EVENT: Defense Acquisition Reform – Friday, November 13, 2015

The Lexington Institute is organizing a Capitol Hill forum on Friday, November 13th to discuss ways of improving management and procurement at the defense department, and how that department might become a better customer.

The purpose of this conference is to explore ways government can create a robust defense acquisition environment, which powers a strong national defense, by harnessing the full creative strength of the entire national economy. The forum will be a series of back-to-back presentations by subject matter experts. It will be held from 12:00 PM until 3:00 PM, and is designed to bring out useful information quickly from experts and policymakers.

Speakers to date include:

Mr. Byron K. Callan, Managing Director, Capital Alpha Partners

The Honorable Gregory R. Dahlberg, former Under Secretary, U.S. Army

Ms. Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Mr. Jon Etherton, President, Etherton and Associates, Inc.

The Honorable Christine Fox, former acting Deputy Secretary of Defense

Dr. Daniel Goure, Vice President, Lexington Institute

Mr. Andrew P. Hunter, Director, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Mr. Phil Jasper, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Rockwell Collins

Mr. Gregory Kiley, President, Kiley & Associates, LLC

Dr. William A. LaPlante, Assistant Secretary,  Air Force (Acquisition)

Mr. Steve McCarthy, Minister (Defence Materiel), British Embassy

Mr. Kenneth E. Miller, former Special Assistant for Acquisition to the Secretary of the Air Force

Mr. Philip A. Odeen, former Chairman, National Defense Panel

Dr. Michael E. O’Hanlon, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Brookings Institution

The Honorable James Talent, Senior Fellow, AEI (former Member, Senate Armed Services Committee)

Vice Admiral Patricia Tracey (Ret), Vice President, Defense, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (former Director, Navy Staff)

As the Department of Defense (DoD) looks forward into an evolving threat environment, it finds potential adversaries closing the gap in technology and capability.  Extended overseas operations accelerate aging of military assets while budget pressures frustrate sustainment and training, and threaten recapitalization of military fleets.

DoD depends on private industry to provide all of its weapons and supplies, and most of its services and sustainment. However, DoD sees increasing reluctance of many companies in private industry to do business at the department.  As a result, the department may lack access to the latest technology, competition has diminished, and managers feel limited in their ability to control costs.

Some experts believe that the way the Pentagon does business deters companies from becoming military suppliers.  The department has initiated an outreach campaign to entrepreneurial technology companies, but resistance to working with the military may be more than a matter of communication or physical proximity.  A shift in the government’s acquisition culture may be needed to engage companies that have broader opportunities in the commercial world.

You may R.S.V.P. to Constance Baroudos at baroudos@lexingtoninstitute.org or via telephone 703.522.5828.  There is no need to respond unless you are interested in attending.

Lexington Institute

Defense Acquisition Reform

Friday, November 13, 2015

Rayburn House Office Building

B-339

Washington, DC 20515

12:00-3:00pm

(Lunch provided)