In 1947, the United States underwent significant changes following World War II. The year saw events such as Jackie Robinson joining Major League Baseball and President Harry S. Truman announcing the Truman Doctrine. It was also when the National Security Act of 1947 was signed, restructuring the country’s military and intelligence agencies.
Nearly eight decades later, Arizona State University (ASU) has launched an initiative to examine whether this foundational law still meets today’s national security needs. The Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab at ASU will lead a feasibility study throughout 2026 to determine if an update to the act is necessary.
Ambassador Michael C. Polt, co-founder of the lab and ASU ambassador-in-residence, explained that after World War II, Americans recognized a shift in global dynamics and responded by creating new institutions like the Department of Defense, National Security Council, and Central Intelligence Agency.
“After World War II, we learned that the world had profoundly changed, and that America’s role in that world had profoundly changed as well,” said Polt. “So we created these institutions to address that change.”
Polt noted that today’s geopolitical environment differs greatly from that of 1947. He suggested it may be time to reconsider whether past priorities remain relevant.
“Today, we are again a nation in flux,” he said. “This is the time to ask, ‘Does change provide opportunity?’”
The working group at ASU will include diplomatic and national security professionals along with student fellows who will assess how current global challenges align with existing national security structures.
Part of their study involves examining what values define the nation. Referring to Benjamin Franklin’s statement—“A republic, if you can keep it”—Polt emphasized ongoing civic responsibility.
“One of the key challenges for us is whether we go the way of other great nations or empires, or will we be different? And I insist that we are different,” he said.
“I insist on what Madeleine Albright called the ‘indispensable nation.’ I insist on what Ronald Reagan called the ‘shining city on the hill’ — not because we have reached perfection, but because we aspire to form that ‘more perfect union’ of our founding documents. And to do that, you have to actually work at it.”
Polt believes ASU is well-suited for this task due to its record in defense technology innovation and policy leadership. According to U.S. News & World Report, Arizona State University has been named number one in innovation for eight consecutive years—a recognition given by academic leaders based on advancements made by institutions nationwide.
Additionally, ASU has collaborated with partners such as Argos Vision on technology projects aimed at public safety improvements in Phoenix; the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department recently announced a pilot program using smart traffic cameras developed by an ASU tech startup.
Polt stressed inclusivity in this effort: “I think at the heart of this feasibility study is the American people,” he said. “This shouldn’t be an exercise for the ‘elites’ to gather in a room. We need to have an organized effort that is understandable to the people whose lives are affected by the decisions we make. I think ASU has a greater standing in that regard than other entities do.”
If updating the National Security Act proves necessary after their assessment, Polt stated: “If we decide to move forward at the conclusion of this study…we would be building an instruction manual for the American people on how to assess whether their leaders are delivering the national security that lives up to the high standards and character of the people it protects.”
