Lexington Institute

The Lexington Institute is a non-profit public-policy think tank headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, that focuses on national security, education reform, and U.S. relations with Cuba.

History and positions

It was founded in 1998 by former Congressman James Courter (R-NJ), former congressional aide Merrick Carey, former Georgetown University administrator Loren Thompson, and policy analyst Donald Soifer. Its annual revenues are $2.5 million, and are derived mainly from corporate sponsors, other foundations and private individuals.

The institute's employees are quoted frequently in national media. In 2008 it was rated as the 21st most widely cited think tank in terms of media visibility,^[1] although relative to the size of its budget it has been rated as high as number two in the nation.^[2] The Institute's mission statement supports "limiting the role of the federal government to those functions explicitly stated or implicitly defined by the Constitution" and "promoting America's ability to project power around the globe." It does not describe itself as "conservative" or "libertarian".^[3]

Defense policy

The Lexington Institute has been called the "defense industry's pay-to-play ad agency", reflecting the fact that it receives substantial funding from military contractors and issues a steady stream of reports, usually favorable, about the performance and status of key weapons programs.^[4] However, institute staffers are frequently critical of particular weapons or policies, assailing among other things the Navy's next-generation destroyer, the Army's future troop carrier, a proposed joint replacement for the Humvee light tactical vehicle and most of the acquisition reform measures proposed during the Obama Administration.^[5] Media citations frequently note that Lexington staffers have ties to military contractors. Thompson stated, "I'm not going to work on a project unless somebody, somewhere, is willing to pay. This is a business. My bottom line is that if what I write and say is true, it doesn't really matter what my motives are."^[6] Silverstein also noted Thompson's connection to a for-profit consulting service called Source Associates, which is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia.

Daniel Goure and Thompson are defense analysts. Goure was formerly associated with the Center for Strategic and International Studies and holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University. Thompson was deputy director of Georgetown University's Security Studies Program and taught there for two decades, during which time he received a Ph.D. from the university. Thompson argued in favor of continued C-17 production in 2009 and against this production in 2010.^[7] Thompson often criticizes SpaceX as well.^[8] He has also said that the United States is likely to engage in war against Vietnam again and so needs the EFV to storm their beaches.^[9] He has also called for a shift in American defense spending towards items such as the Littoral Combat Ship and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II that can be exported to allies.^[10] Thompson has said that "The United States cannot continue to spend, especially on defense, the way it has been over the past decade.”^[11] And that looser rules on worker treatment mean that money can be saved by outsourcing equipment maintenance to the companies he represents.^[12] Despite being funding by defense contractors, Goure has argued that the use of these contractors is a sign of an army in decline.^[13]

Education policy

Lexington's research on successful strategies for structured English immersion programs was cited by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 2009 Horne v. Flores opinion.^[14]

Bob Holland and Don Soifer, policy analysts with the Lexington Institute, have argued that multiculturalism has fostered a decline in the teaching of US History and the rise of Islamic extremism.^[15][16]

As a result of his writings, Soifer's 2012 reappointment to the board of the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board was delayed,^[17] but Soifer was reconfirmed to serve a second four-year term on the board on December 4, 2012, by a 7-2 vote of the DC Council. ^[18]

An April 2013 education paper, "Why Blended Learning Can't Stand Still", analyzed best practices at several of the nation's highest performing blended learning public charter and traditional schools.^[19]

As one Education Week writer described their findings, "Constant, real-time data monitoring streamlines the formerly arduous task of analyzing student results, giving teachers more time to plan and individualize lessons to accelerate and enhance learning." ^[20]

Soifer has also published articles arguing that Virginia needs more charter schools, state takeovers of failing schools, and other ways to foster innovation.^[21]

Politics

The Institute also covers purely political topics. For example, Thompson wrote that most of the candidates in the Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2012 are "unsuited to high office".^[22]

Energy

A 2013 Lexington report, "Ensuring the Resilience of the U.S. Electric Grid," argued for strategies to minimize the impact of disruptions to the power grid.^[23]

Members

• Jim Courter, Chairman.
• Merrick Carey, CEO.
• Loren B. Thompson, Chief Operating Officer.
• Don Soifer, Executive Vice President.
• Dan Goure, Vice President.
• Philip Peters, Vice President, has called for a lifting on the trade embargo with Cuba.^[24]
• Dr. Rebecca Grant, was formally a senior fellow.

References

External links

• Lexington Institute

Coordinates: 38°53′43″N 77°04′37″W / 38.895292°N 77.077053°W / 38.895292; -77.077053