The United States is a maritime nation, and the U.S. Navy protects America at sea. Alongside our allies and partners, we defend freedom, preserve economic prosperity, and keep the seas open and free. Our nation is engaged in long-term competition. To defend American interests around the globe, the U.S. Navy must remain prepared to execute our timeless role, as directed by Congress and the President. 

Military installations and operations are now persistently disrupted by recurrent drought, heat waves, catastrophic wildfires, and flooding. Coastal installations also face rising seas, erosion, and increasingly powerful storms. These challenges require durable and long-term solutions to ensure the resilience of the military mission, including an important role that natural and nature-based features (NNBF) (or natural infrastructure) can play for military installation resilience (MIR) and mission assurance.