To America’s detriment, policy makers have neglected the challenges facing the U.S. Department of Defense. From the military recruitment crisis to persistently inadequate defense budgets, the Pentagon finds itself without the hard power tools and capabilities necessary to keep America safe in a global threat environment dominated by great power competition.
In this series, the Vandenberg Coalition speaks with national security experts about the threats to America's national defense and what a future U.S. administration must do to ensure America is strong enough to stop wars before they begin and win wars after they start.
In our final episode of How to Win, we discuss the next National Security Strategy and the critical role it will play as the United States maneuvers an increasingly chaotic threat landscape. We are joined by former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy and architect of the 2017 National Security Strategy, Dr. Nadia Schadlow (https://www.hudson.org/experts/1244-nadia-schadlow). Dr. Schadlow is currently a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. This episode covers how a future administration should consider shaping the next National Security Strategy to ensure the United States remains safe and strong in the face of adversaries who seek our downfall.
15 Oct 2024
Episode 8: Defense Coordination with Allies and Partners
In this episode of “How to Win,” we are joined by Dr. Matthew Kroenig (https://vandenbergcoalition.org/experts/matt-kroenig/), vice president and senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member. Dr. Kroenig discusses the critical role allies and partners play in the United States’ national security strategy. Dr. Kroenig also outlines a plan for a future administration to strengthen our defense coordination with allies and partners while keeping the United States’ interests at the forefront.
1 Oct 2024
Episode 7: Investing in the Military
In this installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by Mackenzie Eaglen (https://vandenbergcoalition.org/experts/mackenzie-eaglen/) to discuss the defense budget and investing in the U.S. military. A Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, Mackenzie is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where she works on defense strategy, defense budgets, and military readiness. Mackenzie explains how a future U.S. administration can adequately resource the U.S. military and properly fund the defense budget. The episode will also explore the modernization crunch, areas for cost-saving, and defense programs in dire need of investment.
17 Sept 2024
Episode 6: Revitalizing the Defense Industrial Base
In this installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by Dr. Seth Jones (https://vandenbergcoalition.org/experts/seth-jones/) to discuss revitalizing our defense industrial base. A Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, Seth is senior vice president, Harold Brown Chair, director of the International Security Program, and director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). This episode warns of the perils of the American defense industrial base’s inadequacy in a time of rising global tensions. Seth also provides recommendations for future administration’s efforts at harnessing the power of American innovation and industry to ensure the United States can deter threats and properly defend itself.
3 Sept 2024
Episode 5: The Fourth Estate: DoD Beyond the Military Services
In this episode of “How to Win,” we are joined by Vandenberg Advisory Board member David Rader (https://vandenbergcoalition.org/experts/david-rader/) to discuss the Department of Defense’s non-military service departments known as the “fourth estate” and their role in the Pentagon’s overall mission. As a former Deputy Director of the Global Investment and Economic Security Directorate at the Department of Defense, David walks us through the often-opaque non-military service departments within the Pentagon. He also outlines how a future administration can reform the fourth estate by reducing waste and inefficiencies so the departments can more effectively contribute to the Pentagon’s work in securing the nation.
20 Aug 2024
Episode 4: Recapitalizing America’s Nuclear Arsenal
In this installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by Marshall Billingslea to discuss recapitalizing America’s nuclear arsenal. A Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, Marshall is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute focusing on illicit finance and arms control with the Kleptocracy Initiative. He also served as a member of the 2023 Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States. This episode explores why our nuclear arsenal has atrophied while those of our adversaries have grown. It also discusses how a future administration can rebuild our nuclear arsenal to better deter and defend the United States.
6 Aug 2024
Episode 3: Maritime Strategy for a 21st Century Navy
In this episode of “How to Win,” we are joined by Senior Research Fellow with the Heritage Foundation, Brent Sadler (https://www.heritage.org/staff/brent-sadler), and Senior Fellow with the Sagamore Institute, Dr. Jerry Hendrix (https://sagamoreinstitute.org/dr-jerry-hendrix/), to discuss how to craft a maritime strategy for an era of great power competition. This episode discusses how naval power is indispensable to America’s national security and how a how a future administration can return us to United States naval dominance.
23 Jul 2024
Episode 2: Technology and Acquisition Reform
In this installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by Jamil Jaffer (https://vandenbergcoalition.org/experts/jamil-jaffer/) to discuss technology and acquisition reform. A Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, Jamil is also a Venture Partner with Paladin Capital Group and the Executive Director of the National Security Institute at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. This episode explains the steps necessary to fix the Department of Defense acquisition process. It also provides recommendations for a future administration’s efforts to support technological innovation and acquisition to gain a competitive advantage.
9 Jul 2024
Episode 1: Recruiting, Retention, and Personnel Issues
For our first installment of “How to Win,” we are joined by tenth U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie (https://vandenbergcoalition.org/experts/secretary-robert-wilkie/) of the America First Policy Institute and retired U.S. Army Lt. General Thomas Spoehr (https://vandenbergcoalition.org/experts/thomas-spoehr/) of the Center for Strategic and International Studies to discuss the cornerstone of America’s military strength: its people. Both are also distinguished members of the Vandenberg Coalition’s Advisory Board. This episode outlines the severity of the recruitment crisis, how new American leadership can fix it, and how to undo the Biden administration’s politicization of the armed forces.
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