Resident Experts
Admiral James G. Foggo, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Dean
Dr. Steven Wills
Navalist
Nicholas Weising
Program AssociateNon-Resident Experts
Dr. Jeff Harley
Non-Resident Senior Fellow
Hunter Stires
Non-Resident Senior FellowQuoted in Publication
Trump Administration Pushes Biggest Noncombat Ship Upgrade in Decades
Force Design, Industry & Innovation
Quoted in Publication
Navy plays deadly game of hide-and-seek with Iranian mines
MENA, Force Design, Surface Warfare
The MOC
A Brief History of U.S. Naval Mine Warfare in the Persian Gulf, 1979–Present
Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
Quoted in Publication
U.S. sends thousands more troops to Mideast as Trump seeks to squeeze Iran
MENA, Force Design, Geopolitics, Personnel
Quoted in Publication
A War With China Would Look Very Different From One With Iran
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Geopolitics
The MOC
Iran, Stability, and Maritime Security
MENA, Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Geopolitics, International Law, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
Podcast
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz & Saving Downed Pilots
MENA, Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Geopolitics, Surface Warfare
Quoted in Publication
How Trump’s complex operation to extract Iran’s enriched uranium could unfold
MENA, Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding, Force Design, Geopolitics
Quoted in Publication
Patriot Missile Demand Tests Washington’s Taiwan Priorities
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design
The MOC
The Hormuz Crisis and the Case for Reconnecting the Navy and Merchant Marine
MENA, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Political Economy, Surface Warfare
Quoted in Publication
How the War in Iran Became a Race to Stabilize the Global Economic Order
MENA, Force Design, Geopolitics, Surface Warfare
External Article
How the U.S. Navy Can Clear the Strait of Hormuz
MENA, Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Surface Warfare
The MOC
The Fleet in Being in the 21st Century: A Book Review
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
Quoted in Publication
Sea mines and small boats: Iran’s new plan for the Strait of Hormuz
MENA, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats, Surface Warfare
Quoted in Publication
USS George H.W. Bush completes pre-deployment exercise
Force Design, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Truman to Trump: The Call “Where Are the Carriers” Still Sounds
MENA, Force Design, Geopolitics, Surface Warfare
Quoted in Publication
Does the US have enough aircraft carriers for all Trump’s wars?
Force Design, Geopolitics, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
Maritime Nation
Meeting the MARAD Administrator | The Honorable Stephen Carmel
Acquisitions & Budget, Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Political Economy
External Publication
The Middle East Is Now a Live-Fire Test of American Maritime Deterrence
MENA, Force Design, Geopolitics, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Taiwan’s Concerning MDA Gap facing China’s Gray Zone
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Hybrid Threats, Surface Warfare
Reports
“They Were Playing Chicken”—The U.S. Asiatic Fleet’s Gray-Zone Deterrence Campaign against Japan, 1937–40
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Political Economy, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Failure to Launch: How Political Backpedaling Could Hand China the Carrier Edge
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Political Economy, Surface Warfare
Quoted in Publication
China calls Trump battleship ‘easier target’ amid mixed US reception
Force Design, Political Economy, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Solving the Navy’s Frigate Problem: The Case for Bold, Persistent Experimentation
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
In the News
Atlantic Council launches Revitalizing US Shipbuilding Task Force to bolster US maritime industrial base
Acquisitions & Budget, AI & Cyber, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Personnel, Surface Warfare, Undersea Warfare
External Article
Administration’s New Strategy Points to Larger, More Capable Naval Force
Americas, Force Design, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Analyzing the 2025 National Security Strategy
Civil-Military, Force Design, Geopolitics, Strategy & Doctrine
External Publication
Maritime America: Sea Power, the Early Republic, and America’s Lost Maritime Strategic Tradition
Americas, Acquisitions & Budget, Civil-Military, Force Design, Geopolitics, International Law, Political Economy, Surface Warfare
External Article
As the Undersea Grows More Contested, U.S. Navy Subs are the Right Response
Force Design, Undersea Warfare
External Article
In Defense of Aircraft Carriers and a Navy that is Not ‘Broken’
Force Design, Political Economy, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Canine Readiness – A Forgotten Force Multiplier
Force Design, Hybrid Threats, Personnel, Political Economy
Quoted in Publication
Harsh criticism from the US for Finland’s icebreaker deal
Arctic, Europe & Eurasia, Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Geopolitics, Industry & Innovation
The MOC
A New Mississippi Squadron: The Navy’s Need for a Brown-Water Fleet
Americas, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Personnel, Political Economy
The MOC
From Ballpark to Battlespace: Applying Moneyball to Fleet Design
Acquisitions & Budget, AI & Cyber, Force Design
The MOC
Frozen Frontiers: The Navy’s Role in Emerging Arctic Sea Lanes
Arctic, Force Design, Geopolitics, Surface Warfare
External Article
Anchor Acquisition and Force Development on Targeting China’s C4ISR
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Geopolitics
The MOC
More Nuclear Energy, More Maritime Security
Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Political Economy
The MOC
Anchoring NATO’s Northern Flank: Why and How Poland Should Lead in the Baltic
Europe & Eurasia, Force Design, Undersea Warfare
The MOC
America’s Fleet of Ship-to-Shore Connectors: A Looming Crisis
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
Reports
Returning from Ebb Tide: Renewing the United States Commercial Maritime Enterprise
Acquisitions & Budget, AI & Cyber, Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Geopolitics, Industry & Innovation, Personnel, Political Economy, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
Overextended and Overwhelmed: Navigating Dual-Theater Challenges Facing the U.S. Navy
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, MENA, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Drone Revolution, or Prudent Military Action? It’s Important Not to Overstate the Effects of New Technology
Europe & Eurasia, MENA, AI & Cyber, Force Design
The MOC
Command Ships: Fighting from the Maritime Operations Center Afloat
Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
The MOC
The Department of the Navy’s Science and Technology Board Accelerates the Journey to Achieve a “Hybrid Fleet”
AI & Cyber, Force Design, Political Economy
The MOC
Keeping USMC H-1s Ready and Relevant for Today’s Crisis Management Response
AI & Cyber, Force Design
External Article
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Navy’s Surface Fleet
Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Remember the Indianapolis: The CMV-22B Osprey as the Centerpiece of Modern Naval CSAR
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design
The MOC
Energy Resilience at Sea: Navigating Sustainable Innovations Amidst Policy Shifts
Energy and Resource Security, Force Design
Live TV Interview
What we know about Russia’s new weapons after missile strike on Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia, Force Design, Geopolitics
The MOC
Sustaining the Distributed Joint Force in the Indo-Pacific
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Infantry Wins Battles, Logistics Wins Wars: The Role of the Army’s “Little Navy” in the Pacific
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design
The MOC
Limitations of German Maritime Security and Defense on NATO’s Eastern Front
Europe & Eurasia, Force Design, Geopolitics
The MOC
Assessing the 2024 Navigation Plan
Civil-Military, Force Design, Personnel, Strategy & Doctrine
External Article
The Navy has a Readiness Problem; Here are Solutions to Consider
Force Design, Industry & Innovation
The MOC
Fleets verses Forts, A Perennial Challenge
Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
The MOC
The CMV-22 OSPREY: A Game-Changer for Today’s COD and Tomorrow’s Contested Combat Logistics Support
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Surface Warfare
Maritime Nation
Wargaming War in the Western Pacific
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Civil-Military, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
A Nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile Sooner, Rather than Later
Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
Use the Defense Production Act to Jump-start Navy Munitions Production
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
The MOC
Sweden as an Ally: Implications for the Royal Swedish Navy and NATO
Europe & Eurasia, Force Design, Surface Warfare, Undersea Warfare
External Publication Reports
Staying Afloat: Why America Needs the Jones Act to Compete with China and What to Do Next
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
Maritime Nation
Securing the Commercial Maritime Industry
Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
The Clear Case Today for Globalization Preserving National Security: Part 2
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
The MOC
Littoral Naval Operations: Australia’s Experiences
Civil-Military, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats
The MOC
A Common Hull for New Navy Auxiliaries: The National Security Multi-Mission Vessel
Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine
Maritime Nation
Breaking Down the Defense Budget
Acquisitions & Budget, Civil-Military, Force Design
External Article
Lessons for the U.S. Navy from the Sinking of Russian Ship by Surface Drones
Europe & Eurasia, Force Design, Hybrid Threats, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Trans-Atlantic Security in Baltic II: New Polish Government with Changes in the NATO Eastern Flank
Europe & Eurasia, Force Design, Geopolitics
Maritime Nation
Special Episode: The Future of the Surface Navy
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Part II: Huzzah! There is a New Frigate on the Horizon
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
The MOC
U.S. Maritime Priorities for a New Era of Competition
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Civil-Military, Force Design, Geopolitics, Industry & Innovation, Political Economy, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare, Undersea Warfare
The MOC
How does a 1980s Video Game inform Uncrewed Surface Warfare Systems?
Americas, Europe & Eurasia, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Wargaming
Quoted in Publication
Uncharted waters: Navy navigating first-ever dismantling of nuclear-powered carrier
Americas, Acquisitions & Budget, Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
Maritime Nation
Our Naval Neighbor to the North: A Conversation with the 38th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy Vice Admiral Angus Topshee
Americas, Arctic, Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Europe & Eurasia, Force Design, Geopolitics, International Law, Strategy & Doctrine, Undersea Warfare
The MOC
More Combat Logistics Force Ships? Yes Please!
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design
The MOC
The Osprey COD Aircraft: Versatile Logistics for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
The MOC
“Zeitenwende” at Sea?: The German Navy’s Purchase of SeaRAMs and Bolstering Security in the Baltic Sea
Europe & Eurasia, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
The MOC
NATO’s Standing Naval Forces at the Crossroads: Towards Regionalization and Specialization?
Europe & Eurasia, Civil-Military, Force Design, Hybrid Threats, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
Bolstering Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific through Long Range Fires
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
External Article
Huge U.S. Naval Force off Israel comes with Costs
MENA, Acquisitions & Budget, Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding, Force Design, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Unmanned Vessels as Sensors in U.S. Naval Operations
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, AI & Cyber, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
External Article
Where’s the Nearest Carrier?
MENA, Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding, Force Design, Surface Warfare
The MOC
The Swedish Navy brings Capable Forces to NATO
Europe & Eurasia, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Hybrid Threats, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare, Undersea Warfare
The MOC
Transatlantic Security in Baltic: How Realistic is Poland’s Concept of protecting NATO’s Eastern Flank against Russian Aggression?
Europe & Eurasia, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
The MOC
To succeed against China, Washington and Its Allies must be in the South China Sea
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
External Article
Legitimate Questions about the U.S. Navy’s Struggle to change
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Surface Warfare
External Publication
The United States Navy needs An Operational Level of War Strategy to inform Fleet Design
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Roadblock to Strategy and Fleet Design: Platform-Centric Thinking
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
Quoted in Publication
Navy, Marine Corps test warfighting concepts
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Personnel, Wargaming
The MOC
Tending to a Distributed Maritime Operation: The Ongoing Need for More Navy Tenders
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Undersea Warfare
Maritime Nation
Quo Vadis: The Commission on the Future of the Navy
Americas, Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Europe & Eurasia, Civil-Military, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
Achieving More with Less: The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet Bets on Unmanned Vehicles and AI Systems to Bolster Maritime Domain Awareness
MENA, Acquisitions & Budget, AI & Cyber, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats, Industry & Innovation, Political Economy
The MOC
U.S. Air Technology in the Baltic can help Allies create a “Lake of NATO”
Europe & Eurasia, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
Quoted in Publication
Navy seeks to offer virtual training to more of the fleet
Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine, Wargaming
Quoted in Publication
Inside the Navy’s largest exercise: In command and under pressure
Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare, Wargaming
The MOC
Lessons from the Anglo-German Arms Race for the United States Navy
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Europe & Eurasia, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Geopolitics, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
Too Soon to Call: Betting against Warship Retirement
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Europe & Eurasia, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
Quoted in Publication
Global Warfighting Simulation Puts the Pressure on Navy, Marine Corps
Europe & Eurasia, MENA, Force Design, Personnel, Strategy & Doctrine, Wargaming
Quoted in Publication
Ukraine Offers Plan to Bypass Russia’s Black Sea Blockade
Europe & Eurasia, Force Design, Geopolitics, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
Adapting to a New Strategic Environment: The Royal Australian Navy and Australia’s 2023 Strategic Defense Review
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare, Undersea Warfare
The MOC
World War II’s Coral Sea and Midway Battles say the Modern U.S. Navy needs more Tactical Aircraft
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Strategy & Doctrine
Maritime Nation
Building the Coast Guard of the Future
Africa, Americas, Arctic, Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Europe & Eurasia, MENA, Acquisitions & Budget, Civil-Military, Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats, Personnel
The MOC
The Changing Characteristics of War in Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD): Generating “Panopticon and Blunt Effects” in Japan’s Maritime Zones
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Geopolitics, International Law, Surface Warfare
The MOC
The Enemy Below: Fighting against Russia’s Hybrid Underwater Warfare
Europe & Eurasia, Civil-Military, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats, Undersea Warfare
The MOC
Military Sealift Command can “Rule the Waves”
Americas, Europe & Eurasia, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Washington Must Carefully Establish Standing Indo-Pacific Maritime Group
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Hybrid Threats, Wargaming
The MOC
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Delivers at Sea
Europe & Eurasia, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Running Ahead of the Rust: The Dangers of Extending Warship Service Lives
Americas, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare
Maritime Nation
AUKUS: Strength, Silence, Surprise
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Europe & Eurasia, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Undersea Warfare
The MOC
Going Asymmetric: How Ukraine is Keeping Russia at Bay in the Black Sea
Europe & Eurasia, Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Should the EU learn from NATO’s Standing Naval Forces Model?
Europe & Eurasia, Civil-Military, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
Maritime Nation
The Silent Bridge and Empty Control Room: An Update on Unmanned Warfare above and below the Waves
AI & Cyber, Force Design, Hybrid Threats, Industry & Innovation, Surface Warfare, Undersea Warfare
The MOC
Washington Must Break China’s New Normal in the Taiwan Strait
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Civil-Military, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
The MOC
Army Munitions Operations in Maritime Environments
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
Article
Misaligned by Design: Structuring the U.S. Navy Post-Cold War
Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
Don’t Fix the Frigate: FFG-62 class is Fine without SM-6 and Tomahawk
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Surface Warfare
The MOC
What to Watch 2023: Three Things the Next CNO Should Know
Force Design, Geopolitics, Strategy & Doctrine
Article
Back to the Future: Resurrecting ‘Air/Sea Battle’ in the Pacific
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
What to Watch 2023: A Growing Navy, If You Can Keep It…
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
Media Backgrounder
New year, new Navy goal: SWO boss wants 75 ships ready daily
Force Design, Personnel, Surface Warfare
Article
Navy Shipyard Optimization Must Have A Digital Backbone
Acquisitions & Budget, AI & Cyber, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
Recorded Virtual Interview
Maritime COIN and Integrated Deterrence
Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding, Force Design, Geopolitics, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare
The MOC
America Does Not Sail Alone: Pacific Allied and Partner Fleets Are Part of the Equation
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Geopolitics, Strategy & Doctrine
Article
The Land Down Under the Sea: AUKUS is About Submarines, Not Bombers
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine, Undersea Warfare
Article
There is no Panacea, Competition with China Occurs in Peace and War
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Geopolitics, Strategy & Doctrine
Article
Big Mismatch Between the Biden Administration’s New Defense Plan and an Underfunded U.S. Navy
Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
The Administration’s National Defense Strategy Hinges on the Navy
Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
External Publication
From the Editor, Journal of Advanced Military Studies (Fall 2022) – Conflict on the Seas
Force Design, Geopolitics, Strategy & Doctrine, Surface Warfare, Undersea Warfare
The MOC
NAVPLAN 2022: Laying the Groundwork for the Future Force
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
The MOC
A Lesson in Force Design on a Tight Budget from Jackie Fisher
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design
Media Backgrounder
Inside the US military’s modern ‘island hopping’ campaign to take on China
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
Article
The 30-Year Shipbuilding Program is Not Enough
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation
Article
Sea Services Reach Tipping Point in Maintaining Readiness While Recapitalizing Forces
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Personnel
Article
How to lose the next war: Ignore the supply chain
Energy and Resource Security, Force Design, Strategy & Doctrine
External Article
Littoral Combat Ships for Maritime COIN
Force Design, Hybrid Threats, Surface Warfare
Podcast
Sea Control 197 – Naval Great Power Competition with Dr. Joshua Tallis and Hunter Stires
Force Design, Geopolitics, Surface Warfare
External Article
Win Without Fighting
Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding, Force Design, Geopolitics, Strategy & Doctrine
External Publication
“They Were Playing Chicken”—The U.S. Asiatic Fleet’s Gray-Zone Deterrence Campaign against Japan, 1937–40
Asia & the Indo-Pacific, Force Design, Geopolitics, Hybrid Threats, Surface Warfare
Podcast
Episode 399: The Asiatic Fleet of 1941 and its Lessons of Today
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design, Industry & Innovation, Political Economy
External Article
Exclusive: CNO Announces the Return of Vertical Launch System At-Sea Reloading
Acquisitions & Budget, Force Design