DoD, Wall Street, and Industry leaders recommended that the new administration move rapidly to implement a far- reaching defense reform agenda to allow the Department of Defense to keep pace with rapidly advancing commercial, telecommunication, and information technologies.

The Defense Reform 2001 conference was jointly organized by the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, BAE SYSTEMS, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and TRW. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition and Management) Darleen Druyun was executive chair of the conference and conference participants included more than 500 representatives from industry, Capital Hill, Wall Street, and the academic and policy communities.

Next week, the recommendations resulting from the Conference will be issued by the AIAA as part of a new "Blueprint for Action." Ms. Druyun noted that the Blueprint will "reflect our collective thinking on what needs to be done to reduce cycle times, slash bureaucracies and restore the operational and financial strength to our defense industrial base -- and, in turn, enable that base to better respond to the needs of the Armed Services."

Brian Dailey, Corporate Vice President of Lockheed Martin and Dennis Picard, President (elect) of AIAA, co-chairs of the Conference noted the critical nature and timing of the conference. According to Dailey, "These recommendations were possible only by the unprecedented high-level participation by DoD, Wall Street, and industry leaders."

Additional information about the Defense Reform 2001 conference, along with a copy of the initial report, "Blueprint for Action: Setting the Stage," can be found at http://www.defensereform.org/. For additional information contact Kathy Watkins (703.264.3847), AIAA.

SOURCE: American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics