Creating an Effective National Security Industrial Base for the 21st Century: An Action Plan to Address the Coming Crisis

Book excerpt: The Department of Defense (DoD) operates today in an international security environment of great change. DoD has also seen its Supplier base consolidate significantly over the last ten years at the same time as its procurement needs have both diversified and significantly increased. To accommodate both the current and emerging National Security needs associated with this dynamic environment, DoD has acknowledged the importance of a significant transformation of its relationship with the National Security Industrial Base. The conclusion of this Task Force is that "the nation currently has a consolidated 20th Century defense industry, not the required and transformed 21st Century National Security Industrial Base it needs for the future." In order to meet the critical capability needs of the 21st Century Combatant Commands and joint forces on time and within budget, DoD leadership must take immediate and deliberate action to evolve its current working relationship with Industry to achieve a focused and strategic transformation of its relationship with the National Security Industrial Base of the future. The Task Force developed four primary findings and nine recommendations. While the performance of the National Security Industry will be impacted by changes at DoD, the focus of this Task Force was on the future of the National Security Industry itself.