NDIA's Future: A Hawk's Eye View.

• Author: Carlisle, Hawk
• Position: NDIA Perspective

As I depart the National Defense Industrial Association, I'm incredibly proud of all it has accomplished during the past five years.

Our amazingly talented staff and exceptionally dedicated volunteer leaders expanded NDIA's thought leadership and supported warfighters through this award-winning magazine, white papers on acquisition and resourcing, NDIA's annual Vital Signs report and incredible events such as the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC), the Interser-vice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), the Future Forces Capabilities Conference and Exhibition, Undersea Warfare conferences, Navy Gold Coast and the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering Technology Symposium.

I am perhaps most proud of the way the entire team worked to help the defense industrial base navigate the pandemic while maintaining best-in-the-world support of our warfighters. However, our work is far from finished.

While I'm disappointed I won't lead NDIA's next phase, Russia's attack on Ukraine crystalizes the imperative to maintain national security capabilities to ensure warfighters, and the warfighters of our friends, allies and partners, enjoy decisive advantage across the spectrum of conflict. This imperative requires a strong, active, nonpartisan association scrupulously uninterested in any individual company while ruthlessly dedicated to every business working to sustain and grow that advantage.

I'm confident NDIA will continue its focus on divisions, chapters and affiliates, updating governance and providing materials to make volunteer leadership less burdensome. Our volunteer leaders are the central nervous system of NDIA, Women In Defense and the National Training and Simulation Association and we owe them tailored, responsive support to help them plan and execute events promoting collaboration between government, industry and academia.

I'm confident NTSA will continue as the pacesetter for modeling, simulation and training in national security. From advanced simulators to the metaverse, NTSA events ensure government and industry collaboration to deliver the most realistic training possible within and across units, services and combatant commands.

I'm confident WID will continue to strengthen the industrial base by ensuring 51 percent of our population can reach their potential in the national security sector. By providing professional development and resources to women seeking advanced education, WID will help...