Historically, the United States rested on a sense of geographic sanctuary, afforded by three great oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, and the Arctic. It is a running theme of U.S. history that periodically this sense of sanctuary has been challenged, necessitating a national effort and new approaches to restore it. We are in such a moment now. What is different this time, however, is the central role of the private sector. Threats from cyber actors, disruption of space assets, and the increasing proliferation of drone threats demonstrate domains in which the private sector will not just be an unfortunate victim, but a key player on the front lines. Meanwhile, traditional defense measures will need to be enhanced, such as reinvesting in our nuclear deterrent infrastructure and potential point defense capabilities in ways that demand innovative public–private partnership. Navigating these new and complex public–private dynamics will be essential for government and the private sector alike to ensure enhanced resilience and response capabilities. This BENS campaign will work to elevate the dialogue on how this can be achieved, focusing on a whole-of-nation approach with the private sector as embedded partners alongside government partners.
