Defense Strategy & Planning Program

The purpose and priority of the use of U.S. armed forces will vary over time. These changes will reflect trends and shifts in the international political environment and in the worldview of U.S. administrations.

The Defense Strategy and Planning Program conducts research and analysis on when, how, and why U.S. armed forces are employed to achieve national security objectives. The program identifies the historical, environmental, and institutional characteristics that have shaped the use of U.S. armed forces and provides tools to decision-makers that can inform choices on how to effectively use the U.S. military into the future.