Releases
WHO: Key industry, Executive branch, Congressional and Wall Street leaders WHAT: AIAA - Defense Reform 2001 WHEN: February 14-15, 2001 WHERE: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20004 Metro Stop - Federal Triangle WHY: This forum will give key industry, Executive branch, Congressional and Wall Street leaders an opportunity to evaluate the current status of defense reform and address future initiatives in an effort to assist the new Administration in setting its defense priorities and reform agenda. Attendees will participate in an interactive forum and will leave with a published copy of "A Blueprint for Action" -- an agreed upon, definitive plan for action, which will set the pace for defense reform efforts in the years ahead.
Defense Reform initiatives are at the forefront of the new Administration's agenda. As Donald Rumsfeld said at his Senate confirmation hearing to become the next Secretary of Defense:
* "The present weapons system acquisition process was designed in an environment that's very different from the one that exists today. In my view, it's not well-suited to meet the demands posed by an expansion of unconventional and asymmetrical threats in a rapid technological advances and a period of pervasive proliferation." * "The U.S. defense establishment must be transformed to address our new circumstance. The need to swiftly introduce new weapons systems is clear. The transformation of U.S. military power to take full advantage of commercially created information technology may require undertaking near-term investment to acquire modern capabilities derived from U.S. scientific and industrial preeminence, rather than simply upgrading some existing systems."
Additionally, a recent Government Accounting Office report addressed today's flawed acquisition process. The report -- "Major Management Challenges and Program Risks: Department of Defense" (GAO-01-244) -- said the acquisition process suffers from inattention to cost-effectiveness; unrealistic cost, schedule and performance estimates; program affordability problems; and the use of "high-risk" acquisition strategies.
These topics along with other related defense reform issues will be addressed directly by several high-level panels in the two-day co-sponsored DOD/Hill/industry -- AIAA -- Defense Reform 2001 forum.
Panel Topics for Discussion * Assessing the Health and Viability of the U.S. Defense Industry: "The Defense Industry Perspective" * A Critical Look at Acquisition Reform: "Reviewing the Record and Essential Next Steps" * Setting the New Defense Priorities and Reinvigorating the Acquisition Reform Agenda: "The Hill Perspective" * DoD and the Defense Industry Partnership: "DoD's Perspective" * Financial Health of the Defense Industry in 2001: "Wall Street's Perspective" * Military Requirements for Defense and the Budget Allocation for Defense Procurement: "Senior Military Leaders' Perspective" * The Global Marketplace: "Partnerships for Globalization" * Defense Reform Recommendations: "Forging a Partnership for National Security"
CONTACT: Kathy Watkins, Market Development, of AIAA, 703-264-3847, fax: 703-264-7551 or
PRNewswire -- Jan. 23
Web site: Web: www.aiaa.org
SOURCE: AIAA
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/534163.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 534163