Definition[]
Issued by the Secretary of Defense in response to the National Security Strategy (NSS), the National Defense Strategy (NDS) provides guidance for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in developing the National Military Strategy (NMS) and also provides a foundation for the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR).
The NDS and the QDR provide strategic guidance from the Secretary of Defense on priority defense missions and associated strategic goals. These goals are used by the strategic planning community to assess newly emerging goals and to develop specific performance measures. The QDR report also serves as the Department's strategic plan, consistent with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993.
Source[]
- Defense Acquisition University, ACQuipedia, National Defense Strategy (full-text).