1980s: Meeting Soviet Force

In response to the growth of Soviet military power during the 1970s, in the 1980s the Navy increased its number of ships and aircraft and placed more emphasis on a maritime strategy and on specific concepts of operations for employing the Fleet in a global war.

Organizational Review

Organizational changes brought two new areas of work to CNA: the Advanced Technology Program added a new dimension to CNA's analysis of advanced systems and technologies, such as stealth; and the Naval Warfare Program initiated studies on concepts of operations for employing the Fleet in a global war with the Soviet Union. At the end of the decade, CNA also established the Strategic Policy Analysis Group to assess technological and political-military developments and their implications for conventional land nuclear naval missions, and to assesses options for future strategic-nuclear forces.

CNA's management structure was also revamped, with analysts assigned to research departments which were responsible for analyst training, evaluation, professional development, and project assignments.

Concepts of Operations for a Global War

In 1982, CNA began a major study of concepts of operations for employing the Atlantic Fleet in a global war – considering issues ranging from Soviet objectives and intentions in a war, to actions the Navy could take to counter Soviet strategy, to executable theater-level tactics. Much of CNA’s field work was also related to use of the Fleet in a global war.

CNA field representatives assigned to fleet commanders in chief and to the numbered fleet commanders were involved in developing and testing new concepts, while those at subordinate commands helped develop the tactics needed to execute the concepts.

To emphasize the shift toward support of the operational forces, CNA established tactical analysis teams in Norfolk and San Diego to support Second Fleet and Third Fleet. These teams assisted Pacific Fleet and East Coast battle groups during their workup periods and worked with them on specific evolutions during their deployments. Similarly, the Marine Corps billets were realigned, with a new billet established at Camp Pendleton and the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic billet moved from Norfolk to Camp Lejeune to support Second Marine Expeditionary Force.

1990s:  CNA's Institute for Public Research