DOD is facing a confluence of crises and challenges it has not encountered in over a century. COVID‐19, renewed calls for racial equality, a critical need to invest in new technology, infrastructure and weapons systems, and increasing pressures for quality schools, housing and spouse employment opportunities, all occurring as our national defense strategy pivots to a new era of great power competition. It is clear that these challenges cannot be met by DOD alone, and that there is a key role for defense communities. Indeed, meeting these challenges will require a “one‐community” approach in which installations and communities must work together hand‐in‐hand. But what will this all mean for our nation’s defense infrastructure, both at home and abroad? How will installations and communities work together to ensure our nation remains strong?

With the 2021 NDAA working its way through Congress there is an emerging theme of modernization and focus on providing DOD with the ability to meet the growing threat posed by near‐peer competitors like Russia and China. Advanced technologies, new weapon systems and a reassessment of the needs of the industrial base are being prioritized, and there is a consensus that DOD must also make significant investments in new personnel requirements and the needs of military families. But against the backdrop of an historic election cycle, domestic crises and massive budget deficits, will DOD and Congress be able to meet the full range of national security challenges? Featuring national defense policy and budget experts, this discussion will explore how DOD and the next Congress might address these issues while at the same time ensuring that our military is ready to meet the challenge of a new era.

Over the past few years DOD and the services have placed a greater emphasis on improving the quality of life of its service members and military families, most recently tying these factors to future basing decisions. While communities have stepped up their efforts to address issues such as military child education and spouse employment, the COVID‐19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis have decimated local and state budgets forcing community decision makers to slash the very services that support quality of life. And with the recent murder of George Floyd, DOD and defense communities are also beginning to confront a troubled history of racial inequality and social injustice. This important discussion will explore the current state of key quality of life issues, emerging DOD policies and priorities, and the potential resources available to communities as they look to continue their efforts to provide great places for our service members to call home.

Over the past decade states and communities have invested heavily in their defense sectors. But as they look to weather the impacts of the current financial crisis, there are doubts that this type of support can continue at its current level. There are also national security implications as DOD and major weapons system suppliers are concerned of the impact the current environment will have on downstream manufactures and suppliers that may not be able to remain solvent, putting critical supply chains at risk. This discussion will focus on how DOD, defense community and industry leaders are managing the economic downturn, shoring up supply chains and developing new strategies and resources exist to help support recovery.