American Security Project

The American Security Project (ASP) is a Washington, D.C.-based national-security think tank founded in 2006 by John Kerry and Chuck Hagel. The organization presents security as a broad policy field extending beyond conventional military affairs, combining strategic, economic, environmental, diplomatic, and energy-related concerns. Its work has covered maritime security, climate security, energy security, relations between the United States and Russia, relations between the United States and China, and public diplomacy. ASP operates primarily as a research, analysis, and public-education organization. Its published work includes research reports, briefing notes, policy analyses, and guest commentary. It also convenes public events and seminar-style discussions with subject-matter specialists, creating a forum for debate over U.S. national-security policy. The organization produces a podcast titled “Flashpoint,” which provides another channel for discussing security developments and policy questions. The organization’s approach reflects an effort to connect traditional defense policy with longer-term risks and sources of national resilience. Climate change, energy transitions, military readiness, international relationships, and public diplomacy can all affect the security environment, and ASP’s subject areas therefore span both immediate strategic concerns and structural challenges. Examples of its published work include analysis of clean-energy transitions, wildfire management, hard-to-abate sectors, and the relationship between obesity and military recruiting shortfalls. ASP has received grant support from institutions including the Carnegie Corporation of New York. It is not a publicly listed company and is best understood as a policy research and advocacy organization rather than a commercial consumer brand. Publicly available reference material identifies Jim Ludes as its executive director from July 2006 through August 2011 and Stephen A. Cheney as its chief executive officer from August 2011. Its work is principally oriented toward U.S. policymakers, researchers, journalists, civil-society audiences, and members of the public interested in national security.

The American Security Project was established in 2006 by John Kerry and Chuck Hagel, two prominent U.S. political figures with experience in foreign policy, defense, and national affairs. From its beginning, the organization was structured as a Washington, D.C.-based think tank focused on broad questions of American security rather than on a single weapons system, region, or defense program. During its early period, Jim Ludes served as executive director from July 2006 until August 2011. In August 2011, Stephen A. Cheney was appointed chief executive officer. The leadership transition occurred as ASP continued developing its research and public-engagement activities in the national-security policy community. ASP’s substantive agenda has included maritime security, climate security, energy security, U.S.–Russia relations, U.S.–China relations, and public diplomacy. This range reflects a conception of security that includes military and geopolitical risks as well as environmental pressures, energy systems, international communication, and the resilience of national institutions. Rather than operating as a commercial provider, ASP has functioned through policy research, publications, expert discussion, and public education. Its publication program has included longer research reports, shorter policy briefs, briefing notes, and guest contributions. The organization has also hosted seminars and other events with subject-matter experts. Its “Flashpoint” podcast extends this work into an audio format, allowing discussions of security issues to reach audiences beyond formal written publications. Examples of ASP’s documented output include work on innovation and the clean-energy transition, wildfire management in Florida, hard-to-abate sectors in the energy transition, and the effect of obesity on military recruiting shortfalls. These topics illustrate the organization’s interest in the connections between climate, energy, public health, military capacity, and national resilience. ASP has received grant funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Available reference material does not establish a detailed chronology of all grants, publications, leadership changes, or organizational developments. It also does not provide sufficient information to document a current executive roster, major corporate transactions, or a comprehensive list of campaigns. The organization is not publicly listed and has no known stock ticker.

• 2011

  Leadership transition

  [1]American Security Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Jim Ludes’s executive-director tenure ended in August, and Stephen A. Cheney was appointed chief executive officer.

• 2006

  American Security Project founded

  [1]American Security Projecten.wikipedia.org

  John Kerry and Chuck Hagel founded the Washington, D.C.-based national-security think tank.

• 2006

  Jim Ludes begins executive-director tenure

  [1]American Security Projecten.wikipedia.org

  Jim Ludes became the organization’s executive director in July 2006.

An independent-leaning U.S. national-security think tank that links defense and foreign policy with climate, energy, maritime, economic, and public-diplomacy concerns.

• Policy research

  Research reports

  ASP publishes longer-form research examining national-security questions and their links to climate, energy, diplomacy, international relations, and other strategic issues. One documented example addresses innovation and recommendations for a clean-energy transition.

• Policy analysis

  Policy briefs and briefing notes

  Shorter publications provide focused analysis for policymakers and public audiences. Documented subjects include Florida wildfire management, hard-to-abate sectors in the clean-energy transition, and obesity’s contribution to military recruiting shortfalls.

• Podcast

  Flashpoint

  Flashpoint is ASP’s podcast program, offering discussions and commentary on national-security and related policy developments.

• Events

  Expert seminars and public events

  The organization hosts seminars and discussions involving subject-matter experts. These events serve as a public forum for examining U.S. security, international affairs, climate, energy, and related policy questions.

1. 1American Security Projecten.wikipedia.org
2. 2American Security Project official websiteamericansecurityproject.org