CSIS Provides Practical Solutions to World Problems

CSIS Provides Practical Solutions to World Problems
For more than 50 years, the Center for Strategic and International Studies has provided solutions to many of the world’s greatest challenges, offering bipartisan solutions to decision makers in order to build a better world. Headquartered in Washington DC, the organization is a bipartisan, non-profit organization made up of scholars, government leaders and businesspeople, including United States Senator Sam Nunn, who has chaired the organization since 1999, John J. Hamre, who became the president and CEO in 2000, and Steve Wynn, real estate and casino mogul.

Founding of CSIS

In 1962, at the height of the Cold War, CSIS was founded by Admiral Arleigh Burke and David Abshire at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Admiral Burke commanded fleets in the South Pacific during World War II, served as Deputy Chief of Staff to commander Naval Forces – Far East during the Korean War, and served an unprecedented three terms as Chief Naval Officer before retiring in 1961. He then entered the business world, operating the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and Texaco Oil before joining forces with David Abshire to create CSIS. Abshire served as Special Counselor to President Ronald Reagan and was the United States Ambassador to NATO from 1983 to 1987. He is also the author of several books.

Policy Solutions

In 1966, research conducted by CSIS triggered hearings in the House of Representatives regarding the watershed Sino-Soviet split, and in 1978, CSIS convened the first Capitol Hill public hearing on the genocide in Cambodia. The public hearing helped create major changes in the perception of the tragedy among Congress and the White House. Another CSIS panel in 1985 led to legislation to reform the staff of the Defense Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A report issued from the CSIS retirement commission led to the social security reform debate of 1998, while the CSIS Smart Power Commission made discoveries that led to recognition that America’s standing in the world had diminished, providing recommendations to improve that decline in 2007.

CSIS Today

Today, CSIS is recognized as one of the most powerful public policy organizations regarding foreign policy and national security. The organization recently moved into state-of-the-art headquarters located in Washington DC. Although still focused on traditional defense and security matters, the group has added a focus on health and energy programs as well, which they feel are challenges facing the world today. As a bipartisan think tank, CSIS works to provide a platform for those in Congress to interact with community leaders on the issues the organization finds critical to global security. Organization members provide briefings to Congress from experts in government, education and field expertise, who offer members of the legislature realistic policy recommendations based on accurate and extensive data.

In addition to providing direct advice to Congressional leaders, CSIS offers speaking events, such as the Bipartisan Congressional Dialogue Series, plus a variety of policy conferences throughout the year that are designed to provide exceptional advice to Congress in order for them to better engage with the needs of the global community. The group prioritizes outreach to offer targeted, useful and timely support from experts in the global community.