The National Strategy Forum was founded in 1983 by Morris I. Leibman, a Chicago attorney and advisor to three US presidents. For more than 25 years, the NSF has taken the lead on a variety of cutting-edge strategic issues including US homeland security and defense, global counterterrorism, nuclear non-proliferation, cyber warfare, and emergency preparedness for a catastrophic incident. 

Special programs over the years have included President Ronald Reagan’s historic speech to the National Strategy Forum on May 4, 1987 preceding the Moscow summit; General Colin Powell’s first public appearance after the Persian Gulf War as Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1991; a conference conducted in 1996 which addressed the need for reassessment of intelligence gathering, and a conference in 2000 regarding catastrophic terrorism.

Framing Issues, Forecasting Trends, and Forging Strategies

A well-informed public is vital to the development of civic responsibility and a viable security structure. The mission of the National Strategy Forum is to educate the public about crucial US national security issues. As a non-partisan organization, our objective is to frame the issues, ask questions, and promote informed discussion. Our public education programs include the NSF Speaker Series (6-8 lectures annually) and a web-based national security publication, the National Strategy Forum Review. Post-conference reports and other publications are also available to the public on our website.

There is no charge for membership in the National Strategy Forum, only an annual member fundraising campaign. The National Strategy Forum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supported solely by member contributions and foundation grants.

For more information on membership, click here.

To download a comprehensive NSF program and mission statement, click here.