John Ferrari at American Enterprise Institute offers some advice to the incoming U.S. Secretary of Defense: focus on fixing internal issues at the Pentagon. "Our military is in its most perilous shape since the end of the 1970s: Woefully behind in utilizing existing technologies... and burdened with an acquisition process and programs that cost billions to deliver hand-crafted weapons that cannot be manufactured to scale and often do not even work." What to do about it? The new SECDEF should focus on "acquisition, resources, and recruiting." https://lnkd.in/e-JjP3dY
Your point about using the whole world against us is well taken. It is also amplified by the fact we live in a very cyber world, it will undoubtedly be increasingly so. When it comes to acquisitions, the role of continuing resolutions instead of budgets, likewise cannot be understated. Defense of our nation going forward requires real, consistent multi-year budgeting from Congress. This of course it outside SecDef's direct control. Which makes steps within his control that more vital. Change is too vital for it to wait for Congress to getting it's budget act together. Especially when for years now they have shown no sense of urgency to do so !
Critical to South China Sea and Taiwan security. https://www.19fortyfive.com/2024/12/japans-military-is-going-all-in-on-the-f-35-fighter-plane/
As I said instead I would get these formidable capabilities over the finish line ASAP! https://simpleflying.com/f-35-block-4-upgrade-critical-us-air-force/
This is why I believe Mr. Hegseth is the ideal choice for Defense Secretary: He has been a vocal advocate for addressing critical internal issues within the Pentagon, including acquisition, resource allocation, and recruitment. His recognition of these challenges as pivotal to overcoming the obstacles our military faces today underscores his readiness to lead effectively.
What we really need is more transvestites.
I always enjoy the work and insight from John G. Ferrari
I would not cancel a major acquisition system but rather get those systems across the goal line as a formidable short term capability given 2027 timeline. JSF Block IV and MQ-25 for example. I would beef up the JCIDS/JRAC Staff and streamline/automate data systems and processes to accelerate new requirements & capabilities while having astute intelligence curation and awareness of exponential technology accelerations in anticipation of transformational paradigm shifts and their impacts. Create DARPA transition and institutional change roadmaps for their cutting edge developments. Apply large language models across the DIB to inform and support the acceleration of knowledge creation and learning. Pervasively accelerate knowledge awareness, collaboration and learning with bolstered leadership and change mgmt skills at all levels, Support Government as the Lead Systrms Integrator with OTAs, IDIQ and MACs with MOSA for rapid adoption and adaptation of commercial and military technologies. Reinvigorate Military-Specs/Stds and supportive cross cutting committees to accelerate and proliferate new technologies via RDTE at scale. Embrace Network Optional Warfighting and autonomy at the tactical edge at scale for integrated effects.