On November 10, CNAS hosted a panel on recent advances in frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models and their potential to transform cyber offense and defense alike. Featuring the new report, Tipping the Scales: Emerging AI Capabilities and the Cyber Offense-Defense Balance, CNAS Technology and National Security Program expert Caleb Withers examines how capable today’s AI systems are at cyber-relevant tasks, which emerging capabilities matter most, and what defenders, policymakers, and industry should do to prepare. The discussion drew on those insights to cover a range of topics from recent advances in frontier AI intelligence models to the attacker-defender imbalance in cybersecurity operations, and more. The panel featured:  Moderator Derek B. Johnson, journalist, CyberScoop Caleb Withers, Fellow, Center for a New American Security Andrew Lohn, Senior Fellow, Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology Chris Rohlf, Security Engineer, Meta To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

On October 23, CNAS hosted a panel on the U.S. defense budget and the Department of Defense’s alignment of resources to strategy. Featuring our new report, Stuck in the Cul de Sac: How U.S. Defense Spending Prioritizes Innovation over Deterrence, CNAS Defense Program experts Dr. Carlton Haelig and Philip Sheers examine the gaps between the Department of Defense’s strategic priorities and its resource allocation and identify a wide range of challenges and opportunities the Pentagon faces in transitioning its key modernization initiatives to the field. This discussion drew on those insights to cover a range of topics from creating and maintaining a next-generation force, the impacts of a government shutdown on defense preparedness, and more. The panel featured:  Moderator Philip Sheers, Research Associate, Defense Program Center for a New American Security The Honorable Susanna V. Blume, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Defense Program, Center for a New American Security Todd Harrison, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Dr. Carlton Haelig, Fellow, Defense Program, Center for a New American Security To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

On Wednesday, October 15, CNAS hosted a live, virtual event​ on Countering China's Digital Silk Road featuring former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Digital Silk Road (DSR), China’s flagship initiative to strengthen its global ties and influence through technology. A decade after its launch, the DSR has become more vital to Beijing than ever as technology has moved to the center of its global ambitions. Since the DSR's inception, Beijing has signed bilateral technology agreements with over 80 countries, and Chinese tech exports have increased nearly 10-fold in the past three years alone. This CNAS event featured a fireside chat between former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and CNAS Senior Fellow Vivek Chilukuri, followed by an expert panel that examined the DSR's evolution and effectiveness to date, U.S. and allied efforts to counter it, and key domains of U.S.-China tech competition in emerging markets. The panel featured: Moderator James Palmer, Deputy Editor at Foreign Policy and author of FP's weekly China Brief newsletter Jonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow for Geoeconomics, Council on Foreign Relations and author of The Digital Silk Road: China’s Quest to Wire the World Ruth Berry, Senior Director and Head of Policy, NVIDIA Government Affairs Ruby Scanlon, Research Associate, Technology and National Security Program, Center for a New American Security To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

Judge Advocates General (JAGs) serve a critical role in the U.S. military by providing expert, apolitical legal advice to commanders and defense officials. On Wednesday, October 8, CNAS held the Judge Advocates General: On the Frontline of National Security and the Rule of Law event. The event featured opening remarks from Admiral John Richardson, USN (Ret.), member of the CNAS Board of Directors and former chief of naval operations, and a panel discussion with Judge James E. Baker, former chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; Rear Admiral James E. McPherson, JAGC, USN (Ret.), former undersecretary of the Army and former judge advocate general of the Navy. Hosted by Carrie Cordero, General Counsel and Senior Fellow at CNAS, the conversation covered the critical role of Judge Advocates General on the frontline of national security and rule of law, the need for factual and legal assessments in military operations, how JAGs can navigate operational pressure when providing legal advice to their commanders, and more. Over the past two years, CNAS has conducted research work that focuses on federalism and national security, including work that addresses disputes that can arise between presidents and governors over deployment of the National Guard. This work includes a commentary series published in May that provides recommendations at the federal and state levels for ensuring that domestic deployment of the military is consistent with law and the protection of civil liberties. To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

On Tuesday, September 16, CNAS held the first National Security Exchange fireside chat with Adam Boehler, Special Envoy for Hostage Response, hosted by Richard Fontaine, CEO of CNAS. The conversation covered the latest in the hostage situation in Gaza, how the Special Envoy coordinates with the rest of the U.S. government, common misconceptions around hostage negotiation, and more.  To learn more about upcoming events at CNAS, head to cnas.org/events.

Nationwide, there has been a noticeable uptick in swatting cases, negatively impacting the safety and security of high-profile public servants and law enforcement agencies. In this episode of our Safe@Home speaker series, CNAS hosted a virtual event with Kenneth Corey, former NYPD Chief of Department, and Josh Campbell, CNAS Adjunct Senior Fellow and CNN Correspondent, for a conversation on the increase of these incidents targeting public officials, challenges to law enforcement agencies in terms of resources, capacity, and risk, and proposed legislative remedies at the state and federal levels. The CNAS Safe@Home speaker series focuses on challenges to homeland security such as international and domestic terrorism, political violence against government officials, mass shootings and gun violence, pandemic preparedness and response, climate related emergency management, cybersecurity and response, and related issues. Under the Securing U.S. Democracy Initiative, this series aims to inform policymakers to ensure that domestic security and public safety are adequately represented in national security conversations and problem-solving efforts.

Sanctioning China represents a challenge more complex than any other in the modern era of sanctions. Yet, if tensions with China escalate or conflict appears imminent, U.S. policymakers would reach for the sanctions tool as part of their overall response. Would sanctions work? Could the United States impose harsh sanctions without devastating the U.S. and global economies? Would any allies join the United States in a sanctioning effort? CNAS hosted a virtual discussion on Friday, December 15 to discuss a new report called No Winners in This Game: Assessing the U.S. Playbook for Sanctioning China, that explores these questions and challenges. Representative Mike Gallagher and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi who lead the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party provided opening remarks, and were followed by an expert panel. You can learn more about upcoming events by heading to cnas.org/events

Michael Masters, National Director and CEO of the Secure Community Network joined Carrie Cordero, Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow at CNAS for a conversation on antisemitism in the U.S., the work of the Secure Community Network, and the way forward to combat antisemitism

The United States marked the 50th Anniversary of the All-Volunteer Force on July 1, 2023. To reflect on the challenges and opportunities the services face in the next 50 years, Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks joined Katherine Kuzminski, Deputy Director of Studies and Director of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at CNAS for a virtual conversation. They discussed military professionalism, challenges to recruitment, service member retention, and policy options for a resilient future force.

General B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations recently sat down with Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, Senior Fellow and Director of the CNAS Defense Program, to discuss the service’s early successes and remaining challenges.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedentedly sophisticated attack on Israel. Using thousands of rockets as cover, Hamas ground forces over-ran Israeli security forces, entered Israel, and rolled through Israeli communities, committing unspeakable atrocities to civilians and taking hostages back to Gaza. Reeling from the loss of life, Israel once again finds itself at war and posturing for an operation, the scope and scale of which is beyond any it has launched in recent decades. On October 12, 2023 CNAS hosted a virtual event featuring a discussion with Danny Citrinowicz, Research Fellow of the Institute for National Security Studies, Jonathan Lord, Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Security Program at CNAS, and Carrie Cordero, Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow at CNAS, hosted by Richard Fontaine, Chief Executive Officer of CNAS. Check out all past and upcoming events at cnas.org/events 

Pillar 2 of the trilateral agreement AUKUS is focused on cooperative actions between the three nations to develop advanced defense capabilities, which are critical to the balance of power in future strategic competition with China. AUKUS Pillar 2's potential for establishing and maintaining advantages in critical technology areas can only be fulfilled if the alliance can demonstrate progress and overcome barriers to cooperation. As strategic competition continues to intensify, what can we expect from AUKUS Pillar 2 cooperation and emerging technologies? And how is Australia developing a technological edge the Indo-Pacific? On September 20th, the Center for a New American Security hosted Professor Tanya Monro, Australia's Chief Defence Scientist, in conversation with Becca Wasser to discuss the latest developments and challenges under AUKUS Pillar 2. This conversation is part of the CNAS Mission Brief speaker series, which features deep-diving discussions with the military and civilian leaders driving future U.S. and allied defense strategy. You can watch past Mission Briefs, and find out about upcoming ones, at cnas.org/events This podcast is a production of the Center for a New American Security, this episode was produced and edited by Anna Pederson, with assistance from Charles Horn. 

The Defense Industrial Base, or DIB, is a complex network that provides the U.S. department of defense with materials, products, and services to aid warfighting capabilities and business operations. Entities within the DIB can help produce anything from an aircraft to IT support, and relies on logistics planning, a healthy supply chain, and allocated funding to meet its goals. The war in Ukraine has raised questions about weaknesses in industrial capacity and readiness as demand rapidly increases. Dr. William LaPlante, the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment overseas matters related to the DIB. He joined CNAS to discuss challenges in procurement with Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn. You can find out about all past and upcoming CNAS conversations by going to cnas.org/events. 

Last week, the White House released an executive order detailing a ban on U.S. private-equity and venture-capital investments in some Chinese technology companies that have potential military applications. To break down the executive order and discuss what’s in, what’s out, and what it all means for investors and companies, CNAS hosted a special event with the Atlantic Council’s Geoeconomics Center. The conversation was moderated by Emily Kilcrease, senior fellow and director of the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at CNAS. She was joined by Sarah Bauerle Danzman, Senior Fellow, at the Atlantic Council, Peter Harrell, Nonresident Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Eric Sayers, Managing Director at Beacon Global Industries. To learn more, read the latest commentary from CNAS Responds. CNAS Live is a production of the Center for a New American Security, bringing the center’s public events to a podcast audience. The show is produced by Anna Pederson and Charles Horn, with design help with Melody Cook and Rinn Rothback.

On March 17, 2021, the CNAS Military, Veterans, and Society Program held its third annual panel with women veteran authors. The event featured four women veteran authors from a variety of genres and discussed their experiences, opinions, and perspectives. The panel discussion with authors Pamela Brodman, Diane Carlson Evans, Kelly Kennedy, and Maggs Vibo was moderated by Adjunct Senior Fellow Jeannette Gaudry Haynie and hosted by Research Assistant Nathalie Grogan.

On March 16, 2021, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual event on “Crafting a U.S. National Technology Strategy.” Speakers for this event included Michèle Flournoy, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors; Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security; and Martijn Rasser, Senior Fellow of the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. Panelists included Secretary James "Hondo" Geurts, Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of the Navy, Director Sue Gordon, Senior Advisor at Pallas Advisors and Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Loren DeJonge Schulman, Vice President of Research and Evaluation at the Partnership for Public Service and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security. The panel was moderated by Megan Lamberth, Research Associate for the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security.

On March 11, 2021, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual book discussion with author Wesley Morgan about his new book, The Hardest Place: The American Military Adrift in Afghanistan's Pech Valley. Paul Scharre, Senior Fellow and Director of the CNAS Technology and National Security Program, sat down with Morgan to discuss the work and its central themes.

On March 5, 2021, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual discussion on AI and the role of confidence-building measures. This event is a part of the CNAS Artificial Intelligence and Global Security Initiative, which explores how the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution could lead to changes in global power, the character of conflict, and crisis stability. Speakers for this event included Michael C. Horowitz, Richard Perry Professor and Director of the Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania, Helen Toner, Director of Strategy at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), and Kerstin Vignard, Head of the UNIDIR Support Team to the UN Cyber Negotiations (OEWG and GGE). This event was moderated by Paul Scharre, Senior Fellow and Director of the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS.

On January 14, 2021, the CNAS Technology and National Security Program hosted a virtual panel to discuss the challenges, findings. and recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission white paper, "Building a Trusted ICT Supply Chain." Speakers for this event included Congressman Mike Gallagher, Co-Chairman of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission; Dr. Sarah Sewall, Executive Vice President for Policy at In-Q-Tel; Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Associate Professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin; and RADM Mark Montgomery, USN (Ret.), Executive Director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. Martijn Rasser, Senior Fellow at CNAS, moderated this event.

On February 9, 2021, the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) held a two-part event to launch the report Massachusetts Veteran Needs Assessment: During the Pandemic and Beyond. The event was held as a CNAS webinar, and featured a presentation by Nathalie Grogan, keynote remarks by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Services Cheryl Poppe, and a discussion hosted by Emma Moore and Rosye Cloud, featuring panelists Michael Allard, Michael Dwyer, Meg Harrell, Pamela Johnson, and Kristy Kaufmann.