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The Research Directorate (RD) performs the Institute’s core mission of providing objective, rigorous and timely analyses that respond to the needs of decision-makers in the Department of Defense (DOD) and other policy audiences. In formulating our research plans we pay particular attention to emerging strategic trends that pose longer-term challenges for U.S. national security and raise complex trade-offs for policy-makers. Our research program is organized into two broad categories:
- Strategic policy studies that analyze key challenges in the formulation of national security strategy, defense planning, concepts and requirements, as well as such functional areas as transnational terrorism, weapons proliferation, post-conflict stabilization, and related issues with global impact that tend to bisect traditional geographical boundaries.
- Regional security studies that assess political-military developments within four specified regions, explicating in each case patterns of stability, tension and conflict and implications of those patterns for U.S. foreign and defense policy goals and programs.
In conducting these studies we utilize various methods for disseminating our findings – direct responses to policy consumers via analytical memoranda (classified or unclassified), expert workshops/roundtables and a range of published products. We also seek, through these means, to advance understanding and informed debate of defense and security policy issues within the U.S. interagency community and the public at large. In addition, we provide subject matter expertise to NDU teaching components; and we engage in outreach activity with counterpart research organizations that helps to improve our understanding of domestic and foreign attitudes bearing upon key policy questions.
Center for Applied Strategic Studies (CASL) is a component of the Institute for National Strategic Studies at National Defense University. CASL researches current and future national security issues and designs, develops, and executes strategic-level crisis simulation exercises for national and international groups and organizations. Exercise participants range from mid-level military and government officials and academics, to senior members of the Executive Branch and Members of Congress.
Interns working in CASL are expected to support the conduct of research of national security issues using the full range of unclassified sources available. Interns work under the supervision of exercise designers and facilitators to research topics and draft documents that support the design and development of exercises. All simulations are based on real-world situations and crises. Previous exercises have focused on failed states, nuclear proliferation, energy security, stabilization and reconstruction, homeland defense, pandemic disease, and regional national security challenges. Research activities normally include library research, internet searches, serving as note-taker during interviews, and attending conferences and briefings at think-tanks in the Washington, DC area.
The Conference Directorate conducts major outreach symposia each year. There are two periodic regional symposia: Asia-Pacific and Europe; an annual symposium on Joint Force issues; and topical symposia. The Directorate organizes and supports other major events hosted by the INSS Research Directorate and Center for Applied Strategic Learning which focus on issues of interest to national security policy makers. The NDU Symposia program is open to the public. Interns have the opportunity to participate in the full range of activities associated with the activities involved in research, planning and execution of round-tables, symposia, and conferences.
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