Common Defense 2011
Abstract
No discussion about our nation's defense can occur without addressing head-on the fiscal environment in which we find ourselves and the reality of how the budget affects us all in the defense sector, both in industry and in the government. The effect of our nation's fiscal environment on the future of defense is not an abstract or theoretical issue. It is simply a fact. I would also like to discuss some of the macro trends we are seeing in the industrial base. More specifically, how are we in the Department of Defense trying to better understand that base to enable us to identify the critical capabilities so vital to our continued commitment while fielding the best systems possible for our warfighters at the most affordable price to the taxpayers. This effort is especially important given the anticipated changes in the department's spending profile over the coming decade. Changes in the defense budget profile are not uncommon in DoD history or in the history of the firms that have traditionally made up our industrial base. A little over a year ago, then-deputy secretary of defense William Lynn began referring to the new era we are all entering as the "fifth inflection point" in post-World War II defense spending. The first three inflection points arose immediately after major wars were fought: World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The fourth inflection point was the result of the Gramm-Rudman Act of 1985, where deficit reduction was the central tenet. When one looks back at these inflection points, several common themes emerge. First, each inflection point resulted in significant loss of core capabilities by the department. Second, reconstitution was required in each instance, often at significant cost. Third, in different ways, the DoD managed each inflection transition poorly. Five broad lessons that emerged from these earlier inflection points serve as a road map for DoD planning at this time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA569582
Entities
People
- Brett Lambert
Organizations
- United States Assistant Secretary of Defense