Executive Summary

Strategic Planning Document -
National Security


Executive Summary

The vision of the Committee for National Security is to better couple science and technology to the full spectrum of U.S. national security: enhancing our military effectiveness, strengthening our economy, and fostering global stability.

The Strategic Implementation Plan addresses the federal science and technology contribution to the President's national security strategy, A Strategy of Engagement and Enlargement. It is the product of the Committee for National Security, an interagency committee created to advise and assist the National Science and Technology Council in its mission to increase the overall effectiveness and productivity of federal national security research and development efforts.

Areas of Focus

Support Our National Military Strategy . The fundamental mission of national security science and technology is to support the ability of U.S. military forces to carry out our national military strategy. U.S. armed forces must maintain their readiness, flexibility and technological superiority to contend with a wide range of potential missions in the post-Cold War world, from major regional conflict through peace operations. The National Military Strategy is a key enabler to our broader national goals

A strong science and technology base and a healthy industrial base are core ingredients of this defense capability. In the post-Cold War world, it is important that both be more closely integrated into the broader U.S. economy, to strengthen the application of broader technical capabilities to our defense needs and to ensure that our defense technology and industrial investment contribute to our national economic security and competitiveness.

As part of supporting our National Security Strategy, the Committee for National Security has identified three other priority missions of national security science and technology. These missions are highly intertwined:

Science and Technology Applications to Post-Cold War Missions. Military missions at the lower end of the operational spectrum are of growing importance in the Post-Cold War world. Our defense technology investment must be applicable to these new missions while also supporting our core regional military capability.

Building International Stability and Preventing Conflict. Science and technology can play an important role in helping to prevent conflict before it requires the engagement of U.S. military forces.

Weapons of Mass Destruction. Technology plays a central role in efforts to ensure that we prevent and counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means of their delivery, verify and monitor existing and new arms control agreements, and ensure the effectiveness of the smaller U.S. nuclear research and production capability.

In creating this plan, the Committee for National Security built upon a number of processes and studies to develop an integrated interagency approach to science and technology.

Specific studies employed by the Committee on National Security include:

Strategy Elements

Our national security science and technology strategy is built on the following precepts:

Maintain Technological Superiority. Technology superiority underpins our national military strategy as articulated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Although the Cold War threat has changed, we remain committed to technological superiority precisely because it allows us to field the most potent military forces at the lowest cost - both economic and human.

Invest Broadly in Basic Research. Our strategy is to apply resources broadly at the basic research level and make further investment decisions as emerging technologies reveal the most promising payoff areas.

Use Commercial Technology Where Possible. It is commercial demand that drives development of many defense-critical technologies. Partnerships with industry can capture those commercial technologies that present the greatest potential military application.

Incorporate Affordability. The cost of advanced technology systems must not be allowed to spiral upward uncontrolled. Affordability must be designed in from the beginning.

Access International Science and Technology. International cooperation in science and technology can serve our interests by augmenting our own investment and by enhancing our industrial competitiveness.

Address Global Problems at the Root of Conflict. Science & Technology can play a role in addressing global problems and helping to advance democracy and foster international stability.

Mobilize Resources in an Enhanced Interagency Fashion. The Committee for National Security fosters coordination and collaboration among agencies in pursuing the national security science and technology program.

National Security - Table of Contents

Executive Summary

1. The Vision

2. Strategy Elements

3. Implementation

3. Implementation - continued

Committee

Appendix A

Appendix B


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