Reform Key to National Defense

Speed, efficiency and innovation are the cornerstones of progress necessary for the new U.S. National Defense Strategy to succeed, according to the deputy secretary of defense. Speaking at the opening keynote address at West 2018, being held in San Diego February 6-8, Patrick Shanahan told the large audience that internal changes will be as important as external approaches.

“It’s not about China; it’s not about Russia: It’s about competing, and there are no such things as fair competitions,” Shanahan said of the new strategy.

[The National Defense Strategy] is not about China; it’s not about Russia: It’s about competing, and there are no such things as fair competitions.—Patrick M. Shanahan, deputy secretary of defense #WEST2018

— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) February 6, 2018

He continued that the department does not have the speed to integrate products and services. “We are out of balance,” he offered. The Joint Staff will be establishing priorities to a greater degree than previously, the deputy secretary added.

Once you done the good re-engineering, technology is the glue that makes it stick.—Patrick M. Shanahan, deputy secretary of defense #WEST2018

— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) February 6, 2018

Shanahan emphasized the need for reform. “Everything [reforming] we’re trying to do is to make it so you can’t go backwards,” he said. He lauded the less-experienced military personnel—E-1 to O-3—and their inherent ability to innovate, adding that the department’s leadership’s responsibility is to turn over to them an environment in which they can flourish to everyone’s benefit.

The department shouldn’t be setting standards. Industry should be setting standards.—Patrick M. Shanahan, deputy secretary of defense #WEST2018

— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) February 6, 2018

Industry will play a major role. “The department shouldn’t be setting standards. Industry should be setting standards,” Shanahan stated. He added the department will be an advocate for foreign military sales, but industry must help by setting priorities for needed changes. The two sides also must come to an understanding of what “good” is in terms of affordability.

When the collective we—government and industry—are aligned, we have a history of dominating.—Patrick M. Shanahan, deputy secretary of defense #WEST2018

— Bob Ackerman (@rkackerman) February 6, 2018

“When the collective we—government and industry—are aligned, we have a history of dominating,” Shanahan declared. “It takes time to [modernize defense], but we’re going to run out of time. We have to do it."