A Call to Get Involved in the Association.

• Author: McConn, Richard D.
• Position: NDIA Perspective

* I am excited to assume leadership as the National Defense Industrial Association is poised for growth, both in size and influence. We intend to accelerate the excellent momentum created by the previous Board Chair, Sid Ash worth.

As part of the leadership team that spearheaded NDIA's recent reorganization, we developed the vision for magnifying our association's impact, prestige, presence and importance. Building upon Ashworth's legacy, we will focus on energizing membership--corporate and individual--increasing member value and establishing communities of influence to posture the association for the next several years.

The 2017 National Security Strategy clearly defines the way ahead to protect the American people. Today I'm asking for all NDIA members to get involved as we work to ensure that industry delivers our warfighters the best.We have upon us a new era of great power competition as outlined in the strategy. Whereas the industry in 1980 provided for about two-thirds of defense innovation, this ratio is now reversed with commercial industry now providing two-thirds of innovation. The DoD and warfighters need us more than ever.

We are emerging from a period characterized by operations to deter and defeat transnational violent extremism. The new strategy states an emphasis to refocus on great power competition. NDIA's mission requires us to adjust priorities to meet future defense and foreign policy challenges. That shift requires we tackle and outcompete adversaries to develop and operationalize emerging innovations and technologies. We cannot give up our technological edge. The nation needs military capacity with advanced capabilities developed by the defense industrial base and delivered at speeds not seen before.

Make no mistake, we cannot afford to lose this competition. NDIA's new organizational structure, financial strength and leadership will allow us to be a major player in shaping the future of the defense establishment. Maximizing the association's impact requires membership to commit to leading and growing local chapters, divisions and events. We will focus to ensure we have the right mindset and correct emphasis to address complex security issues.

These new challenges come in the areas of cyber, space, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, quantum computing, multi-domain warfare and more. Understanding the challenges associated with emerging technology requires broadening the base and ensuring we have expertise...