Wesley Hallman, senior vice president for strategy and policy at the National Defense Industrial Association, has said that the recently signed 2019 Bipartisan Budget Act may lead to better government-industry collaboration.

Hallman wrote in a guest piece published Thursday in National Defense Magazine that the legislation, which raises defense and nondefense spending caps, enables government and industry entities to identify key investments, develop future requirments and create innovative contract vehicles. He noted that lowering spendng caps would impact large and small contractors due to issues like self-financing and trickle-down economics.

“The specter of flattening budgets requires all who believe in a strong national defense to endeavor for the maximum effect out of each dollar,” said Hallman. “Understanding that as a common goal and striving for it day after day necessitates an exemplary level of collaboration between the government buyer and the industry producer.” 

He added that recent govenrment efforts like contract financing, which is focused on funding 80 percent of the total project cost, allows companies to invest in research and dveelpment, workforce and tooling efforts.

Defense Secretary and 2019 Wash100 Award winner Mark Esper said that the Trump administration is “making steady progress” on Senate confirmations for top defense roles, Defense News reported Friday. Esper told reporters during a press briefing that eight officials are going through White House vetting while five nominees are slated to undergo Senate hearings.

Senate has yet to confirm U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command and two-time Wash100 Award winner, who was nominated for vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in April.

President Trump announced his intent to nominate Dana Deasy, fellow Wash100 Award recipient, as official chief information officer of the Department of Defense in June.

Esper was confirmed as defense secretary last month.

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Dr. Bruce Jette, assistant secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology for the U.S. Army, will be featured as the keynote speaker during Potomac Officers Club’s 4th Annual Army Forum on October 2nd. 

Click here to register for the 4th Annual Army Forum on Oct. 2nd. 

During the forum, GovCon leaders in the public and private sectors to address the U.S. Army’s current initiatives, the service branch’s “Big Six” modernization plans for the future and the rapid acquisition approach of the Army Futures Command and cross-functional teams.

Earlier this year, Dr. Jette explained that the Army needs a new approach for defense, currently being developed in collaboration with the new Army Futures Command, to develop a better overall system to respond to the rapidly changing threat environment. 

“The threat has become much more complicated. It’s not just tactical ballistic missiles or jets or helicopters. Now, I’ve got UAVs, I’ve got swarms, I’ve got cruise missiles, rockets, artillery and mortars,” said Dr. Jette during the Defense Writers Group breakfast back in January. “Despite concerns among some about getting artificial intelligence into targeting decisions, AI will need to be part of the new approach, in order to save lives.” 

The U.S. Senate swore in Dr. Jette into his current role in Jan. 2018. In his role, he leads the execution of the Army’s acquisition management system. His responsibilities include providing oversight for the life cycle management and sustainment of Army weapon systems and equipment from research and development through test and evaluation, acquisition, logistics, fielding and disposition. 

He’s also responsible for appointing, managing, and evaluating program executive officers and managing the Army Acquisition Corps and Army Acquisition Workforce. Dr. Jette also oversees the Elimination of Chemical Weapons program. 

Prior to his current role, Dr. Jette served as president and CEO of Synovision Solutions, an innovative company he founded to provide management and technical consulting, engineering services, and project management in support of military and governmental agencies, as well as commercial industry.

In addition, Dr. Jette is a decorated veteran and retired as a colonel after 28 years of active duty, which included several armor and cavalry company commands, two overseas tours, various staff assignments at the battalion and brigade level and over two years of operational deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. He also founded the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force.

Dr. Jette graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and Chemistry. Afterward, he earned a Master of Science degree and his Doctorate in Electronic Materials from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also served as an adjunct professor with the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service Security Studies Program at Georgetown University. 

On October 2nd, Potomac Officers Club will host the 4th Annual Army Forum at the 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church, Va. Dr. Bruce Jette of the U.S. Army will be the keynote speaker for the event. A full expert panel of GovCon leaders will also be featured during the forum with the panelists to be announced over the coming weeks. 

Click here to register for the 4th Annual Army Forum on Oct. 2nd.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has opened a new facility for its National Air Security Operations Center at Grand Forks Air Force Base. The new facility addresses the U.S. Air Force’s request for NASOC Grand Forks’ relocation to accommodate the expansion of the service branch’s Global Hawk operations, CBP said Wednesday.

USAF uses the Global Hawk and other unmanned aircraft systems to perform intelligence, security and disaster relief. NASOC conducts UAS training and supports missions such as law enforcement and emergency response. Congress approved $8M to fund the center’s relocation that occurred in an accelerated rate as required by USAF.

The facility also allows CBP’s Air and Marine Operations division to establish an organizational structure integrating both UAS and manned aircraft activities at Grand Forks AFB.