Diplomacy plays out in front of the cameras.
Strategy is written behind closed doors. Discover the process in America's Playbook.
America's Playbook
Exploring How Canada's Allies TurnNational Interests Into Strategy
Part of the Rocky Mountain Conference on Security and Defence
Canada needs its own national security strategy. To inform that conversation, RAUSI is hosting a series of Fireside Chats that look at how allies approach the process. This first event examines the U.S. model — how civilian and military leaders work together to turn national interests into strategy, and what lessons Canadians can take from it.
Who sits at the table, and what’s the process from the National Security Strategy (NSS), to the National Defense Strategy (NDS), to the National Military Strategy (NMS)?
RAUSI welcomes two distinguished American voices to walk us through the process:
- Thomas Wright, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and former Special Assistant to the U.S. President, who served as lead drafter of the 2022 National Security Strategy.
- Lieutenant General Mark C. Schwartz (Ret’d), U.S. Army, a career Green Beret and former U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, with extensive NATO, UN, and intergovernmental experience.
Together, they will unpack how civilian and military leaders interact in shaping strategy, where the process succeeds and struggles, and what Canada can learn as we develop our own defence vision.
This event also sets the stage for upcoming sessions with Canadian, European, and NATO perspectives on national security strategy, building a broader conversation about how democracies prepare for uncertain times.
Thursday, 27 September 2025
1900 hours (Mountain) via Zoom
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Video Timeline
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
Overview of RAUSI’s Fall RMCSD Fireside Chat series and the purpose of this session.
04:15 – Setting the Stage
Why national security strategies matter, and how they shape policy and action.
09:40 – Inside the U.S. Process
How the National Security Strategy (NSS), National Defense Strategy (NDS), and National Military Strategy (NMS) are developed.
17:20 – Who’s at the Table
The roles of the President, National Security Council, Pentagon, and Congress.
24:45 – From Interests to Strategy
How national interests are translated into priorities and plans.
33:10 – Challenges in Strategy-Making
Tensions between civilian and military input, political cycles, and implementation hurdles.
41:30 – Global Context
Strategic competition with China and Russia; shifting alliances and global order.
49:15 – Lessons for Canada
What Canadians can take away as we consider developing our own national security strategy.
56:30 – Audience Q&A
– Why continuity matters when strategies change with administrations
– How allies (like Canada) can engage with U.S. strategy without losing independence
– What lessons smaller states and NATO partners can take from the U.S. model
– The risks of politicizing national security policy
– How to balance military, diplomatic, and economic inputs in strategy-making
1:12:00 – Closing Reflections
Final thoughts on the importance of process and looking ahead to Canada’s own strategy conversation in October.
Hear First-Hand Insights from U.S. Experts
Thomas Wright is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, specializing in security, strategy, and technology. From 2022 to 2025, he served at the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Strategic Planning at the National Security Council, where he was the lead drafter of the 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy.
Wright has written extensively on U.S. foreign policy, great power competition, and international order. He is the author of All Measures Short of War (2017) and co-author of Aftershocks: Pandemic Politics and the End of the Old International Order (2021). He holds a doctorate from Georgetown University, an MPhil from Cambridge University, and degrees from University College Dublin.
Lieutenant General Mark C. Schwartz (Ret’d), U.S. Army, is a career Green Beret with over three decades of leadership in U.S. and allied operations. His senior assignments included serving as the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Deputy Commander of Joint Special Operations Command, and Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe.
Schwartz has extensive experience working with NATO, the United Nations, the European Union, and the U.S. Department of State on issues ranging from strategic planning to coalition operations. He has contributed to RAND studies, co-authored the Resistance Operating Concept used in Ukraine, and advised on security sector reform in the Middle East. He holds a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
Don't Miss This Exclusive Discussion
Following a 30-minute presentation, the audience is encouraged to engage in respectful discourse through relevant questions and constructive challenges. These non-partisan discussions aim to foster thought-provoking exchanges that promote understanding, encourage diverse perspectives, and ensure all parties leave better informed on security and defence.
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What You’ll Gain from This Fireside Chat
An Insider's View
Get an insider’s view of how the United States develops its National Security Strategy (NSS), National Defense Strategy (NDS), and National Military Strategy (NMS).
Direct Access to Leading Voices
Thomas Wright – Former U.S. Special Assistant to the President and lead drafter of the 2022 NSS.
Lt. Gen. Mark Schwartz (Ret’d), U.S. Army – Former U.S. Security Coordinator, with decades of military and intergovernmental experience.
Clarity on the Civilian-Military Process
Who’s at the table, how decisions are made, and where challenges arise in turning vision into action.
Global Context
How U.S. strategy interacts with NATO, allies, and adversaries.
Comparative Insights
Lessons Canada can draw from U.S. practice as our own defence policy evolves.
Q&A
A unique opportunity to ask questions during the live Q&A.
The Rocky Mountain Conference on Security and Defence (RMCSD) is a signature initiative of the Royal Alberta United Services Institute (RAUSI).
RMCSD brings together subject matter experts and the public for non-partisan, hour-long online dialogues exploring the full spectrum of global security and defence issues. Each session begins with focused insights from our speakers, followed by open discussion and audience Q&A.
Our goal is to foster informed, thought-provoking dialogue that helps Canadians better understand the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s security environment.
Learn more about RAUSI and our mission.