Leadership, Opportunity and Optimism.

• Author: Norquist, David L.
• Position: Perspective

* As I begin my leadership of one of America's strongest defense associations, I am excited to work with fellow National Defense Industrial Association members and other stakeholders within the innovative defense industrial base in supporting the nation and defending our freedom.

NDIA's focus on collaboration between government, industry and academia continues to enable the objectives outlined in the 2018 and 2022 National Defense Strategies. NDIA promotes an environment that supports a robust Joint Force and defense ecosystem that can effectively and efficiently provide the capabilities and support required to deter, defend and prevail in conjunction with friends, allies and partners. While I recognize the many challenges the nation faces and will continue to face over the next decade, I am very optimistic about our future.

After serving in a senior Defense Department leadership position, I come to NDIA with a clear understanding of the challenges the nation faces in the near- and mid-term. After more than 20 years focused on operations primarily characterized by low intensity conflict, the United States must now deter potential hegemonic ambitions and prepare to win a high intensity conflict if deterrence fails.

As the 2018 National Defense Strategy forecast, we live in a chaotic world with some governments disinclined to adhere to the rules-based international order that emerged after the World War II. This complex economic and security environment requires the United States to effectively compete with countries who prize autocracy over democracy and violent repression over freedom. We see and experience the impacts of nations pursuing regional and international financial and military dominance. Russia, Iran, North Korea and China continue to demonstrate they will take advantage of any perceived U.S. weaknesses. So, we must ensure warfighters have the capabilities, training and support to win decisively in all domains across the spectrum of conflict.

While we face many challenges, China is clearly the pacing threat now and in the future. I strongly believe the United States will not deter China by being better at central planning, and unlike previous eras we do not start with a significantly larger GDP. Our country's strategic advantage is its innovative industrial base.

To compete, deter and win in the Indo-Pacific region, we must design, deliver, sustain and operate a lethal, resilient force able to adapt to emerging capabilities...