Values and Principles
Our Values
How we view the world.
Principles over partisanship. Partisan labels are shifting in both meaning and purpose. We judge leaders on whether they uphold the Constitution, tell the truth, and deliver for the people they serve.
Legitimacy begins at home. Our nation must protect civil liberties, human rights, and equality of opportunity at home, or it cannot lead credibly abroad.
Effective security requires many tools. Force alone is not a strategy. Defense, democracy, diplomacy, development, and domestic resilience reinforce one another; each becomes costlier when any are neglected.
Trust is built on consistency. We apply one standard to allies, adversaries, and ourselves. Silence in the face of abuse is itself a policy.
Accountability is a civic duty. We seek it in our government institutions, offices, and leaders, and we lead by example with humility, integrity, and clarity.
Diversity is strength. We are unapologetically and purposefully diverse across gender, race, religion, age, geography, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class, because security for all must be built by all.
Our Principles
How we operate.
Do what is right, not what is easy. We act thoughtfully, purposefully, and with common sense, in ways that strengthen and uplift our communities.
Uphold a high standard of conduct. We treat each other and others with respect and professionalism, even as we challenge those whose actions hurt rather than help the American people.
Show up, take action, measure impact. Members collaborate and contribute to national, state, and local security. We do not look away when institutions are under attack; we act according to our expertise and assess the outcome.
Safeguard the community. Membership is earned through past, present, and future actions that strengthen our security. It rests on the trust we build with deliberation, and protect with care.
Disagree in good faith and follow the evidence. We argue with purpose, update our thinking when new facts emerge, and amplify member positions that align with our values.
Meet people where they are. We carry our expertise beyond the Beltway, listen as much as we speak, and bring what we learn back into our work.