Strategic Studies Institute The Strategic Studies Institute ( SSI ) is the U . S . Army ' s institute for strategic and national security research and analysis . It is part of the U . S . Army War College . SSI conducts strategic research and analysis to support the U . S . Army War College curricula , provides direct analysis for Army and Department of Defense leadership , and serves as a bridge to the wider strategic community . It is located at Carlisle Barracks , Pennsylvania . Organization . SSI is composed of civilian research professors , uniformed military officers , and a professional support staff . SSI is divided into three components : the Department of Research , the US Army War College Fellowship Program ( USAWCFP ) and the US Army War College Press . In addition to its organic resources , SSI has a web of partnerships with strategic analysts around the world , including the foremost thinkers in the field of security and military strategy . Products . SSI & US Army War College Press major product are studies published by the Institute and distributed to key strategic leaders in the Army and Department of Defense , the military educational system , Congress , the media , other think tanks and defense institutes , and major colleges and universities . SSI studies use history and current political , economic , and military factors to develop strategic recommendations . These studies often influence the formulation of U . S . military strategy , national security policy , and even the strategies of allies and friends . SSI analysts have contributed to major U . S . national security strategy documents and to U . S . Army doctrine . The U . S . Army War College also hosts a major annual strategy conference at Carlisle Barracks . PARAMETERS is a referred journal of ideas and issues , providing a forum for the expression of mature thought on the art and science of land warfare , joint and combined matters , national and international security affairs , military strategy , military leadership and management , military history , ethics , and other topics of significant and current interest to the US Army and Department of Defense . It serves as a vehicle for continuing the education and professional development of USAWC graduates and other senior military officials , as well as members of government and academia concerned with national security affairs . Staff . National security experts such as Harry Summers , Sherifa Zuhur , Jeffrey Record , Phil Williams , Sheila Jager , Robert ( Robin ) Dorff , Douglas MacDonald , Thomas - Durrell Young , Andrew Scobell , Cori Dauber , Dallas Owens , and Stephen Biddle have been faculty members or associated with SSI in the past . Strategic thinkers such as Michael Howard , Colin Gray , Daniel Byman , Thomas Marks , Dennis Ippolito , Amit Gupta , Leonid I . Polyakov , Williamson Murray , John White , John Deutch and Eliot Cohen have written SSI studies . The current director of SSI is Douglas Lovelace . Colonel Mark Hinds is Deputy Director . Steven Metz is Director of Research . James Pierce is Director of Publications . Antulio Echevarria is the Editor of PARAMETERS . Colonel Michael Weaver is Director of Academic Engagement and Lieutenant Colonel John Colwell Deputy Director . SSI ' s analytical staff includes Don Snider , Andrew Terrill , Trey Braun , David Lai , John Deni , Max Manwaring , Leonard Wong , and Nate Freier . Jeff McCausland and Robert Bunker hold visiting positions as Minerva Chairs . In addition to their work for SSI , the Institute ' s staff analysts are well known experts in their fields with multiple publications , congressional testimony , and many media interviews .