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Contact Us Member Login Search Search CloseOur Mission Member & Partner Testimonials Our People Our History Financials & By-Laws Employment & Internship Opportunities Contact Us Our Work How We Work Focus Areas National Security Workforce Future Industrial Base Environment and National Security Bridging to the Private Sector Travel Reports & Publications Events Events Eisenhower Award Gala News & Insights News Member News Event Recaps Podcasts CEO’s Recommended Reading Get Involved Become a Member Become a Partner Planned Giving MENU ×Our Mission Member & Partner Testimonials Our People Our History Financials & By-Laws Employment & Internship Opportunities Contact Us Our Work How We Work Focus Areas National Security Workforce Future Industrial Base Environment and National Security Bridging to the Private Sector Travel Reports & Publications Events Events Eisenhower Award Gala News & Insights News Member News Event Recaps Podcasts CEO’s Recommended Reading Get Involved Become a Member Become a Partner Planned Giving Bringing Business Expertise to Keep America Safe We match the best talent in business together with senior national security leaders to apply best practices and cutting-edge ideas to solve some of the Nation’s most complex and pressing national security challenges. Navigating the Critical Minerals Challenge: Insights from Industry Leaders China controls much of the global market for minerals that serve as essential inputs into a wide range of modern technologies, including for defense capabilities, creating a dangerous supply vulnerability for the United States. But many of these efforts will take years to see fruition, and the U.S. dependence on China is likely to continue for some time. Critical Minerals - BENS Insights Click Here Discover the Impact: Explore the BENS Leadership Report! Our BENS Leadership Report, encapsulates a year of impactful work shaping the future of national security. Dive into this comprehensive overview, highlighting our efforts, partnerships, and achievements—from fortifying the defense industrial base to empowering the next generation of BENS members. Learn more about how our members are contributing to the mission and partnering with senior leaders in the national security enterprise for a safer United States. BENS 2023 Leadership Report Click Here Who We Are Welcome to Business Executives for National Security (BENS), where business executives unite with senior national security leaders to tackle our nation’s most pressing security challenges. As a nonprofit, we’re committed to strengthening national security, offering our services at no cost to the government. For more than 40 years, BENS has been at the forefront of fostering collaboration between the private sector and senior national security leaders, embodying core values of nonpartisanship, expertise, and integrity. Our members, representing various industries and sectors, contribute invaluable insights and capabilities to bolster national defense. Together, we work to develop comprehensive solutions to complex security threats, shaping effective strategies and approaches to protect our nation and its citizens. By working together, we safeguard the future of our country and ensure a safer, more secure United States for generations to come. Learn More Project Areas Human Capital Bringing private sector business executives together with national security leaders, BENS provides private sector insights and expertise to optimize the nation’s human capital, fostering a culture of excellence through strategic recruitment, comprehensive training, robust retention efforts, and the promotion of diversity, inclusion, leadership, and overall workforce well-being . Infrastructure Enhancing national security through the strategic fortification of physical and digital infrastructures, including transportation, energy, cyber systems, and supply chains, alongside the implementation of resilience planning and environmental safeguards to ensure robust continuity and safeguard critical national assets. Technology Leveraging and protecting cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, biotech, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and big data analytics, to strengthen national defense and Critical Infrastructure. Geopolitical Risk Assessment & Economic Security Fostering collaboration among private sector experts and national security leaders to address pressing geopolitical challenges and safeguard the nation’s economic interests, ensuring enduring strength and resilience in a complex global landscape. Podcasts View all episodes In-depth series featuring business and national security experts providing an insider’s perspective on today’s most vexing challenges facing our nation’s security. Building the Base Episode 42: Jim Hake In this episode of "Building the Base," hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Jim Hake, the founder of Spirit... Former BENS President and CEO, General Joe Votel (Ret.) interviews BENS members for insights on national security trends and highlights public-private cooperation to solve security challenges. Episode 22: Stephanie Chung In Episode 22 of 5 Questions with the CEO,” General Joe Votel talks with trendsetting aviation executive and BENS member,... BENS MEMBER NEWS & EVENT RECAPS View All Event Recaps Event Recap – May 6, 2024 May 6, 2024 Member News BENS member, Hany Girgis May 6, 2024 Member News BENS members Rob Palmer, Deborah Curtis, and Kevin Carroll joined a panel moderated by BENS Chairman Mark Gerencser May 6, 2024 Member News Member News, John Hurley April 29, 2024 Event Recaps Event Recap – April 22, 2024 April 22, 2024 Member News BENS Member, Brad Morrison April 22, 2024 Member News BENS Member, Adam Blum April 22, 2024 Member News BENS Member, Chris Bollinger April 22, 2024 Member News BENS Member, Samir Patel April 22, 2024 Event Recaps Event Recap – April 15, 2024 April 15, 2024 Receive BENS news and insights in your inbox. SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE OUR WEEKLY EXECUTIVE BRIEF GLOBAL News OF INTEREST View All News America is Losing Tomorrow’s War in the Indo-Pacific May 6, 2024 News Air Force looks to boost electronic warfare with coding, tactics units May 6, 2024 News AI, space, integrated sensing and cyber dominate Pentagon’s S&T funding plans May 6, 2024 News General Atomics, Anduril Move Ahead In Collaborative Combat Aircraft Drone Program (Updated) May 6, 2024 News How US special operators are training Ukrainians—and what they’re learning in return May 6, 2024 News Soaring US munitions demand strains support for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan May 6, 2024 News How Ukraine broke Russia’s grip in the Black Sea May 6, 2024 News How Will AI Change Cyber Operations? May 6, 2024 News China’s Military-Civil Fusion Space Program May 6, 2024 News Pentagon official warns Russian anti-satellite nuclear weapon could be devastating May 6, 2024 Upcoming Events View All 15 May Lunch w/Dr. Alfie Meek Atlanta, GA Please join us for another great luncheon with a timely topic where we will meet with Alfie Meek, Ph.D., Director... 21 May ISRAEL SERIES: Discussion w/Dr. Jonathan Schanzer Virtual Join BENS for a Virtual Discussion with Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice President, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Dr.... 22 May Discussion with Larry Smith (Dallas) Dallas, TX Luncheon discussion on the geopolitics of microchip manufacturing with Larry Smith, Chairman at Tokyo Electron US Holdings Inc. Past Events View All 09 May Visit to Lockheed Martin Aero Plant Ft. Worth, TX | TX Visit to Lockheed Martin Aero Plant to tour the production line and receive briefings on the F-35. For additional information,... 02 May Spring BENS Dining Out Atlanta, GA Please plan to join us at Blue Ridge Grill for our annual Southeast Spring BENS Dining Out (BDO). As always,... 26 Apr Luncheon w/Director Kelly McKeague Atlanta, GA Please join BENS SE for a luncheon conversation with Kelly McKeague, Director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, on Friday,......