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Reports, articles, and other resources
Participants: Zoë Baird, CEO and President, Markle Foundation Nicholas Burns, Goodman Family Professor of Diplomacy and International Relations, Harvard University Thomas Donilon, Former National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama Michèle Flournoy, Co-Founder and CEO, Center for a New American Security Steve Hadley, Former National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush Jane Holl Lute, Under Secretary General, United Nations Joseph Nye, University Distinguished Service Professor, Harvard University Dov Zakheim, Former Under Secretary of Defense America's National Security Architecture: Rebuilding the Foundation The panelists discussed issues from America's National Security Architecture: Rebuilding the Foundation, the latest edition to the Aspen Strategy Group's series of publications released annually to inform timely debates in the public domain about ongoing foreign policy challenges and emerging threats to U.S. national security. In August 2016, the Aspen Strategy Group examined how to reform America's national security decision-making process. The papers in this volume provide practical solutions to repair the key functions of Washington's executive departments, agencies, and advisory bodies responsible for shaping U.S. foreign policy and national security. Read Government For A Digital Economy by Zoë Baird. Watch Panel Discussion
“Our nation seeks major change, and the next president can set in motion a transformative initiative to expand digital economy jobs and dramatically reshape how the government operates.” —Zoë Baird Government For A Digital Economy—In A Time Of Deeply Intertwined Economic And National Security Imperatives By Zoë Baird The private sector is transforming at record speed for the digital economy. As recently as 2008, when America elected President Obama, most large companies had separate IT departments, which were seen as just that—departments—separate from the heart of the business. Now, as wireless networks connect the planet, and entire companies exist in the cloud, digital technology is no longer viewed as another arrow in the corporate quiver, but rather the very foundation upon which all functions are built. This, then, is the mark of the digital era: in order to remain successful, modern enterprises must both leverage digital technology and develop a culture that values its significance within the organization. For the federal government to help all Americans thrive in this new economy, and for the government to be an engine of growth, it too must enter the digital era. On a basic level, we need to improve the government’s digital infrastructure and use technology to deliver government services better. But a government for the digital economy needs to take bold steps to embed these actions as part of a large and comprehensive transformation in how it goes about the business of governing. We should not only call on the “IT department” to provide tools, we must completely change the way we think about how a digital age government learns about the world, makes policy, and operates against its objectives. Government today does not reflect the fundamental attributes of the digital age. It moves slowly at a time when information travels around the globe at literally the speed of light. It takes many years to develop and implement comprehensive policy in a world characterized increasingly by experimentation and iterative midcourse adjustments. It remains departmentally balkanized and hierarchical in an era of networks and collaborative problem solving. It assumes that it possesses the expertise necessary to make decisions while most of the knowledge resides at the edges. It is bogged down in legacy structures and policy regimes that do not take advantage of digital tools, and worse, create unnecessary barriers that hold progress back. Moreover, it is viewed by its citizens as opaque and complex in an era when openness and access are attributes of legitimacy. Download the Chapter
This session discusses the role of the government in protecting the nation from cyber-attacks to public and private infrastructure in an era of expanding threats, and the challenges faced as many commercial firms strategically distance themselves from the U.S. government in order to expand their global consumer base. Panelists: Zoë Baird, CEO and President, Markle Foundation Michael Chertoff, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, The Chertoff Group; Former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Leiter, Executive Vice President, Business Development, Leidos; Former Director, National Counterterrorism Center Tim Reardon, Vice President and General Manager, Defense and Intelligence Solutions, Lockheed Martin Moderator: Shaun Waterman, Editor, POLITICO Pro Cybersecurity
Markle Chief of Research Stefaan Verhulst is participating at Open Up, a by-invitation only conference sponsored by DFID, the Omidyar Network and Wired magazine, and hosted by Justine Greenberg, UK Secretary of State for International Development, Wired editor David Rowan and Stephen King, a partner of the Omidyar Network. The event brings together civil and private sector entrepreneurs, policy makers and leaders from academia and non-profit research to stimulate action in open governance, open data and transparency. The conference additionally focuses on how web and mobile technologies can drive citizen engagement, and calls upon speakers’ case studies. Note: Video from the event is available atopenup12.org/livestream.
The IJIS Institute 2012 Briefing will examine recent developments in the justice, public safety, and homeland security information sharing and IT market at its semi-annual Industry Briefing. Markle Task Force member Jeffrey H. Smith will deliver the keynote address. The event offers the following: A look at Information Sharing and National Initiatives that Impact our Nation's Safety and Security Break-Out Sessions for Technical Staff and Executives Networking Opportunities with Industry and Government Attendees 2nd Annual Badge & Tech Benefit Gala For more information, visit IJIS.
On October 12, 2011, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs held a hearing titled, "Ten Years After 9/11: A Status Report on Information Sharing." Markle President Zoe Baird and Jeffrey H. Smithof theMarkle Task Force on National Security in the Information Agepresented testimony on behalf of the Markle Task Force. In the decade since the September 11 attacks, our government has responded to the threat of terrorism by transforming itself in important ways. Government officials work together in new ways, and information sharing has become a widely accepted goal. While we have accelerated a virtual reorganization in how the government works against terrorism, more is needed to protect civil liberties and to manage use of information. In our testimony, we offer further recommendations for improving information sharing and continuing the post-9/11 transformation.
On October 12, 2011, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing titled, "Ten Years After 9/11: A Status Report on Information Sharing." In response to the Committee's request, Markle President Zoe Baird and Jeffrey H. Smith of the Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age will present testimony on behalf of theMarkle Task Force. In the decade since the September 11 attacks, our government has responded to the threat of terrorism by transforming itself in important ways. Government officials work together in new ways, and information sharing has become a widely accepted goal. While we have accelerated a virtual reorganization in how the government works against terrorism, more is needed to protect civil liberties and to manage use of information. In our testimony, we offer further recommendations for improving information sharing and continuing the post-9/11 transformation.
Markle’s president, Zoë Baird Budinger, participates in discussion among a panel of leading policy experts and members of the Aspen Strategy Group, moderated by Ambassador Nicholas Burns. The panel of leading experts discussing the approaching ten year anniversary of 9/11 also features Madeleine Albright; Chair, Albright Stonebridge Group; Stephen Hadley; Senior Adviser for International Affairs at the United States Institute of Peace, and Principal in The RiceHadley Group, LLC; Philip Zelikow; Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Professor of History, University of Virginia and Chair of the 9/11 Commission. Watch Video
Since 9/11, there has been measurable progress in protecting the nation against terrorism and other threats to our national security. In recognition of the tenth year anniversary, Zoë Baird Budinger, President of the Markle Foundation, and Jeffrey H. Smith, a member of the Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age, concluded in a Washington Post Op-Ed that there is evidence in the fight against terrorism that, in fact, government has been able to transform itself. More than ten years later there has beena virtual reorganization of government, a new way of thinking that inspires reform in the way agencies, people, and technology collaborate and communicate. The virtual reorganization of government is a new way of thinking that is changing how agencies, people, and technology collaborate and communicate. The "need to know" culture of the Cold War is being replaced by the "need to share" principle. Information is increasingly decentralized and distributed. Informal and flexible groups of analysts from different parts of government and the private sector are able to work together and share expertise. These findings, along with a discussion of the remaining challenges, were presented last year in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The virtual reorganization that changed counterterrorism can also make a difference in other national interests, especially as economic and fiscal challenges heighten the need to reduce government's cost and improve its function. Over the years, the Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age has recommended ways to improve decisions affecting our national security by changing how government works, transforming business and information sharing processes. Read Markle Task Force Reports Read Markle Task Force Briefs
Stefaan Verhulst, Markle’s Chief of Research, participates in a discussion ‘Information Sharing: The Unintended Consequences’ at this full day conference exploring innovative ideas on how technology intersects with human capital and performance management. This conference features two sessions examining how technology is being used to improve efficiency of the federal government, performance and public access, and explaining what every agency needs to know about the new era of IT performance management and accountability. Learn more about this event.
Markle's Chief of Research, Stefaan Verhulst, participates on the working group ‘Challenges of Cyberspace Research’ at this public forum focusing on addressing the challenges of balancing cyber security with respect for democracy, governance, and human rights, and the preservation of cyberspace as an open commons. The dialogue features debates and facilitated conversations that will grapple with the hard questions presented by the new commons of cyberspace. Learn more about this event.
On March 10, 2011, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing entitled,Information Sharing in the Era of WikiLeaks: Balancing Security and Collaboration. The Committee invited the Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age to submit written testimony. Our testimony builds upon previous recommendations made by the Markle Task Force. We conclude that the lesson the US government should take away from the WikiLeaks release of sensitive and classified US documents is not that security professionals should reduce or stop sharing critical counter-terrorism information. A substantial change has occurred throughout government: Information sharing has become more widespread, thus enabling security professionals to better respond to new threats. Instead of reversing this progress, the government must improve the capability to better share information while concurrently developing the policies, processes, and organizational culture that control access and use to that information. Technology is changing and improving at an incredibly rapid pace. In order to better protect Americans, the government should embrace new technologies instead of fighting them. Only in this manner can the government build an Information Sharing Environment that those who are working to protect us can trust and use, and that the American people can trust to protect their privacy and civil liberties.
