Center on Military and Political Power

About

The United States confronts “the most serious and most challenging” geostrategic environment since 1945 with a potential for “near-term major war,” according to the 2024 report of the bipartisan Commission on the National Defense Strategy. China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea constitute an emerging “Axis of Aggressors.” Their growing cooperation increases the capability, capacity, readiness, and resilience of each adversary — creating genuine dilemmas and challenges for the United States. Yet, Washington is spending near post-World War II lows on the Department of Defense measured as a percentage of gross domestic product. U.S. military superiority has deteriorated or eroded in key areas, and the balance of power in strategic locations has shifted in ways that undermine American interests, empower enemies, and invite aggression.

To spur urgent action, FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) promotes understanding of the defense strategies, policies, and capabilities necessary to deter and defeat threats to the freedom, security, and prosperity of Americans and our allies.

CMPP assesses current threats and policies to identify foreign policy and national security decisions that are likely to be made in the next one to 18 months. The center then conducts rigorous, timely, and in-depth research to understand the problem, threat, or opportunity; identifies and articulates the relevant American interest; develops specific policy recommendations; and conducts actionable, outcome-focused educational outreach to stakeholders.

CMPP offers a unique ability to understand and connect the grand strategic, strategic, operational, tactical, and military-technical levels of strategy and analysis, explaining what is necessary to defend American interests. CMPP experts can, for example, explain why American military strength, forward posture, and support for allies and beleaguered democratic partners such as Taiwan, Ukraine, and Israel, as well as international leadership and engagement, serve American interests. They can also explain what specific U.S. military capabilities, capacities, readiness levels, weapons, munitions, postures, and defense budgets are necessary to defend American interests against specific threats.

Some can discuss policy and strategy. Some can discuss weapons and munitions. CMPP experts can speak with credibility on both. This ability to connect ends and means with a focus on outcomes for our country explains why CMPP has become a leading resource for policymakers from both parties.

To achieve its research and policy objectives, CMPP employs the full range of research, publications, meetings, briefings, interviews, roundtables, podcasts, and events. CMPP has published cutting-edge monographs on topics such as U.S. forward military posture, information warfare, and the American defense industrial base. CMPP also publishes shorter analytical pieces with recommendations related to current news stories and defense policy and strategy developments and decisions.

CMPP hosts FDD’s Air and Missile Defense Program, which conducts rigorous and timely research regarding the air and missile defense capabilities necessary to protect the United States, its forward deployed forces, and its allies and partners from adversary aircraft, missiles, and drones.

CMPP features professional development and research opportunities for active-duty U.S. military personnel, including a Visiting Military Officer Program and FDD’s National Security Fellows Program.

CMPP also features one of FDD’s long-standing premier projects: FDD’s Long War Journal, which provides accurate reporting and analysis of ongoing efforts to address jihadism, conflicts between state and non-state actors, and warfare between states. While great power competition has returned with a vengeance, the threat from Islamist terrorism will not dissipate anytime soon.

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, the 26th U.S. national security advisor, is the chairman of CMPP’s board of advisors. CMPP’s board of advisors includes former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Amb. Eric Edelman, Gen. (Ret.) Laura Richardson, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Edward C. Cardon, John Hannah, Dr. David Kilcullen, Dr. Samantha Ravich, and Roger Zakheim.

CMPP is led by Senior Director Bradley Bowman. Key CMPP staff also include Research Fellow Dr. Lydia LaFavor, Senior Research Analyst Ryan Brobst, and Research Analyst Cameron McMillan.

CMPP is one of FDD’s centers on American power, which also include FDD’s Center on Economic and Financial Power and FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.

Air and Missile Defense Program

FDD’s Air and Missile Defense Program conducts rigorous and timely research regarding the air and missile defense capabilities necessary to protect the United States, its forward deployed forces, and its allies and partners from adversary missiles, aircraft, and drones.

Learn More

CMPP Visiting Military Officer Program

FDD’s Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) offers fellowship opportunities for full-time active-duty U.S. military officers to gain research and publication experience on issues related to U.S. defense policy and strategy. The fellowship is open to officers with the rank of O-3 to O-6.

Learn More

CMPP Monographs

Experts from CMPP conduct rigorous, timely, and in-depth research to understand problems, threats, and opportunities and promote specific policy recommendations in major publications.

Learn More

FDD's Long War Journal

FDD’s Long War Journal provides accurate reporting and analysis of ongoing efforts to address jihadism, conflicts between state and non-state actors, and warfare between states. This is accomplished through original reporting, including by embedded reporters, news aggregation, maps, podcasts, and other formats.

Learn More