The Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) is a policy research and applied strategic learning organization within the National Defense University serving the U.S. Department of Defense, its components, and interagency partners. The mission of the Institute is to assess the emerging security environment, develop new strategic concepts and integrated strategies to manage complex challenges, and advance strategic thinking for the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Combatant Commanders, and other components of the National Defense University and Joint and Professional Military Education, as well as for the broader security community spanning the interagency and key national and international audiences.

Occasional Paper 6, June 2009 MRAP's, Irregular Warfare, and Pentagon Reform Christopher J. Lamb, Matthew J. Schmidt, and Berit G. Fitzsimmons This "...incisive and empirical analysis of the difficulty of fielding mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles offers an excellent case study for thinking about the Pentagon's present approach to fielding irregular warfare capabilities."  Dr. Patrick Cronin, Director, INSS As Secretary Gates has argued, “In the end, the military capabilities we need cannot be separated from the cultural traits and reward structure of the institutions we have.”158 Hopefully, the Secretary’s broader understanding of the problem—and hence the proper scope of required reform—will not get lost in the rush to restructure the current program or reform the acquisition system.

Mr. Leo Michel, Senior Fellow, is featured in the Center for Transatlantic Relations publication "Etude", a project from John Hopkins University - Fondation Robert Schuman.  Read Euro-Atlantic Security Relations and U.S.-French Cooperation...

Colonel Michael Bell, former INSS Senior Military Fellow, has become the Academic Dean at the National War College.