Sharper: National Security Human Capital

U.S. national security depends on the nation’s ability to leverage the expertise of uniformed warfighters and the highly skilled civilian professionals who develop and implement strategic policy. Recruiting and cultivating the talents of the entire national security enterprise—including military servicemembers, political appointees, civil servants, and the defense industrial base workforce—is critical to ensuring the United States can deter and defeat any challenge. CNAS experts are sharpening the conversation on the human element of national security. Continue reading this edition of Sharper to learn more.

Features

Around the Center | CNAS Launches New National Security Human Capital Program to Safeguard America’s Warfighting Edge

This week, CNAS launched the National Security Human Capital (NSHC) Program, a major research program led by Katherine Kuzminski focused on strengthening the United States’ most critical defense asset: its people. The NSHC Program addresses critical defense workforce challenges faced by both military personnel and civilians. As part of its launch, the NSHC Program will convene the top minds across the defense, policy, academic, and private sectors; host high-impact public and private events; and provide a platform for advancing innovative, forward-thinking solutions to human capital challenges in national security.

Report: From Production Lines to Front Lines

The U.S. defense industrial base (DIB) is struggling to meet the demands of the current strategic environment, let alone prepare for a potential conflict against an advanced adversary such as China. Today, the DIB cannot keep pace with defense modernization efforts while also filling the massive demand for defense items in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. In this report, authors Becca Wasser and Philip Sheers write about the importance of revitalizing the defense industrial workforce, with labor shortages presenting the greatest limitation to shipbuilding and other vital industries.

Report | Back to the Drafting Board

While no American president, member of Congress, military leader, or citizen desires the level of conflict requiring a draft, the systems, structures, and processes for implementing a draft must function if needed. For the first time since the Cold War, the United States faces threats from great power competitors. These advanced threats—particularly the pacing threat of the People’s Republic of China—have the potential to escalate at an order of magnitude that would yield the nation’s all-volunteer force combat ineffective. The stakes would be high in such a conflict and could require the United States to effectively execute a draft and mobilize, a process that authors Katherine Kuzminski and Taren Sylvester find the United States not presently prepared for.

Report | The Future of Civilians in National Security

Despite their integral role in national security, civilians frequently find significant obstacles to entering the workforce. The long and complex process of acquiring proper clearances, navigating USAJOBS, and other obstacles can discourage talented individuals from these vital careers. In this interactive report, Katherine Kuzminski, Nathalie Grogan, and Celina Pouchet chart out both challenges and opportunities for civilians in the national security workforce.

To Improve Recruiting, Make Medical Standards Match Retention Ones

Lt Col Kareen Hart and Taren Sylvester for Defense One

It’s harder to get into the military than stay there—at least by the different medical standards set by the Defense Department. By making them match, the Pentagon could widen its recruiting pool without undermining the force.

ROTC for Hackers: Developing a Pipeline of Cyber Talent for National Defense

Matthew Hauwiller from the 2024 CNAS Pitch Competition

The highly successful ROTC program on college campuses provides a template for creating a cyber talent pipeline. In the ROTC, students commit to serve in the U.S. military following graduation in exchange for tuition support. In addition, they train in a cohort of peers with a similar motivation of service to their country and personal improvement.The U.S. Space Force can start similar cyber training programs on college campuses, providing up-front value of college support in exchange for the commitment to serve.

In the News

Commentary and Analysis from Katherine Kuzminski and Taren Sylvester