Global Missile Defense: Time to Change the Current Command Construct?

Abstract : One of the most pressing national security issues facing the United States is ballistic missile defense. For over four decades, missiles armed with nuclear warheads have posed a threat to the very existence of the American way of life. Visionary United States policy has guided the funding, development, and employment of missile defense capabilities which enable missile defense assets to destroy an in-flight missile inside or outside of the atmosphere. While it is understandable that the development of these new technological capabilities was the initial focus of effort, the missile defense environment now exceeds traditional theater-oriented command and control architectures. Piecemeal command and control solutions were developed as new missile defense technologies were fielded. The purpose of this paper is to analyze current missile threats to the United States, review existing missile defense systems and organizations, and provide recommendations to improve the command and control of global missile defense.