plans, programs and budgets matched perfectly to the new national strategic priorities,” Van Cleave writes. “No real changes were needed. No new starts. No hard choices. Unbelievable. Literally, unbelievable.” Van Cleave writes that the NCIX had no authority to bring counterintelligence activities at other agencies within compliance. The NCIX legislation created a national executive to provide strategic focus, but not the means to execute a strategic program. “In having the high honor of leading that community, I came to understand the true potential for counterintelligence as a strategic instrument of statecraft,” Van Cleave writes. “I also saw the terrible costs of legacy practices that divide rather than unite our community, to the detriment of our common mission.” Among the recommendations Van Cleave suggests for the NCIX: • The NCIX should be empowered by the DNI to manage a clearly defined strategic counterintelligence program to defeat high priority foreign intelligence threats, and assigned the necessary resources, authorities and accountability to do that job. • Counterintelligence operations should remain with their agencies, but those agencies should be directed by law or presidential order to support the national strategy and the strategic counterintelligence program. • An elite national counterintelligence strategic operations center should be established, staffed and empowered by the constituent members of the counterintelligence community. The center would integrate counterintelligence activities across the government to identify, assess, and defeat foreign intelligence threats to the United States and its vital interests. The DNI and the NCIX could supply additional insights and options for policymakers to achieve national security objectives and translate their priorities into a strategic counterintelligence effort. • National security leadership needs to be educated about the place of counterintelligence in national strategy, to bridge the gap between the national security decision making process and the work of U.S. counterintelligence. ##News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/122/interior.aspMon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMTPNSR Newsletter: Conference Sept. 29, new blog, new Guiding Coalition members.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/115/interior.aspWed, 24 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMTMichele Flournoy, a member of the PNSR Guiding Coalition and president and co-founder of Center for a New American Security, discusses the need for for structuring the U.S. national security system.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/114/interior.aspFri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMTThomas R. Pickering, a member of the PNSR Guiding Coalition and vice chairman of Hills & Co., discusses the need for restructuring the U.S. national security system.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/113/interior.aspMon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT CONTACT NEWS media@pnsr.org ADVISORY David Egner Frances Hardin 202-373-6287 (o) 202-373-6244 (o) 202-631-3655 (c) 202-640-9387 (c) FOR RELEASE Monday Aug. 25, 2008 PROJECT ON NATIONAL SECURITY REFORM PARTICIPATES IN DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN CONVENTIONS, SPONSORS PANEL DISCUSSION SEPT. 4 IN ST. PAUL Representatives of the nonpartisan Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) are meeting with delegates and representatives of the presidential candidates at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions to discuss the need to overhaul the U.S. national security system. PNSR’s recently issued Preliminary Findings Report says that the national security system created in 1947 is outdated and needs a massive restructuring to better protect the American people from terrorism, rogue states and other 21st century dangers. A news release on the report and the report itself can be found at http://www.pnsr.org/web/module/press/pressID/106/interior.asp PNSR Director of Political and Legal Affairs Job C. Henning and Congressional Liaison Steven J. Nider arrived at the Democratic Convention in Denver on Monday to begin discussions of PNSR’s findings with delegates and the Obama campaign. Henning and Nider are available for media interviews by contacting the PNSR Public Affairs Office at the numbers and e-mail address at the top of this advisory. Henning and Nider will conduct similar meetings at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., next week. They will also host a panel discussion with U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) and Hudson Institute CEO and PNSR Guiding Coalition member Ken Weinstein for delegates and others on Thursday, Sept. 4 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CDT. The discussion, which will be open to the media, is co-sponsored with the American Security Project. Here are details of the Sept. 4 panel discussion: WHO: U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) and Hudson Institute CEO Ken Weinstein. WHAT: Presidential Management of the National Security System in the 21st Century. WHEN: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. CDT, Thursday, Sept. 4 WHERE: St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce 401 North Robert St., Suite 150 St. Paul, Minn. To RSVP for this event, please contact Jordan Smith at Jordan.smith@pnsr.org PNSR is funded by Congress, foundations and corporations to carry out a comprehensive examination of the U.S. national security system. It is expected to produce a series of reforms for consideration by the next administration. PNSR is located within the Center for the Study of the Presidency, a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization and co-sponsor of the Iraq Study Group. The American Security Project is a nonprofit, bipartisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/112/interior.aspMon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMTPNSR Issues Preliminary Findings.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/111/interior.aspWed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMTAmbassador David Abshire, Guiding Coalition member of the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) and CEO of the Center for the Study of the Presidency discusses the beginnings of PNSR. News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/110/interior.aspSat, 09 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMTJames R. Locher III, executive director of the Project on National Security Reform, delivers a synopsis of PNSR's Preliminary Findings Report. Watch the VideoNews/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/109/interior.aspWed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMTDownload this News Release Download the Preliminary Findings Report Tuesday July 29, 2008 WASHINGTON - The national security system created by the U.S. government in 1947 that served the nation throughout the Cold War is outdated and needs a massive restructuring to better protect the American people from terrorism, rogue states and other 21st century dangers, according to a study issued today by the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR). The Preliminary Findings Report – based on research and analysis by more than 300 national security experts from think tanks, universities, federal agencies, law firms and corporations – is a congressionally mandated study that paints a portrait of a national security system plagued by serious problems, despite reforms made since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The problems the report identifies in the national security system include: · Frequent feuding and jurisdictional disputes between cabinet secretaries and other agency heads that force the president to spend too much time settling internal fights, waste time and money on duplicative and inefficient actions, and slow down government responses to crises. · Too much focus by the president and his top advisers on day-to-day crisis management rather than long-term planning, allowing problems to escape presidential attention until they worsen and reach the crisis level. · An increasing number of political appointees who serve only briefly in top national security posts. · A budget oversight process in Congress focused on individual agencies, crippling efforts to move quickly to fund emergency operations by multiple agencies. · A Congress increasingly polarized along political party lines on vital national security issues. PNSR is funded by Congress, foundations and corporations to carry out one of the most comprehensive studies of the U.S. national security system in American history. It is located within the Center for the Study of the Presidency, which is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization that was a cosponsor of the Iraq Study Group. The project is directed by a 24-member Guiding Coalition that includes former senior federal officials with extensive national security experience. A complete list of Guiding Coalition members and the Preliminary Findings Report can be found at www.pnsr.org Guiding Coalition Member Thomas R. Pickering – who served as under secretary of state, ambassador to the United Nations and in other top posts in the State Department for decades – said the PNSR findings will be valuable to whoever becomes the next president and to Congress. “Our national security system is broken and needs fixing,” Pickering said. “Agencies need to cooperate rather than compete with each other as they work to protect the United States from a broad range of new dangers never imagined when the National Security Act of 1947 was signed into law. This isn’t a Democratic or a Republican issue, but a challenge facing our country that must be met by America’s leaders on a bipartisan basis.” PNSR is scheduled to issue a Final Report in October recommending actions by Congress and the next president. The project is expected to prepare draft presidential directives and a new National Security Act to replace many of the provisions of the one enacted 61 years ago. “Our study deals with issues vital to the protection of every American family,” said James R. Locher III, executive director of PNSR. “How will America respond to another major terrorist attack, even a nuclear one? How will we deal with future natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina at home and conflicts abroad? The way our national security system is structured plays an enormous role in the answers to these questions.” The PNSR report emphasizes the importance of approaching national security challenges as multiple risks – such as the possibility of nuclear or bioterrorism – that may never occur but need to be managed and minimized, rather than as an overriding threat that can be eliminated. This view forces the federal government to make hard choices about how to best spend limited funds to protect the nation. It also encourages agencies in the U.S. government, state and local governments, the private sector and foreign governments to work together to come up with long-term plans to anticipate and reduce risks. David M. Abshire, president of the Center for the Study of the Presidency, said: “We need a 21st century national security system that will marshal all elements of our national power to shape rather than just react, and anticipate as well as innovate in order to further our national interests.” A recurring theme in the report is the need to get the disparate parts of the national security system to work together as a team, rather than looking out for their own bureaucratic interests. Too often, the president himself is forced to settle disputes between cabinet secretaries, taking up his valuable time and preventing him from engaging in the broader policymaking and leadership that should be his central focus, according to the study. One example of the problems federal agencies have working with each other is their difficulty in sharing information. Agencies label some information as “classified” and some as “sensitive but unclassified” – keeping it out of the hands of other agencies. Some agencies have computer systems that don’t talk to those at other agencies. And some federal agencies don’t share enough information with state and local governments, which can be a problem in an area such as working to prevent terrorist attacks in the United States. In addition to infighting within the Executive Branch, national security is adversely affected by committees in Congress with overlapping jurisdictions that oversee different parts of the national security system, according to the PNSR report. “Protection of turf and power occurs in the committees of both houses of Congress,” the report says. “The process for multiple committee consideration of multi-agency matters is difficult, confused, and inconsistent between chambers.” The report also finds that the federal government needs to do more to develop the leadership abilities of civilian officials in the national security system. While leadership development is emphasized in the military, “civilian agencies involved in national security have traditionally valued specialization and expertise over leadership and management skills.” Part of the problem standing in the way of leadership development for career federal employees is the increasing number of political appointees getting high-level jobs in national security positions, the study says. This makes it harder to recruit and retain career employees who aspire to leadership roles, because they realize fewer top jobs are open to them. The study points out that in today’s changing and unpredictable world, the United States needs a national security system that can rapidly adapt and reconfigure itself to respond to new crises, such as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks or Hurricane Katrina. The State and Defense Departments, National Security Council, intelligence community, Homeland Security Department and Homeland Security Council are central players in the current national security system. Other departments such as Energy, Treasury and Commerce have more recently become important players as well. Additional agencies become part of the national security system when specific issues arise.News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/106/interior.aspTue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMTThe Project on National Security Reform's interim report contains a strategic overview, overarching assessment of the current national security system performance, and a summary of working group findings. The report summarizes the results of work completed to date. Download the Report News/web/sectionid/554/module/press/pressid/105/interior.aspTue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT