Dean G. Popps
Earlier this month, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth took on an issue that has long evaded Pentagon officials in both Democratic and Republican Administrations: acquisition reform. Secretary Hegseth laid out a bold strategy for addressing the development, procurement, and fielding of defense assets, with a much-needed focus on “speed to capability.”
The move should be fully embraced by policymakers, the acquisition community, and private sector contractors, alike.
Secretary Hegseth’s vision rightly reflects that the myriad threats facing the U.S. homeland and forward-deployed resources demand a rejection of the “business as usual” approach at the Pentagon. Given the urgent priorities outlined by the Trump Administration – be it Golden Dome or the defense of Guam – there is no better time to focus on both increased flexibility and efficiency.
The U.S. Army will be front and center during this effort, particularly in its integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) portfolio. Lt. Gen. Sean A. Gainey, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, has said, “The U.S. Army AMD force is undergoing the most significant modernization in our history.”
This initiative is far from a luxury in 2025. As the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have demonstrated over the last couple of years, air and missile defenses are essential if we are to protect our troops and allies abroad.
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