exploit every weakness that we fail to address. We do not have unlimited time or resources. Fixing these failures is not optional—it is a matter of national security. Strengthening the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) The U.S. military should be pre- pared to fight and win against peer adversaries. This requires a robust de- fense industrial base, free from sup- ply chain vulnerabilities and outdated production models. The administration has prioritized reshoring key defense industries, re- ducing reliance on adversarial sup- pliers, and ensuring that our defense manufacturing remains cutting-edge. However, these efforts should be paired with aggressive cost-cutting
measures. Unchecked spending does not equate to military readiness— streamlined efficiency does. Recommendation. The DoD should mandate automation and AI-driven manufacturing to enhance efficiency while cutting annual budget requests by 5 percent. Any program unable to sustain this reduction while deliver- ing superior performance should be subject to direct approval by Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Comptroller (OUSD Comptroller); Of- fice of the Director, Cost and Program Evaluation (OSD CAPE); and Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Furthermore, workforce training should shift toward high-tech skillsets that align with next-generation manu- facturing. Investment in AI-assisted logistics and predictive maintenance will enhance readiness while reduc-
ing waste. Eliminating redundant pro- curement processes will ensure that taxpayer dollars are directed toward frontline capabilities.
Reforming Defense Acquisition Processes
The current acquisition system is plagued by excessive bureaucracy, slow procurement cycles, and out- dated contracting practices. The ad- ministration has committed to tearing down these barriers and creating an agile, accountable acquisition system that meets the needs of Warfighters in real time. The DAS should align with this directive by ensuring that the U.S. military gets the right capa- bilities at the right time—without the inefficiencies that drain resources and delay deployment. Recommendation. The DoD should implement AI-driven procurement systems to reduce bureaucracy, in- crease transparency, and eliminate inefficiencies while meeting the mandate of a 5 percent annual cost reduction. No exceptions should be granted without OUSD CAPE and OMB approval. Additionally, the DoD should in- tegrate blockchain technology to streamline contract management, ensuring fraud prevention and ef- ficiency gains. Acquisition offices should embrace a risk-taking culture that rewards smart innovation rather than compliance-driven stagnation. Expanding Technological Innovation Innovation without discipline is reckless. While the Pentagon should aggressively pursue breakthrough technologies, it should do so with fi- nancial accountability at the forefront. The Defense Innovation Unit and similar efforts should be empowered to deliver rapid, cost-effective solu- tions that enhance Warfighter lethal- ity without bloated overhead costs or bureaucratic roadblocks. Recommendation. Establish lean, high-impact research and develop- ment units focused on AI, quantum
A team of DoD drone operators and experts tests the technical capabilities of various Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) during a Defense Innovation Unit-led prize challenge to identify platforms, components, and capabilities for Blue UAS, which clears and validates flying platforms are safe to fly, cyber-secure, and meet DoD require- ments, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., on Nov. 2-6, 2024. The Blue UAS Refresh Challenge included more than 35 platforms and companies, and an expert team of 40 military drone end-users with participation from each Service and several major program offices in support of the department’s ability to quickly scale and field commercially produced drone technologies for military and government use. Source: DoD photo by Devon Bistarkey, Defense Innovation Unit
26 | DEFENSE ACQUISITION | May-June 2025
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker