Reflecting on the Past and Future of NDIA.

• Author: Mcconn, Richard
• Position: NDIA Perpective

I write this article on my last day as chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and want to thank all of you, our community of industry, government, military, academia and all defense professionals committed to advancing national security.

I must also thank President and CEO retired Gen. Hawk Carlisle, Chief Operating Officer retired Army Gen. Jim Boozer, and the entire NDIA staff of over 70 people who have managed and led us to great achievements over the past two years.

Despite these difficult times caused by COVID, the association remains financially strong and the premier thought leader within the defense industry. Over the past two years we have brought over 30 universities into the NDIA fold along with several laboratories.

We now produce the "Vital Signs" publication, annually evaluating and grading the health and readiness of the U.S. defense industrial base. It is a complement to our excellent monthly magazine, National Defense, which is nationally recognized and honored.

We have matured the Women In Defense affiliate with great success. Recently, we established the Emerging Technology Institute, which will place us in the forefront of new innovation so important to the changing nature of modern warfare.

The new Chairman Arnold Punaro has been invaluable as my vice chairman. I can think of no one more connected in this town and more dedicated to our national defense community. Michael Bayer's distinguished background in the defense arena makes him the perfect vice chairman for Arnold and NDIA.

Yet I am concerned with some daunting issues and questions we face in the defense industry such as: reduced defense budgets; how to preserve the industrial base and supply chain; how to protect sensitive data and intellectual property rights; and how to deal with increased international competition.

Other unresolved issues include the roles and missions for the military branches--namely how we overcome parochialism and establish jointness.

Another problem is how to achieve a sensible defense budget, while also setting proper priorities with all the new technologies now upon us to ensure deterrence.

How will we address, fund and adopt such new game-changing capabilities as digital engineering and open source software coding to stay ahead of the competition?

I am especially concerned about the U.S. defense industry where we have fewer prime vendors and the number of Tier 2 to Tier 5 vendors has shrunk dramatically in the past...