They have spent much of the last two years speaking with the military and veteran community about the ongoing suicide epidemic. Every veteran and military service member is a thread in the tapestry of our society. The loss of each veteran is also a loss to our economy—potential contributions, innovations, and wisdom that will never be realized. Veteran suicide is a national crisis, but it is also deeply personal. The Cipher Brief is committed to publishing a range of perspectives on national security issues submitted by deeply experienced national security professionals.