BENS members have used their business experience to find practical solutions to pressing national security challenges since 1982, when the organization was founded by business executive and entrepreneur Stanley A. Weiss. Then, as now, there was a need for a nonpartisan business-minded organization that could cut through ideological debates on national security issues. Members come from a broad range of business sectors and political views, yet they are united in their commitment to a strong, effective, affordable defense and developing ways to improve the military and other national security agencies. BENS' results-oriented approach has produced a solid record of achievement:
BENS played a major role in developing the process for closing obsolete military bases, freeing up billions of dollars in savings and allowing local communities to put unneeded military facilities to more productive use.
BENS has brought together leaders from the financial industry and the federal government to apply the latest techniques and technologies to U.S. efforts to track down and cut off financial activities that fund terrorism.
BENS encouraged the Pentagon to use private developers to modernize military housing, saving billions of dollars and completing renovations years ahead of schedule.
BENS was active in championing the Cooperative Threat Reduction program that funds the disposal of Russian nuclear weapons—which otherwise might fall into the hands of terrorists.
BENS helped the intelligence community harness the best practices of the private sector to recruit and train a high-quality workforce, strengthen analytic methods and deliver timely, accurate intelligence to troops in the field and decision-makers in Washington.
BENS was an early advocate of the Pentagon developing a strategic business plan and establishing a chief management officer, which put the Defense Department on course for better fiscal management outcomes in the future.
BENS helped the Defense Department privatize pay and benefits processing for military retirees and their families—streamlining government payrolls and saving taxpayers millions of dollars every year.
BENS is a pioneer in homeland security, creating a public-private partnership program that brings states and business together to help communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters and terrorist attacks.
BENS helped create the U.S.-Soviet Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers that played an important stabilizing role during the Cold War in reducing the risk of nuclear miscalculation and confrontation.
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