Quadrennial Defense Review

The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) is a study by the United States Department of Defense that analyzes strategic objectives and potential military threats. The Quadrennial Defense Review Report is the main public document describing the United States' military doctrine.

As stipulated in the 1997 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the QDR is to be conducted every four years. As of 2016, five QDR's have been published. The first in 1997, then September 2001, February 2006, February 2010, and most recently March 2014. Starting with the 2006 QDR, the publication is required to coincide with the issuance of the next year’s budget request.

The congressionally mandated Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) directs DoD to undertake a wide-ranging review of strategy, programs, and resources. Specifically, the QDR is expected to delineate a national defense strategy consistent with the most recent National Security Strategy by defining force structure, modernization plans, and a budget plan allowing the military to successfully execute the full range of missions within that strategy. The report will include an evaluation by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the military’s ability to successfully execute its missions at a low-to-moderate level of risk within the forecast budget plan. The results of the 2001 QDR could well shape U.S. strategy and force structure in coming years. This report will be updated as future events warrant.

The 1996 QDR was the first review requested by the Congress following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

In 1993, the Bottom Up Review (BUR) acknowledged the significant changes in the global security environment by articulating a strategy where the Department of Defense sought to prevent conflict by promoting democracy and peaceful resolution of conflict while connecting the U.S. military to the militaries of other countries, especially those of the former Soviet Union. The BUR addressed the need for peacekeeping and peace enforcement operations, but used the two major theater war (MTW) scenario as the main force shaping construct.

On 6 February 1997, then Defense Secretary William Cohen appointed a National Defense Panel (NDP) to review the QDR. In 2009, the House passed HR2647 which included language to mandate a NDP that would be mostly appointed by the Congress to review the 2010 QDR.

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