Wargaming and Support for Strategic Analysis (SSA)

The Wargaming & Support for Strategic Analysis program, managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, aims to bolster strategic initiatives like Deterring Aggression, Defending the Homeland, and Building Sustainable and Long-Term Advantage. This initiative supports the Office of the Director, Cost Assessment & Program Evaluation (CAPE) by facilitating warfighting analysis in alignment with the National Defense Strategy (NDS). The primary objective is to lead studies that support campaign analysis and research across various national security issues.

The program addresses near to long-term challenges identified by the Deputy Secretary of Defense. It seeks to tackle complex questions related to program alternatives for current and future capabilities and forces. This effort enhances senior leadership's decision-making processes by providing scientific and technical engineering services necessary for developing models, simulations, and evaluating current analytical tools. These tools assess scenarios and concepts of operations across diverse warfighting environments.

Deliverables include reports, briefings, and analyses aimed at informing Operation Plan development and DoD's approach to concept development. The program supports joint campaign analysis, evaluation, and force development. By refining warfighting objectives from senior leader priorities and overseeing concept analysis work, it provides guidance on best practices for Service Concepts and long-range fires decisions.

The acquisition strategy involves a mix of competitive contracts with commercial firms and research provided by university-affiliated research centers (UARCs) and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). The program continues to support a combination of research activities to advance its objectives in FY 2025. Through these efforts, it aims to enhance the Department’s ability to analytically advance the Secretary’s priorities while addressing strategic challenges such as near-peer warfight scenarios.