How have recent conflicts shaped the thinking around the role of the Marine Corps and how it can be effectively deployed? What are the top technology priorities for the USMC and how can it adapt or update existing systems to ensure Marines have the tools they need in the field?​

Congress faces a number of critical questions in the upcoming months, including the status of the defense budget and NDAA, building a more robust industrial base and ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. Looming over all of those questions is the 2024 presidential election and what its winner’s priorities will be.​

As conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East continue, the Army is looking at how it needs to adapt to the new reality of warfare and how its modernization strategy can help meet the challenges of the modern battlefield. Among the challenges are defining the necessary combat vehicle capabilities, operating in contested and denied environments, and the future of Army aviation. ​

The Air Force’s ongoing reorganization and streamlining of its fleet is shaping its capabilities in the short-, medium- and long-term futures. What challenges does the Air Force face in meeting its future goals? Is it on track to meet its preferred timelines? If not, what does it need to do to get there?

As Space Force builds out the infrastructure it needs — from both technology and personnel perspectives — it faces a number of challenges, including building and securing both terrestrial and ground operations, recruiting, training and retaining people with the skillsets it needs and developing the communications capabilities required to ensure they are dependable, resilient and able to deliver data in a timely manner. ​

In 2011, veterans and military spouses faced alarming unemployment rates, exacerbated by the strains of ongoing wars and societal misperceptions. Challenges persist, including outdated perceptions of veterans and persistently high unemployment among military spouses. Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort to transition from merely ‘veteran friendly’ to truly enabling military families to thrive, leveraging existing networks and lessons learned.

Looking ahead, the focus extends beyond employment to nurturing a positive narrative around military service and closing the skills gap in defense-related industries. The initiative underscores the potential for a broader societal shift towards valuing military experience and integrating veterans and their families more seamlessly into civilian life. By applying the successful strategies of the past, there’s an opportunity to reshape recruitment strategies, bolster defense industries, and reconsider the implications of military spouse unemployment, framing it not just as a crisis but as an area ripe for innovation and support. This ongoing effort aims to build upon past achievements, encouraging a movement towards comprehensive support and recognition for those who have served.

Scaling up the use of unmanned vehicles is a top priority for the Navy, with extensive testing of prototypes and experimentation in multiple fleets. But when and how should the Navy start buying UAVs at the scale needed to effectively use them? Will they be used by the fleets or by strike groups when they deploy? These and other questions will determine the success of the Navy’s push towards more unmanned usage. ​