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2009 Rolls-Royce North America Military Strategy Forum: Quadrennial Defense Review Summer Series

Core Content

The 2009 Rolls-Royce North America Military Strategy Forum (MSF) Summer Series on the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) was a series of events hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. The series aimed to explore the strategic and operational challenges facing the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in the context of a changing global environment and increasing fiscal constraints. It featured keynote addresses from senior defense officials and panel discussions with a range of experts, including military leaders, academics, and policymakers.

Main Topics and Key Points

1. Introduction and Purpose of the QDR

• The QDR is a congressionally mandated comprehensive review of U.S. defense strategy and priorities.
• It is intended to guide long-term military force structure and resource allocation.
• The 2009 QDR is seen as a pivotal opportunity for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to adjust the DoD's long-term course.

2. Key Challenges Identified

• Hybrid Warfare: The increasing complexity of conflicts involving both conventional and unconventional elements.
• Persistent Conflict: The need for sustained military operations in regions like Afghanistan and Iraq.
• Global Interconnectedness: The growing importance of maritime operations and cyber capabilities in a globally connected world.
• Fiscal Constraints: The pressure to make strategic trade-offs due to budget limitations.

3. Strategic Themes

• Shift from Platform-Centric to People-Centric Missions: Emphasizing the need for human capital and expertise to address future challenges.
• Decentralized and Distributed Operations: The future environment is expected to involve more dispersed and complex operations, requiring changes in culture, processes, and personnel.
• Industrial Base Protection: The importance of maintaining the U.S. defense industrial base, especially in the face of potential changes in weapon systems and capabilities.
• Whole-of-Government Approach: The need for DoD to collaborate with other government agencies and the private sector in a more integrated way.

4. Recommendations from the Series

• Clarify Strategic Frameworks: The QDR should articulate a clear, shared understanding of force sizing and risk assessment.
• Establish Threat Prioritization: A process should be developed to prioritize threats and missions effectively.
• Integrate Nonmilitary Capabilities: The QDR should make explicit assumptions about the roles of other national power instruments.
• Evaluate the Current Process: Congress and the executive branch should assess whether the QDR process is effective and consider replacing it with a more comprehensive review if needed.

Event Summaries

1. Rebalancing the Force: Major Questions for QDR 2010

• Keynote Speaker: Michèle Flournoy, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
• Main Points:
  • Flournoy outlined five key security challenges: violent extremism, WMD proliferation, shifts in global power, failed states, and tensions in the global commons.
  • She emphasized the need for a whole-of-government approach and the importance of strategic risk assessment.
  • She highlighted the need for a balance between current and future military requirements, and the role of unmanned technologies in reducing personnel costs.

2. Future of the Maritime Presence

• Keynote Speaker: Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations
• Main Points:
  • The Navy's focus is on littoral areas, which house 70% of the world's population.
  • The future will involve hybrid warfare, and the Navy has already taken steps to adapt, including restructuring programs like LCS and DDG 1000.
  • The Navy is increasingly involved in cyber operations, with 95% of cyber traffic passing through undersea cables.
  • Concerns were raised about the declining shipbuilding capacity and the need for more flexible platforms and personnel.

Main Viewpoints

• Michèle Flournoy stressed the importance of strategic coherence, risk assessment, and the need for a more integrated approach to national security.
• Admiral Gary Roughead emphasized the Navy's role in addressing both traditional and emerging threats, and the importance of maintaining global reach and flexibility.
• Panelists raised concerns about the QDR's scope, the lack of a clear national strategy, and the challenges of aligning the DoD with other government agencies and the private sector.

Conclusion

The QDR series highlighted the need for strategic coherence, fiscal responsibility, and interagency collaboration. It underscored the importance of adapting military capabilities to a more complex and uncertain global environment, while also addressing the long-term sustainability of the defense industrial base and the role of nonmilitary instruments in national security. The discussions laid the groundwork for a more holistic and integrated approach to U.S. defense planning in the years ahead.