published a report (opens in new tab)
Founded 2007 · 195 employees on LinkedIn · 1 known investors
The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is a think tank that produces research, analysis, and commentary on U.S. national security and defense policy, covering topics such as defense, technology, transatlantic security, and economics. It also runs fellowship programs, events, and publications aimed at policymakers and the national security community.
Also known as Center for a New American Security · Centre for a New American Security · CNAS
Founders & leadership
published a report (opens in new tab) was founded in 2007 by Michèle Flournoy.
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is a national security research organization that publishes reports, commentary, podcasts, video, and press analysis on U.S. defense and foreign policy. Its public website organizes output into research programs including Defense, Indo-Pacific Security, Technology & National Security, Transatlantic Security, National Security Human Capital, Energy, Economics & Security, and Middle East Security.
Recent report output visible on the site includes "Red Lines" (June 12, 2026) on the national security implications of Chinese advanced artificial intelligence systems; "Thwarting Communications Blackout" (May 28, 2026) on contestation over the physical means of transmitting information between Taiwan, the United States, and China; "The Entanglement Edge" (May 26, 2026) on quantum networking as a dimension of U.S.-China quantum competition; and "Invested Allies" (May 21, 2026) on U.S. domestic capability and supply chain resilience in sectors critical to economic security, including semiconductors. The organization also runs a commentary series, CNAS Insights, covering topics such as sovereign AI, Japan's defense posture, and AI safety incidents, and it launched a Sovereign AI Index tracking government-backed sovereign AI projects since 2023.
CNAS staff and affiliated experts are frequently cited in national and international media. Named individuals appearing on the site include Richard Fontaine (chief executive), Andrea Kendall-Taylor (senior fellow and director of the Transatlantic Security Program), Stacie Pettyjohn (senior fellow and program director, defense), Katherine L. Kuzminski, Paul Scharre, Michelle Nie (visiting fellow, technology and national security), Samuel Bendett (Russia studies program), Duyeon Kim (adjunct senior fellow), Tobias Bernard Switzer (adjunct senior fellow), Jacob Stokes, Geoffrey Gertz, Daniel Remler, Derek Grossman, David Feith, Jim Townsend, and Celeste Wallander.
Traction
Source material shows a steady publication cadence of research reports (four featured reports between May and June 2026), an ongoing commentary series, podcasts and video, and a public events program with sessions listed for August and September 2026. CNAS experts were cited in multiple national and international news outlets in August 2026.
Latest developments
As of mid-2026, CNAS published reports on Chinese advanced AI systems, Taiwan-related communications infrastructure, quantum networking in U.S.-China competition, and allied investment in critical supply chains. It launched a Sovereign AI Index earlier in 2026 to track government-backed sovereign AI projects since 2023, and scheduled public events on counterterrorism law and investigations (September 10, 2026) and the AI open-weight debate (September 3, 2026).
▸Full profile — go-to-market, geography
Go-to-market
The organization distributes its work publicly through reports, an insights commentary series, podcasts, audio and video programming, and public events, and its experts provide analysis and quotes to news outlets such as The New York Times, CNBC, Newsweek, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Task & Purpose.
Sources indicate output directed at the policy and national security audience, including media, and public event attendees; no further detail on customers is available in the sources.
Geography
Research programs are organized around Indo-Pacific security, transatlantic security, and Middle East security, with a U.S. policy focus; the sources do not specify office locations.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Timeline · 8
launches, deals, and filingsReport by Daniel Remler arguing that Chinese advanced AI systems pose a growing threat to U.S. national security, noting at least seven Chinese developers producing such systems.
Indo-Pacific Security report by Jacob Stokes and Ryan Claffey on control over the physical means of transmitting information as an area of contestation involving Taiwan and the United States.
Technology & National Security report by Constanza M. Vidal Bustamante and Morgan Peirce on quantum networking in U.S.-China quantum competition.
Energy, Economics & Security report by Geoffrey Gertz and Eleanor Hume on U.S. efforts to strengthen domestic capabilities and supply chain resilience in sectors critical to economic security, including semiconductors.
CNAS launched the Sovereign AI Index to track every government-backed sovereign AI project since 2023.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- published a report (opens in new tab)cnas.org · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does published a report (opens in new tab) do?
- U.S. national security think tank publishing research on defense, technology, Indo-Pacific, transatlantic and economic security.
- Who founded published a report (opens in new tab)?
- published a report (opens in new tab) was founded by Michèle Flournoy in 2007.
- Who are published a report (opens in new tab)'s investors?
- published a report (opens in new tab)'s investors include Felicis Ventures.