SMA Projects

Background: In early 2022, the Joint Staff J7 asked SMA to initiate an effort extending previous work by the Army Training and Doctrine Command’s (TRADOC) Global Cultural Knowledge Network (GCKN), “Exploitable Conditions Framework,” to 1) inform Combatant Commands’ and Services’ ability to compete successfully in the future strategic environment and 2) supplement ongoing investigations into strategic competition.

At the request of the Deputy Commander of U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. European Command, SMA initiated a study to evaluate current deterrence frameworks, their shortfalls in today’s environment, and potential alternative deterrence constructs to address the growing number of challenges to deterrence.

NSI participated in a large effort focused on identifying areas of strategic risk and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region over the next two decades. A rising China resides within a very dynamic Asia-Pacific region. A long list of Chinese influence and investment activities abroad together with an active military enhancement program indicate that China is positioning itself to pursue national security interests well beyond the Pacific Rim.

In June 2021, USSTRATCOM posed a series of questions to the Joint Staff Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) office regarding the implications of the increasing numbers, and expanding capabilities, of US nuclear adversaries, to include the integration of nuclear weapons into some of their operational concepts for future warfare.

In January 2020, Headquarters U.S. Air Force (HAF), in cooperation with the Joint Staff, requested SMA to address relevant aspects of JROCM 068-19, “Operations in the Information Environment DOTMLPF-P Change Recommendation (DCR). The purpose of this SMA effort was to assess how the Joint Force can most effectively integrate information and influence into its activities across the competition-conflict continuum.

At the request of the Joint Staff, SMA initiated an effort in April 2018 to develop a sound understanding of plausible near-term strategic outcomes of executing US political-military options to counter or defeat Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) threats to US national interests, ally and partner interests, and regional stability.

In 2019, at the request of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), SMA initiated a study to understand the strategic implications of destabilizing population dynamics within the Central Region. SMA considered drivers of instability in the region to include long-term internally displaced persons and refugees, spread of radical ideologies and extremism, great power competition, disruptive non-state actors, and the potential for “black swan” scenarios (POCs: COL Andrew DeJesse).

In the South Asia I project, SMA was asked to develop options for promoting geopolitical stability in South Asia in light of continuing regional rivalries, the eventual withdrawal of ISAF forces from Afghanistan, and the preponderance of violent extremist organizations (VEOs) in the region.

In February 2022, the Joint Staff J7 asked SMA to initiate an effort extending previous work by the Army Training and Doctrine Command’s (TRADOC) Global Cultural Knowledge Network (GCKN), “Exploitable Conditions Framework,” to 1) inform Combatant Commands’ and Services’ ability to compete successfully in the future strategic environment and 2) supplement ongoing investigations into strategic competition.

At the request of the Joint Staff, SMA initiated a study in July 2017 to determine what are the options to assure that the capabilities the US military (and its partners) expect from US national security space will continue to provide a clear military advantage relative to the space-related capabilities available to potential adversaries.