PNSR’s Guiding Coalition, partner organizations and network of over three hundred national security professionals identified five fundamental problems that must be addressed if national security reform is to have a real chance for success.
Problem # 1: Lack of an integrated national strategy – no strategic context for setting priorities or allocating resources.
Problem # 2: Severe systematic and structural imbalance – dominated by agency stovepipes, resource inefficiencies and lowest common denominator approaches paced to slowest player.
Problem # 3: Highly reactive, few strategic management functions and processes in place – Excessively narrow scope of national security – little or no foresight and proactivity.
Problem # 4: Overburden and under resourced National Security Staff – unable to handle complexity and rate of change – dangerous levels of staff burnout.
Problem # 5: Fragmented legislative oversight – with enduring investments in status quo – no whole-of-government perspective reinforces divisions in the Executive Branch.
In light of these problems, PNSR has developed a new, expanded vision for the national security system of the 21st Century. Our vision calls for a collaborative, agile, anticipatory and resilient system, capable of horizontally and vertically integrating all elements of national power to successfully meet the nation’s most critical challenges and opportunities. This system also would be characterized by timely, informed decisions, decisive action, and efficient and effective use of resources.
In order to achieve this vision, PNSR has committed itself to the mission of supporting and assisting government implementation of the following reforms:
Expand the Definition of National Security:
Redefine national security to include non-traditional challenges to our well-being, such as: economic and financial vitality, water, energy and food security, climate change, extreme poverty, youth unemployment, education and competitiveness, failing or fragile states and pandemics.
New Approaches Based on National Missions and Outcomes:
Reform the national security system to achieve overall integrated effort, collaboration, agility and accountability while establishing strategic management of end-to-end processes.
Strategy Development and Planning Guidance:
Develop an integrated national security strategy and accompanying planning and foresight for use by the interagency system.
Align Strategy and Resources:
Rebalance current resource allocations by linking resources to goals through national security mission-based analysis and budgeting, as well as performance management systems to ensure evidence-based results and accountability.
Interagency Teams and Task Forces:
Delegate and unify management of national security issues and missions through empowered interagency and intergovernmental teams and crisis task forces.
Homeland Security Mission Integration and Coordination:
Create a homeland security and emergency management system that integrates federal, state, local, territorial and tribal interests.
Human Capital Development:
Align personnel incentives, leader and senior manager development, personnel preparation and organizational culture with strategic objectives.
Knowledge and Intellectual Capital:
Greatly improve the quality and flow of knowledge and information to all users and decision makers.
Congressional Responsibility:
Create mechanisms for the oversight and resourcing of integrated national security missions. Nurture whole-of-government and whole-of-international-community approaches.
|
