National Security Division

Analyzing one of the largest areas of federal spending--defense

CBO's National Security Division is recognized for its high-quality, objective, and nonpartisan analyses of issues that relate to national defense and international security. Its research focuses on defense budgets, military forces and weapon systems, the demand for and supply of military personnel, the military's industrial and support facilities, and U.S. foreign assistance programs. The Department of Defense (DoD)--with an annual budget of more than $500 billion (excluding wartime costs) and employing more than 2 million civilian and military personnel--faces many of the same issues as most nations: issues relating to technology, environmental protection and cleanup, industrial-base policies, health, education, and pensions.

Analysts in the National Security Division devote most of their time to producing long-term studies of major defense issues for Congressional committees. Those studies--which are often cited by the media--are distributed not only to the Congress but also to DoD, think tanks, academic institutions, and the general public.

Division analysts also prepare testimony to be delivered at Congressional hearings and brief Members of Congress and their staff on a variety of defense-related issues. Division personnel are expected to develop good working relationships with the staff of Congressional committees.

Analysts in the National Security Division bring the tools of rigorous quantitative analysis to their work. Many of the division's 17 staff members hold Ph.D.s, and others have master's degrees. Division members have backgrounds spanning a number of disciplines including economics, engineering, physics, mathematics, operations research and international affairs. Some analysts have served in the military, but most gained their knowledge of defense issues as civilians while working at CBO, nonprofit research organizations, or DoD.

Analysts who seek the opportunity to contribute to public policy will find that the division offers a highly professional and congenial work environment. Many staff members remain at CBO for long and challenging careers.

Members of the National Security Division must be able not only to design and conduct analyses of quantitative data but also to write about defense issues in a way that is clear and interesting to a nontechnical audience. The division hires only U.S. citizens who can obtain and maintain a top secret security clearance.