An Arsenal of Peace in Challenging Times.

• Author: Bayer, Michael

As I begin my two-year tenure as chair-man of the National Defense Industrial Association, I want to start by thanking each of you for the work you--our government and industry leaders--execute every day on behalf of the men and women defending our country. Your efforts matter, and your dedication is vital.

In its 103-year history, NDIA has been at the tip of the spear during many challenging times for our industry. This is yet another.

The president's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said, "The world is at an inflection point" and we must "advance America's vital interests and position America to outpace our competitors."

Yet, we are hobbled with a politically divided government and polling showing that many Americans rank national security threats well below their economic and social concerns. Sadly, the disconnect is widening between the scale of our security challenges and the necessary focus on solutions to successfully address them.

With China seeking to revise the rules and norms of the current international order to benefit its authoritarian and expansionist vision and Russia testing the resolve of democracies with its savage invasion of Ukraine, allies and partners are looking to the United States for greater economic and security leadership. They are calling for America to restore the initiative in global technological standards setting, increase plurilateral cooperation on trade and export controls, and promote a more effective deterrence against antidemocratic governments.

Meanwhile, the U.S. national security ecosystem is relearning how to maneuver in an era of economic and technological great power competition. Leaders in the legislative branch are focusing on the resources and commitments required to sustain a resilient, strong and diverse defense industrial base. The Defense Department's leaders are re-orienting operating concepts and requirements to align with the changing character of war and to accelerate its business and military operations to the speed of the digital world.

Conversely, budget stability remains an elusive goal. For the past 14 years, the department has 13 times operated under a continuing resolution for part of the year. This budgetary dysfunction delays new starts, increases costs, stifles innovation and negatively impacts the readiness of warfighters. Only U.S. adversaries benefit from this extravagant waste of resources and momentum.

Combined, the escalating nature of economic and...