Armed Services Leadership Announces Selections for Commission on the National Defense Strategy

Today, the bipartisan leadership of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees announced the full roster of commissioners, including selections for Chair and Vice Chair, to the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, pursuant to Sec. 1095 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22).

The Commission will examine the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) and make recommendations for its implementation. The commissioners will examine the assumptions, objectives, defense investments, force posture and structure, operational concepts, and military risks of the NDS. The Commission will also assess the global security environment, threats to the United States’ national security, the current design and readiness of the force, and the amount and allocation of resources. A final report with recommendations for the NDS will be delivered within one year after establishment of the Commission.

Jane Harman was selected to serve as Chair of the Commission. Harman served nine terms in Congress as the U.S. representative for California's 36th congressional district, was ranking member of the Intelligence Committee for four years after 9/11, and principal co-author of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.  She left the House in 2011 to succeed former Rep. Lee Hamilton as the first woman president and CEO of the Wilson Center, has served on numerous advisory boards (CIA, DNI, DOD, and State Department) and currently serves on boards for DHS and NASA. After completing a decade at the Wilson Center, she now chairs the board of Freedom House, is a Hauser Leader at the Kennedy School and a Presidential Scholar at USC.

Eric Edelman was selected to serve as Vice Chair of the Commission. He is currently Counselor at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Edelman served as Undersecretary of Defense (Policy) from 2005-2009. He served as U.S. ambassador to Finland in the Clinton administration and Turkey in the Bush administration and was Vice President Cheney's principal deputy assistant for national security affairs. He was chief of staff to Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, special assistant to Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Robert Kimmitt, and special assistant to Secretary of State George Shultz. Ambassador Edelman also served as co-chair of the previous National Defense Strategy Commission.

The full list of commissioners include:

• Jane Harman (Chair)
• Eric Edelman (Vice Chair)
• John “Jack” Keane
• Thomas Mahnken
• Mara Rudman
• Mariah Sixkiller
• Alissa Starzak
• Roger Zakheim

Click here to read the full text of Sec. 1095 in S. 1605, the FY22 NDAA.