Infrastructure Matters: The Hidden Challenges Behind America’s Semiconductor Ambitions
New chip fabs are being planned nationwide—but without power, permitting, and people, they may never run. In Part 3 of our semiconductor resilience series, Christian Cabaniss, military operations analyst at SPA and USMC Col Ret, highlights the massive infrastructure challenges behind domestic chip production. From 20-year permitting timelines to critical labor shortages, this piece details why c
Risk vs. Uncertainty: Building Resilience into America’s Semiconductor Future
What’s the difference between risk and uncertainty—and why does it matter for national security? In Part 2 of our series, Christian Cabaniss makes the case that static planning models are failing America’s semiconductor strategy. From Taiwan’s outsized role to fragile, global supply webs, the reality is more complex than risk assessments suggest. This piece offers a blueprint for resilienc
Beyond the Chip: Why National Security Depends on the Entire Semiconductor Ecosystem
For most Americans, semiconductors remain invisible—embedded in smartphones, appliances, cars, and computers without a second thought. But for those in national security and defense policy, the global semiconductor industry is now front and center, tied to questions of military readiness, economic resilience, and geopolitical competition.
Space Warfare: How the U.S. Can Stay Ahead in the Orbital Arms Race
The space domain has transformed in scale, scope, and strategic consequence. What once was a benign operational backdrop is now a contested warfighting domain. China and Russia continue to develop and demonstrate counterspace weapons—from direct-ascent ASATs and co-orbital platforms to jammers and directed energy systems—explicitly designed to undermine U.S. freedom of action in space.
Operating in a Contested Orbit: Why Culture and Doctrine Are Key Elements of Space Superiority
In 2008, the number of tracked objects in orbit was just over 9,500. Today, that number exceeds 47,000—and rising. Satellites, debris, and maneuverable platforms crowd every regime from LEO to GEO. “The space domain is now much more congested, populated by systems of various sizes, different orbital regimes, and operated by adversaries as well as ourselves,” explains Dave Meteyer, Group Lead
From Viable to Defendable: Designing Programs That Deliver
In defense acquisition, selecting the best technical solution is not enough. Success depends on how well that choice holds up under scrutiny—from oversight bodies, Congress, and operational users alike—while ensuring the program performs as intended. That’s where the traditional approach to Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) falls short.
