Military Advisory Board
Encyclopedia
The Military Advisory Board is a defense advisory group composed of eleven retired three-star and four-star generals and admiral
s who were convened to study the implications of global warming
for U.S. national security.
In May 2009 the MAB issued a report that explores the impact of America's energy choices on our national security policies. This new report, titled "Powering America’s Defense: Energy and the Risks to National Security,"http://www.cna.org/nationalsecurity/energy/ considers the security risks inherent in our current energy posture; energy choices the nation can make to enhance our national security; the impact of climate change on our energy choices and our national security; and the role the Department of Defense can play in the nation’s approach to energy security and climate change.
In April 2007, the group issued its report entitled "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change." The report projects that climate change will pose a serious threat to America’s national security, especially by creating instability in already volatile regions. The report was commissioned by the Center for Naval Analyses
, a government-financed research group.
"Unlike the problems that we are used to dealing with, these will come upon us extremely slowly, but come they will, and they will be grinding and inexorable,"
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
s who were convened to study the implications of global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
for U.S. national security.
In May 2009 the MAB issued a report that explores the impact of America's energy choices on our national security policies. This new report, titled "Powering America’s Defense: Energy and the Risks to National Security,"http://www.cna.org/nationalsecurity/energy/ considers the security risks inherent in our current energy posture; energy choices the nation can make to enhance our national security; the impact of climate change on our energy choices and our national security; and the role the Department of Defense can play in the nation’s approach to energy security and climate change.
In April 2007, the group issued its report entitled "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change." The report projects that climate change will pose a serious threat to America’s national security, especially by creating instability in already volatile regions. The report was commissioned by the Center for Naval Analyses
Center for Naval Analyses
CNA's Center for Naval Analyses is a federally funded research and development center for the Navy and the Marine Corps. It also provides research and analysis services to other military and government agencies to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of U.S...
, a government-financed research group.
Principal findings
The Military Advisory Board looked at the conditions climate changes are likely to produce, how those conditions may affect America’s national security interests, and what actions the nation should take to address the these consequences. Its principal findings included the following:- Projected climate change poses a serious threat to America’s national security.
- Climate change acts as a threat multiplier for instability in some of the most volatile regions of the world.
- Climate change, national security, and energy dependence are a related set of global challenges.
Recommendations
Based on these findings, the group made several recommendations, including the following:- The national security consequences of climate change should be fully integrated into national security and national defense strategies. The intelligence community should incorporate climate consequences into its National Intelligence EstimateNational Intelligence EstimateNational Intelligence Estimates are United States federal government documents that are the authoritative assessment of the Director of National Intelligence on intelligence related to a particular national security issue...
. - The U.S. should commit to a stronger national and international role to help stabilize climate change at levels that will avoid significant disruption to global security and stability.
- The U.S. should commit to global partnerships that help less developed nations build the capacity and resiliency to better manage climate impacts.
- The Department of DefenseUnited States Department of DefenseThe United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
should enhance its operational capability by accelerating the adoption of improved business processes and innovative technologies that result in improved U.S. combat power through energy efficiency. - The Department of Defense should conduct an assessment of the impact on U.S. military installations worldwide of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other projected climate change impacts over the next 30 to 40 years.
Group members
A dozen highly respected retired admirals and generals, headed by former Army Chief of Staff General Gordon R. Sullivan, comprised the Military Advisory Board.http://securityandclimate.cna.org/mab/- General Gordon R. SullivanGordon R. SullivanGeneral Gordon Russell Sullivan is a retired Army general officer, who served as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the United States Army and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.-Background and education:...
, USA (Ret.) (Chairman) - Admiral Frank “Skip” BowmanFrank BowmanFrank "Skip" Bowman a retired four-star Admiral, is the former Chief of Naval Personnel and former Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion. In 2006, Admiral Bowman was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire .-Education:Admiral Bowman graduated from Duke...
, USN (Ret.) - Lieutenant General Lawrence P. Farrell Jr., USAF (Ret.)
- Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney IIPaul G. Gaffney IIVice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II, USN , is the seventh president of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.Gaffney graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1968. Upon graduation, he was selected for immediate graduate education and received a master's degree in Ocean...
, USN (Ret.) - General Paul J. KernPaul J. KernGeneral Paul John Kern became President and Chief Operating Officer of AM General LLC on August 1, 2008. His unique career blends technical expertise, combat operations, program management, policy development, and advisory roles to senior political leaders.Kern held numerous leadership positions...
, USA (Ret.) - Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, USN (Ret.)
- Vice Admiral Dennis V. McGinn, USN (Ret.)
- Admiral Donald L. “Don” PillingDonald L. PillingDonald Lee Pilling was a retired four-star United States Navy admiral who served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 1997 to 2000.-Military career:...
, USN (Ret.) - Admiral Joseph W. Prueher, USN (Ret.)
- Vice Admiral Richard H. TrulyRichard H. TrulyRichard Harrison Truly is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, Naval Aviator, former astronaut, and was the eighth Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 1989 to 1992...
, USN (Ret.) - General Charles F. “Chuck” WaldCharles F. WaldGeneral Charles "Chuck" F. Wald is the former Deputy Commander of United States European Command. He retired on July 1, 2006, and was succeeded by General William E. Ward....
, USAF (Ret.) - General Anthony C. “Tony” ZinniAnthony ZinniAnthony Charles Zinni is a retired four-star General in the United States Marine Corps and a former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command...
, USMC (Ret.)
Statements of group members
"After listening to leaders of the scientific, business, and governmental communities both I and my colleagues came to agree that Global Climate Change is and will be a significant threat to our National Security and in a larger sense to life on earth as we know it to be."- -General Gordon R. SullivanGordon R. SullivanGeneral Gordon Russell Sullivan is a retired Army general officer, who served as the 32nd Chief of Staff of the United States Army and as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.-Background and education:...
, USA (Ret.), from testimony before the Select Committee On Energy Independence And Global Warming, U.S. House Of Representatives
"Unlike the problems that we are used to dealing with, these will come upon us extremely slowly, but come they will, and they will be grinding and inexorable,"
- -Richard H. TrulyRichard H. TrulyRichard Harrison Truly is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, Naval Aviator, former astronaut, and was the eighth Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from 1989 to 1992...
, United States NavyUnited States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
vice admiralVice AdmiralVice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
and former NASA administrator, from report of the Military Advisory Board.
External links
- http://www.cna.org/nationalsecurity/energy/-Powering America’s Defense: Energy and the Risks to National Security
- "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change" - Full report of the Military Advisory Board
- "Military Sharpens Focus on Climate Change" - The Washington Post, April 15, 2007
- Global Warming a Security Risk - The Associated Press, April 15, 2007
- U.S. Generals urge climate action - BBC News, April 15, 2007.