CNA (nonprofit)

Last updated
CNA
Founded1942;82 years ago (1942)
Type 501(c)(3) organization
54-1558882
FocusResearch and analysis services
Location
Key people
Katherine A.W. McGrady, President and CEO
Employees
625
Website www.cna.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

CNA (previously named the CNA Corporation), fully as The Center for Naval Analyses, is a federally-funded nonprofit research and analysis organization based in Arlington County, Virginia. It has around 625 employees. [1]

Contents

History

CNA traces its origins to the Antisubmarine Warfare Operations Group (ASWORG), formed in 1942 to assist the U.S. Navy with scientific advice for finding and attacking U-boats that were sinking commercial ships off the Atlantic coast of North America. [2] Massachusetts Institute of Technology physics Professor Philip M. Morse founded ASWORG at the request of Capt. Wilder D. Baker, then commander of the Antisubmarine Warfare Unit of the Atlantic Fleet. [3] Morse is considered the father of operations research in the United States. [4]

By the end of World War II, the organization had expanded to almost 80 scientists serving on eight military bases in the Atlantic and Pacific as well as at the Washington, D.C. headquarters. They advised U.S. forces on air, antiaircraft, submarine, amphibious, and antisubmarine operations. [5] Though the group served the military, it was designed to be civilian and independent in order to preserve the objectivity of its analysis, and was administered by Columbia University. [6]

In 1945, the Department of the Navy decided to support the continuation of the group under the name the Operations Evaluation Group (OEG), which exists to this day as a division within CNA. [7] OEG grew rapidly during the Korean War, during which one of its analysts, Irving Shaknov, was killed in combat. [8] In 1962, OEG was merged with smaller naval advisory groups to form the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA). [9]

The first ongoing analysis support program for a non-defense agency began in 1991 for the Federal Aviation Administration. [10] All non-defense work at CNA was brought together under its Institute for Public Research in 1993, with the Center for Naval Analyses remaining as the other division of CNA. [9]

Structure

CNA Corporation consists of two primary components. One, the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA), is a Federally-Funded Research & Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the US Department of Navy. That division focuses on Department of Navy work, but also performs work other US Defense Department organizations. The other large component, the Institute for Public Research (IPR), instead focuses on work for civilian parts of the US Federal Government, and also for state and local governments (including public universities). There also is a third, much smaller, component, which is the CNA Military Advisory Board.

Center for Naval Analyses

The Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. It also provides research and analysis services to other US Defense Department and certain other US Government agencies to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S. national defense efforts. The Center for Naval Analyses is a Studies & Analysis FFRDC, similar to RAND Corporation or the Institute for Defense Analysis. It is somewhat different from Aerospace Corporation, Mitre Corporation, or MIT Lincoln Laboratory because that trio instead focus on Systems Engineering work for the US Federal Government.

This FFRDC has seven divisions: Advanced Technology & Systems Analysis, China Studies, Resource Analysis, the Marine Corps Program, the Operations Evaluation Group, the Center for Strategic Studies, and the Special Operations Program. [11] These divisions address issues of preparedness, operations evaluation, systems analysis, foreign affairs, strategic relationships, humanitarian operations, logistics, and manpower.

Through the Center’s Field Program, approximately 50 analysts are assigned to Navy, Marine Corps, and Joint Commands around the world. Assignments range from carrier strike groups and Marine expeditionary forces to the U.S. Pacific Command. Field analysts are included in all functions of the command and provide real-time scientific and analytical support on operational problems of immediate concern to the military. [12] Mark Geis, formerly vice president and director of CNA's 'Operations Evaluation Group' and of CNA's Marine Corps Program, became the executive vice president of the Center in 2015. [13]

Institute for Public Research (IPR)

The Institute for Public Research conducts research and analysis on domestic policy issues for federal, state, and local government agencies, including the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the United States Department of Education. [1]

It has four divisions: Education; Energy, Water, & Climate; Enterprise Systems and Data Analysis; and Safety & Security. [14]

CNA Military Advisory Board

The CNA Military Advisory Board is an American defense advisory group composed of retired three-star and four-star generals and admirals from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps that studies pressing issues of the day to assess their impact on America's national security.

Leadership

CNA Headquarters in Arlington, VA CNA Headquarters.jpg
CNA Headquarters in Arlington, VA

Katherine A.W. McGrady, Ph.D. is President and Chief Executive Officer of CNA. [15] She was previously CNA's Chief Operating Officer. [16]

Board of trustees

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Undersea Warfare Center</span> Warfare Center of the U.S. Navy

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) is the United States Navy's full-spectrum research, development, test and evaluation, engineering and fleet support center for submarines, autonomous underwater systems, and offensive and defensive weapons systems associated with undersea warfare. It is one of the corporate laboratories of the Naval Sea Systems Command. NUWC is headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island and has two major subordinate activities: Division Newport and Division Keyport in Keyport, Washington. NUWC also controls the Fox Island facility and Gould Island. It employs more than 4,400 civilian and military personnel, with budgets over $1 billion.

USS <i>Juneau</i> (CL-119) Light cruiser of the United States Navy

The second USS Juneau (CL-119/CLAA-119) was the lead ship of the United States Navy Juneau-class cruisers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert C. Springer</span> American test pilot and astronaut (born 1942)

Robert Clyde Springer is a retired American astronaut and test pilot who flew as a mission specialist on two NASA Space Shuttle missions in 1989 and 1990. A decorated aviator in the United States Marine Corps, Springer also flew more than 500 combat sorties during the Vietnam War. He has logged over 237 hours in space and 4,500 hours flying time, including 3,500 hours in jet aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval History and Heritage Command</span> U.S. Navy command dedicated to American naval history and heritage

The Naval History and Heritage Command, formerly the Naval Historical Center, is an Echelon II command responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage located at the historic Washington Navy Yard. The NHHC is composed of 42 facilities in 13 geographic locations including the Navy Department Library, 10 museums and 1 heritage center, USS Constitution repair facility and detachment, and historic ship ex-USS Nautilus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Postgraduate School</span> Graduate naval academy in Monterey, California, US

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a public graduate school operated by the United States Navy and located in Monterey, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leon A. Edney</span>

Leon Albert "Bud" Edney is a former United States Navy officer. A native of Dedham, Massachusetts, he retired from the navy as an admiral after serving as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1988 to 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Naval Institute</span> American private non-profit naval military association

The United States Naval Institute (USNI) is a private non-profit military association that offers independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national security issues. In addition to publishing magazines and books, the Naval Institute holds several annual conferences. The Naval Institute is based in Annapolis, Maryland.

<i>Mackerel</i>-class submarine Submarine class

The Mackerel-class submarines were a pair of experimental prototype submarines built just prior to World War II and launched in 1940 and 1941. The two submarines were similar in size and capability to the S-class submarines built at the end of World War I, and had been ordered to test the feasibility of using mass production techniques to build small submarines. Until at least 1940 it was thought that mass production of fleet submarines would be impractical, and in any case small submarines could provide area defense for submarine bases. Once it became apparent that there would be sufficient production of the more capable Gato-class submarines, interest in the design waned and no additional small submarines were ordered. Submarine production standardized during the war on the Gato class and its successors, the Balao and Tench-class submarines. In some references, the Mackerels are called the "M class".

The Aerospace Corporation is an American nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) in El Segundo, California. The corporation provides technical guidance and advice on all aspects of space missions to military, civil, and commercial customers. As the FFRDC for national-security space, Aerospace works closely with organizations such as the United States Space Force (USSF) and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to provide "objective technical analyses and assessments for space programs that serve the national interest". Although the USSF and NRO are the primary customers, Aerospace also performs work for civil agencies such as NASA and NOAA as well as international organizations and governments in the national interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institute for Defense Analyses</span> American non-profit corporation

The Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is an American non-profit corporation that administers three federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) – the Systems and Analyses Center (SAC), the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI), and the Center for Communications and Computing (C&C) – to assist the United States government in addressing national security issues, particularly those requiring scientific and technical expertise. It is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

USCGC Spar (WLB-403) was a 180-foot (55 m) sea going buoy tender. An Iris class vessel, she was built by Marine Ironworks and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. Spar's preliminary design was completed by the United States Lighthouse Service and the final design was produced by Marine Iron and Shipbuilding. On 13 September 1943 the keel was laid, she was launched on 2 November 1943 and commissioned on 12 June 1944. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $865,941.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Loria</span> American astronaut

Christopher Joseph "Gus" Loria is a retired United States Marine Corps Colonel and a medically retired NASA astronaut. He was originally scheduled to fly on STS-113 as pilot; however, he was grounded from spaceflight due to a severe back injury.

The CNA Military Advisory Board (MAB) is an American defense advisory group composed of retired three-star and four-star generals and admirals from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps that studies pressing issues of the day to assess their impact on America's national security. CNA is a nonprofit research and analysis organization that operates the Center for Naval Analyses and the Institute for Public Research. The CNA Military Advisory Board was founded by Sherri Goodman, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, who served as the Executive Director of the CNA MAB from its founding in 2007–2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Air Wing Six</span> Military unit

Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6) was a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing whose operational history spans from the middle of World War II to the end of the Cold War. Established in 1943 as Carrier Air Group Seventeen (CVG-17), it would be re-designated several times during its establishment, including Carrier Air Group Six (CVG-6) as the second unit to be so designated. The first Carrier Air Group Six served for just over two years during World War II, but drew on the history of the Enterprise Air Group established in 1938 and active in the early battles of the Pacific War, being disestablished after the first year of the conflict. During its time in USS Enterprise (CV-6), it was the Navy's only carrier-based air group to carry out three complete tours of duty during World War II.

Federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) are public-private partnerships that conduct research and development for the United States Government. Under Federal Acquisition Regulation § 35.017, FFRDCs are operated by universities and corporations to fulfill certain long-term needs of the government that "...cannot be met as effectively by existing in-house or contractor resources." While similar in many ways to University Affiliated Research Centers, FFRDCs are prohibited from competing for work. There are currently 42 FFRDCs, each sponsored by one or more U.S. government departments or agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael H. Decker</span>

Michael H. Decker was the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Oversight. from September 2009 to February 2014. Before that he was assistant director of Intelligence, Marine Corps Intelligence, United States Marine Corps. He served as Director of Intelligence during Operation Iraqi Freedom II from January 2004 to June 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee F. Gunn</span>

Lee Fredric Gunn is a retired Vice Admiral and former Naval Inspector General of the United States Department of the Navy.

The preliminary 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission list was released by the United States Department of Defense in 1991 as part of the ongoing Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The list recommended closing 28 major United States military bases throughout the nation. This was the last Base Realignment and Closure Commission prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union ending the Cold War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ANSER</span>

Analytic Services Inc., better known by its acronym ANSER, is a not-for-profit corporation that provides services, largely to the U.S. federal government, in several mission areas. Its headquarters are in Arlington, Virginia.

References

  1. 1 2 "Hiring PhDs: Interview with the Director of Human Resources at CNA Corporation", BeyondAcademia.org, archived from the original on June 15, 2018, retrieved September 4, 2015.
  2. Tidman, Keith (1984). The Operations Evaluation Group. Annapolis, Maryland: the United States Naval Institute. p. 36. ISBN   0-87021-273-7.
  3. Morse, Philip (1977). In at the Beginnings. Cambridge, Mass.: The MIT Press. p.  174-175. ISBN   0-262-13124-2.
  4. Kaplan, Edward (2011). "Chapter 2: Operations Research and Intelligence Analysis". In Fischhoff, Baruch; Chauvin, Cherie (eds.). Intelligence Analysis. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. p. 34. ISBN   978-0-309-17698-9 . Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  5. Tidman, Keith (1984). The Operations Evaluation Group. Annapolis, Maryland: the United States Naval Institute. pp. 42–45. ISBN   0-87021-273-7.
  6. Tidman, Keith (1984). The Operations Evaluation Group. Annapolis, Maryland: the United States Naval Institute. p. 36. ISBN   0-87021-273-7.
  7. Tidman, Keith (1984). The Operations Evaluation Group. Annapolis, Maryland: the United States Naval Institute. p. 97. ISBN   0-87021-273-7.
  8. Flynn, Sean (2013). "Flynn, John P., Jr.". In Bielakowski, Alexander (ed.). Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   978-1598844283 . Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  9. 1 2 A History of the Department of Defense Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (Report). Office of Technology Assessment, U.S. Congress. June 1995. p. 39.
  10. Boroughs, Don (2017). The Story of CNA: Civilian Scientists in War and Peace (PDF). p. 53. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  11. CNA, Centers and Divisions, archived from the original on March 3, 2022, retrieved September 1, 2017.
  12. CNA, Field Program , retrieved October 6, 2015.
  13. CNA (July 13, 2015), CNA Names Mark Geis Executive Vice President of the Center for Naval Analyses.
  14. CNA, Solution Centers, archived from the original on March 3, 2022, retrieved September 4, 2015.
  15. CNA, Katherine A.W. McGrady, Ph.D. , retrieved June 8, 2023.
  16. Charity Brown (September 7, 2009), "New at the Top: Katherine A.W. McGrady", The Washington Post .
  17. "Washington area appointments and promotions for the week of Oct. 1". Washington Post. 30 September 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  18. Hellman, Gregory (December 20, 2017). "House GOP ditches plan for full-year Pentagon funding". Politico. Retrieved 12 January 2018. Sean Stackley, a former assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, is joining CNA's Board of Trustees.
  19. CNA. "CNA Board of Trustees". Archived from the original on Dec 17, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.