Truman National Security Project

Congratulations to Tony Johnson, former Truman CEO and longtime member of our community, on joining Purposeful Advisors as a Senior Advisor.

Tony brings more than three decades of experience across the defense and intelligence community, including advising senior Pentagon leadership and leading strategic red-team exercises to stress-test national security strategy.

At Purposeful, he’ll focus on the growing intersection of emerging technologies, national security, and regulatory risk.

We’re proud to see Truman members continuing to shape the conversations and institutions that matter.

Read more: https://bit.ly/40nC1zC

Pentagon Red Team Expert Anthony Johnson Joins Purposeful Advisors Former Pentagon advisor expands the firm’s work on national security, dual-use technology, and regulatory risk facing

Congrats to Truman member Ryan Greer on his new role as Chief Strategy Officer at PERIL.

Ryan has spent his career working at the intersection of national security, community resilience, and violence prevention. In this new role, he’ll help guide strategy as PERIL and Bedrock bring their work together to strengthen efforts to counter hate-fueled and targeted violence.

We’re proud to see Truman members continuing to lead in some of the most important challenges facing our communities.

Read more:

Ryan Greer Joins PERIL as Chief Strategy Officer as Bedrock Merger Moves Forward - HSToday Ryan Greer has joined the Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) as its Chief Strategy Officer while also transitioning to Chair of Bedrock as the two organizations move ahead with a planned merger.

New from Truman member Julie Roland in The Fulcrum:
“Trump Has Betrayed the Troops Again.”

Drawing on her experience as a naval officer, Julie warns that new VA rules could reduce disability compensation for millions of veterans while staffing cuts threaten access to care. She argues that changing how disabilities are evaluated — including assessing them after medication — could leave veterans with fewer benefits and discourage needed treatment.

At a moment when the United States may be entering new conflicts, the question she raises is simple: Will we keep our promise to those who serve?

Read the full piece:
https://bit.ly/3MSU51q

Trump Has Betrayed the Troops Again It is old news that President Trump neglects and disrespects veterans, but now, as he engages in a new war, he is maliciously targeting them. Veterans compose 30% of the federal workforce; by this time last year, the draft dodger who referred to fallen American soldiers as ‘losers’ and ‘sucker...

New from Truman board member Colin Kahl in Foreign Affairs: “What Is the Endgame in Iran?”

In the piece, Colin examines the strategic questions surrounding the conflict and argues that wars launched without clearly defined political objectives rarely end well.

It’s an important contribution to a critical debate about strategy, legitimacy, and the long-term implications of military action.

Read the article: https://fam.ag/3P2saN5

What Is the Endgame in Iran? Trump needs to figure out what he wants—and quickly.

The United States has initiated military strikes in Iran.

Iran’s actions in the region are a serious security concern. But the use of force is never abstract — it carries real risks for service members and civilians alike.

Military action must be guided by clearly defined objectives, constitutional accountability, and a broader diplomatic strategy. Protecting civilian lives must remain a priority.

Read our full statement here:
🔗

Statement on U.S. Strikes in Iran | The Truman National Security Project Press Statements by the Staff of Truman National Security Project

Check out this artcile by Truman National Security Project Member, Camille J. Mackler, on how security is about precision, credibility and protecting the human networks our intelligence and future operations depend on.

https://bit.ly/4bZKn7q

The Strategic Cost of Collective Punishment How nationality-based enforcement after the National Guard shooting weakens U.S. security.

📢 Venezuela Series — Session II | Feb 20 at 1 PM ET
We’re continuing our Venezuela conversation with Ambassador James Story and Amanda Curtis Mattingly, focusing on how Venezuela got here and the regional dynamics that matter most. This session is designed to give you a shared analytical baseline — moving beyond personalities and headlines to deeper understanding. Join us!

For more information, check out our website here: https://bit.ly/4atpoYk
Register here: https://bit.ly/4042MZm

Next Friday, NASA doesn't just launch a rocket. We launch a new era.

The Moon is no longer somewhere we visit. It's becoming somewhere we stay. And that changes everything.

Here's the reality: space isn't getting easier—it's getting farther. Longer missions. Lunar bases. Deep-space exploration. Every mile we push outward makes the human body the most critical piece of technology we have.

A recent medical emergency forced the evacuation of a U.S. space crew—a stark reminder that even near Earth, health risks can derail entire missions in minutes. Now imagine that scenario 240,000 miles away, with no quick return option.

If we're serious about leading in space, astronaut health isn't a side issue—it's the foundation.

It determines:

Whether missions succeed or abort
Whether crews come home safely
Whether our word as a spacefaring nation holds weight
Whether we can sustain what we build
This isn't just medicine. It's infrastructure. It's readiness. It's a national capability.

The Truman National Security Project | The High Ground: Solving Spaceflight’s Hidden Medical Risk Why Washington needs SANS research to Win the New Space Race

EVENT SERIES ANNOUNCEMENT -

Venezuela: Power, Legitimacy, and the Limits of Force
A Three-Part Learning Series

At moments of crisis, pressure mounts to act quickly. This series deliberately creates space for clear thinking grounded in regional expertise, historical experience, and the rule of law.

We will equip participants with the political, economic, legal, and strategic context needed to assess U.S. actions responsibly—particularly where military force, governance, and resource interests intersect.

This approach reflects Truman’s core belief that national security is strongest when power is exercised with legitimacy, restraint, and accountability.

Register for the first session, taking place on February 5 at 1:00 PM ET.

When the state’s use of force loses public trust, democracy becomes less secure.

The recent ICE shooting in Minneapolis raises serious national security questions about legitimacy, accountability, and the long-term stability of our institutions.

Today, the Truman National Security Project released a statement focused on democratic principles and systemic risk, not political reaction, and not speculation about facts still under investigation.

A secure democracy requires both power and legitimacy.
🔗 Read the full statement here:

Use of Force, Democratic Legitimacy, and National Security Risk | The Truman National Security Project Press Statements by the Staff of Truman National Security Project

In a new Fulcrum op-ed, one of our members, Julie Roland, lays out why women’s full participation in the U.S. military is essential to readiness and national security. https://bit.ly/3LCxkxZ

We Can’t Let Hegseth Win His War on Women When Hegseth ordered all top brass to assemble in Quantico in September, he declared women could either meet male standards for combat roles or get cut. Strong message, except the military was already doing that, so Hegseth was either oblivious or ignoring decades of history. Confusion aside, it rea...