Washington, D.C. – Task Force 21 members engaged in the national Strategic Deterrent Coalition (SDC) eighth annual board of regents workshop in Washington, D.C. on January 31. SDC focuses on the nation’s strategic deterrent – why it works, why it must be maintained, and how it contributes to global stability, and the workshop informs SDC leadership of key nuclear discussions taking place. The information gathered at the workshop supports SDC’s work to inform decision makers and thought leaders on how America’s nuclear weapons contribute to our strategic position in a world where potential adversaries are modernizing, innovating, and expanding in almost every way.

An overview of “America’s Strategic Posture: The Final Report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States,” which highlights strategic challenges requiring urgent action, was presented by Bill Chambers, Maj. Gen. United States Air Force (retired), Commission Executive Director, Institute for Defense Analyses. In the executive summary, it states: Given current threat trajectories, our nation will soon encounter a fundamentally different global setting than it has ever experienced: we will face a world where two nations possess nuclear arsenals on par with our own. In addition, the risk of conflict with these two nuclear peers is increasing. It is an existential challenge for which the United States is ill-prepared, unless its leaders make decisions now to adjust the U.S. strategic posture.

Additional experts led discussions on strategic deterrence and discussed navigating national security through the lens of cybersecurity and infrastructure protection, conventional/nuclear integration to strengthen deterrence, and the increasing North Korean challenge.

“Task Force 21 continues to focus on advocacy and awareness with a focus on the major modernization projects that are underway. Groups like SDC are critical to have in place as this is an effort that takes a lot of key partnerships and work,” Bruce Christianson shared. “Task Force 21 helped to start up SDC and was a founding member of the organization. I personally have seen the difference we can make through strategic partnerships at all levels.”

SDC is broadening awareness of the Strategic Posture Commission report as part of the educational effort to inform local communities, states, and the nation on the importance of maintaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent.
For North Dakota, these discussions are tied directly to the role Minot Air Force Base serves in protecting the nation with two-legs of the nuclear triad. The Task Force 21 leaders who represent North Dakota on the SDC board of directors are Bruce Christianson, Mark Jantzer, and Brekka Kramer.

“SDC is a coalition of community leaders, organizations, and industry partners that support maintaining America’s strategic nuclear deterrent in an era of reduced resources. Our work compliments the work that’s done in each of our communities and states, strengthening everyone’s efforts”, said Scott Landguth, SDC board president.

SDC will host their annual symposium in Las Vegas May 8 and 9. In 2024, Task Force 21 will host two nuclear triad symposiums, one in Minot, North Dakota in April and one in Washington, D.C. on September 20.