Federation of American Scientists

The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) faces a major decision point. While it has achieved many successes throughout its 66 years of existence, it has lacked for decades clear statements of its mission, vision, values, and operating principles. It has also been held back by not integrating its program areas into a coherent organization. During the two previous FAS presidents’ administrations—periods that lasted about 40 years, FAS developed into a loose set of projects, several with little or no connection to each other. With a new president (January 2010) and a new board chairman (February 2011), FAS has a great opportunity to perform a serious and rigorous reevaluation of its purpose and effectiveness in providing advice and services to shape national and international policies and in educating target audiences such as the scientific and engineering communities, policymakers, and the public as well as the next generation of scientists, engineers, and policymakers. FAS’s strategic review must address head-on where and how FAS can become a leader. Simply duplicating other organizations’ efforts is a recipe for failure especially in the extremely competitive environment for financial resources. Funds through this organizational effectiveness grant would support a strategic planning process for FAS.