The Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Atmospheric Sciences initiative to coordinate and focus research on the near-earth portion of geospace from the lower ionosphere to where the earth system interacts with the solar wind. The purpose of the GEM program is to support basic research into the dynamical and structural properties of geospace, leading to the construction of a global geospace general circulation (GGCM) model with predictive capability. The GGCM effort has evolved into the Global System Modeling (GSM) Research Area. The strategy for achieving GEM goals is to undertake a series of campaigns and focus groups, in both theory and observational modes, each focusing on particular aspects of the geospace environment.