Thank you for visiting the website of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century. We are chartered to provide the most comprehensive government-sponsored review of U.S. national security in more than 50 years. What does that mean?

Broader Than You’d Think—While most analyses of national security have focused on U.S. military capabilities and on our diplomatic efforts, we look at things a bit differently.  We think that technological advances, the education of America’s youth, and commercial relationships are all crucial to the America’s security. When we have looked at alternative futures for the United States and the world through 2025 [link to Phase I report, possibly with graphics from the report cover] and at the role the United States should play in that world [link to Phase II report, possible with graphics from the report cover], we have explicitly considered these non-traditional components of national security.

The Commission has recently released its Phase III Report, “Road Map for National Security: Imperative for Change.” The Phase III Report addresses a broad range of issues, from securing the national homeland to redesigning government institutions and examining human requirements for national security, including the role of Congress. The Commission has proposed serious solutions to serious problems and invites you to weigh in your opinions on the issues that will affect you, your community and the country in the coming century.

We have designed this website not only to tell you what the Commission has worked on, but also to get your feedback. While we have just completed the critical final phase of our work, we are interested in your views and reactions. What do you think of the issues we addressed? Tell us your experiences.

 a.   If you are a current or former member of the military or government employee, we want to know what you think needs to be done to ensure that these groups work effectively.
 b.   If you have a background in information technology, tell us how you think government can better use today’s and tomorrow’s technologies and how it can entice IT professionals to work in government service.
 c.   If you are a student, weigh in with your assessment of whether student loan repayments would entice you to work for the government or to join the military.
 d.   If you are a parent, student or teacher, tell us what you think about America’s education system, and what we can do about it.
 e.   And if you are just an interested citizen, we want to know what you think about any of these issues.  They affect your future as much as they do those within the Washington policy-making community.

We hope you enjoy learning more about the Commission throughout this site.We look forward to engaging in your debates!  Please join us.