A Recommended Agenda for the Next Secretary of Defense by Andrew Philip Hunter, Ryan Crotty, Gregory Sanders, Maren Leed, Melissa Dalton, John Schaus, and T.J. Cipoletti
Report Summary: Recruiting an experienced hand at a critical moment will reassure those who seek continuity from the Administration’s policy. It will also raise concerns for those who believe the current course may contribute greatly to future insecurity.
Crises around the world will no doubt continue to dominate the headlines, and to drive meetings of the National Security Council. The greater challenge for the next secretary will be to ensure enough time is carved out to sustain focus and energy on those issues that are important, but less urgent. Against this backdrop, scholars in the International Security Program at CSIS recommend the following issues to be at the top of the agenda for the next Secretary of Defense. Sustaining relationships, setting the budget, and driving the Department to operate in ways that may be necessary but uncomfortable are all issues where the tone must be set by the secretary.
Each of the seven short pieces that follow highlights a top issue for the next secretary in approaching issues that are important but not necessarily urgent. Navigating ongoing operations in the Middle East, sustaining the “rebalance” to Asia, and reassuring NATO Allies while simultaneously managing budget uncertainty driven by sequestration, an acquisition reform effort, and identifying investment priorities to confront both the future of high-end and low-end warfare will be every bit as important as determining the next specific step in confronting ISIS or responding to the next incident in the South China Sea. Over the long-term, it will be the success of the secretary’s efforts and initiatives behind the scenes that set the stage for continued U.S. success in the world.
Functional Issues
- Improving Defense Acquisition
- Budget Issues
- More than Air-Sea Battle
- Overcoming Bureaucratic Inertia and Next-war-itis
Regional Issues
- Middle East Security
- Reinvigorating the Transatlantic Security Relationship
- Managing Rising Powers in Asia