Tactics and Operations

For 80 years, CNA has brought sophisticated mathematical and scientific approaches to the real world of military and domestic operations, exercises and training. CNA analysts have always worked in close contact with officers and sailors, first responders and Marines, most notably in the CNA Field Program. CNA’s expertise developed in the field ensures that operators can make the best use of the technology and resources they have at hand.

Military and government leaders rely on CNA to supply expertise that they do not have the time, background or historical context to supply themselves. TOPGUN instructors confirm the validity of new fighter tactics against the data of CNA analysts. Law enforcement and emergency management leaders improve operations with help from CNA after-action reports on shootings, civil unrest and natural disasters. Carrier strike group commanders seek insights from CNA post-exercise briefings.

Related Capabilities

Operations Analysis

Wargaming

Modeling & Simulation

Exercise Evaluation

Onsite Analysis

TOPGUN & CNA:

Fighter Aviation Tactics, Grounded in Science

CNA scientists who deployed to TOPGUN as field representatives reflect on the long analytical partnership between the two organizations.

Analysis in Combat

Desert Storm

CNA’s Operations Evaluation Group has supported every conflict involving the Navy or Marines since World War II. Over the five months of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, 22 CNA field representatives deployed with their commands to the Middle East. These are their stories.

HURRICANES HARVEY, IRMA, AND MARIA AND THEIR IMPACT ON SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE

CNA has some of the nation’s leading experts in supply chain resilience for emergency management operations. This report focuses on supply chain lessons from a devastating season of hurricanes.

Ambushes of Police: Environment, Incident Dynamics, and the Aftermath of Surprise Attacks Against Law Enforcement

Ambush attacks against law enforcement officers remain a threat to officer safety, with the number of attacks per year holding steady and fatal attacks on officers attributable to ambushes increasing.

Lessons Learned from Hurricane Analysis

CNA experts in emergency management operations speak about the lessons from hurricane response events. CNA has analyzed the response to every major hurricane since Katrina

3 Questions: Talisman Sabre Exercise

Dr. Daniel Powell describes Talisman Sabre 2019, a multinational exercise in Australia. He monitored amphibious landings, searched for hiding Marines, and tracked air operations — while dodging kangaroos.

Making Parachute Safety in the Wind Top of Mind at Topgun

Dr. Robyn Lalime’s analysis created a way to quantify — and even visualize — the risks of different windspeeds. Her research has endured for more than a decade.

Tactical analysis for Navy ship defense at full throttle

Analyst Dr. Rahul Patel discusses the close connections between headquarters analysis and operations at sea that result in rapid impact on Navy tactics.

3 Questions: Northern Edge Exercise

Dr. Mallory Ladd, a specialist in Arctic maritime operations, describes her experiences in Northern Edge 2019. This joint exercise between the Navy and Air Force was held in the Gulf of Alaska.

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