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National Security Analysis Department

Innovation and dedication to contributing agile, responsive, and valuable research to our sponsors puts us in the forefront of addressing critical military and national security challenges with critical solutions. National security analysis at APL has been an integral part of the systems engineering process since 1948, ranging from operational concept development to weapon system engineering. APL's National Security Analysis provided the requirements rationale for every major surface combatant since Aegis as well as the analytical underpinning for the military utility of new systems such as Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) and Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (TBM). We have influenced the shaping of the post-Cold-War Navy through OPNAV studies and Flag-level WALEXs (analysis exercises in APL's Warfare Analysis Laboratory).

APL's mission remains unchanged since World War II: to serve as an unfailing source of intelligent, objective information to support leaders with cutting-edge analyses for improved decision making.  We support our sponsors with deep domain expertise and objective, valuable analysis—based on real-world knowledge of emerging threats to national security. APL's National Security Analysis Department (NSAD) is a leader in defining critical strategic, operational, and tactical challenges in irregular warfare, advanced technology capability development, and operational and strategic responses to emerging threats.

Analysis has taken on increasing importance as the services and the Joint Staff continue the process of transformation—operating in a dynamic economy and dealing with an increasing global demand for resources and the use of soft power. Emerging asymmetric threats, the war on terror, cyber warfare, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continue to force changes in traditional military operations. Department analysts apply operations analysis techniques to understand and solve these and emerging complex operational problems. This process involves problem definition, mission needs analysis, concept evaluation, and systems effectiveness analysis. These efforts help APL sponsors understand and incorporate new warfighting concepts and requirements, while innovatively developing and acquiring affordable and sustainable systems.

APL's proven analysis process can help ensure that future military capabilities are relevant to evolving national security priorities. NSAD's focus areas include operational analysis, mission analysis, threat analysis, scenario development, and modeling and simulation. In another principal focus area, strategic assessments, NSAD engages leaders at the national security policy level in broad-ranging analyses and published assessments of national security policy and strategy.

Typical Department Roles

• Define emerging national security challenges
• Characterize the operational context for future systems
• Identify future system capabilities and requirements
• Assess the impact, utility, and effectiveness of new technologies, operational concepts, and integrated systems on
  • Joint Force Effectiveness
  • National Security Policy