Defense Policy
On Thursday (January 11, 2024), the Department of Defense (DoD) released its inaugural National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS), which can be found HERE. In response, NDIA put out the following press statement from CEO David Norquist, which expresses our appreciation for the focus DoD is placing on U.S. DIB resiliency and expresses our intention to focus on ensuring the strategy is adequately resourced and that the implementation plan, including any classified annex, is done in collaboration with industry:
ARLINGTON, VA – NDIA strongly supports the increased attention the Department of Defense (DoD) is placing on restoring a strong U.S. defense industrial base (DIB) through its inaugural National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS). The U.S. DIB is a major contributor to our economic and national security and supports our warfighters, allies, and partners. To ensure the future health and resiliency of the DIB, DoD will need to balance the unique role played by traditional companies in fulfilling the nation’s warfighting needs while simultaneously working to integrate non-traditional companies more effectively. NDIA is proud to be the voice of businesses of all sizes and sectors of the defense ecosystem and will continue to work with DoD to ensure the strategy is implemented in partnership with industry and adequately resourced.
In addition, OSD confirmed with NDIA Assistant Secretary Taylor-Kale joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for a webcast to discuss the new strategy. The webcast can be viewed here. OSD has also shared it intends to bring in trade association representatives in the January/February timeframe to discuss the implementation plan. Due to the importance of this strategy to our members, we anticipate its implementation will remain an active priority for NDIA’s Strategy and Policy team in 2024. To that end, NDIA will be releasing a summary of the strategy highlighting its impacts for industry soon.
MAINLINE I-96 CLOSURES
- WB I-96, Wixom to Kent Lake, TWO LANES OPEN, through late fall 2023
- EB I-96 connector to EB I-696, ONE LANE OPEN, through late fall 2023
- WB I-696 connector to I-96, ONE LANE OPEN, through late fall 2023
- WB M-5 ramp to WB I-96, CLOSED, through late fall 2023
RAMP CLOSURES
- EB I-96 exit to Beck, CLOSED
- EB I-96 exit to Novi, CLOSED
- Wixom to EB I-96
- Beck to EB I-96
- Novi to EB I-96
Detour: Use Beck exit to Grand River to Novi
MAINLINE I-696 CLOSURES
- EB and WB I-696, Lahser to I-275 interchange, TWO LANES OPEN
- WB I-696 connector to WB I-96, ONE LANE OPEN
- WB I-696, Lahser to Telegraph (US-24), TWO LANES OPEN
- EB I-96 connector to EB I-696, ONE LANE OPEN
Detour: Exit at Orchard Lake and use westbound 12 Mile or Grand River
DAU Midwest and the NDIA Michigan Chapter present:
Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Process Panel Discussion
- September 12, 2023
- 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET (WEBINAR)
- “Free” to NDIA Members from Government, Military, and Industry
- Who Should Attend: Personnel at all levels who want to learn about the PPBE process and how it affects their jobs.
- CLP Eligibility: 1.0
This discussion will help answer your questions!
DAU, with the help of APEO Business Managers from PEO GCS and PEO CS&CSS, and Industry leaders, will provide insights and perspectives on how the PPBE process affects:
- Industry’s planning
- Program Resourcing
- Contracting
The Panel discussion will focus on the PPBE process, with emphasis on how to allocate resources within the Department of Defense. Within the acquisition community, it is important to be aware of the nature and timing of the events in the PPBE process since they may provide information important to program funding and success Planners must also demonstrate their ability to plan and execute funding consistent with DOD policy. Additionally, since the acquisition process is “event driven”, and the PPBE process is “calendar driven”; the difference can result in timing issues for the acquisition community.
Moderators:
Dr. Jennifer Hitchcock
Industry. Dr. Hitchcock currently serves as a member of the Michigan Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Associate. Prior to that she was a professor for program management for the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) and former member of the Army’s Senior Executive Service, where she led the systems engineering and science and technology programs for the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development, and Engineering Center (TARDEC), now Ground Vehicles Systems Center (GVSC)
Dr. Tom Bagwell
Dr. Bagwell currently serves as a Professor of Program Management and executive coach for the Defense Acquisition University (Government). He is a former member of the Army’s Senior Executive Service. Dr. Bagwell worked for 37+ years with the Army in a variety of program management and engineering positions. His last assignment was as the Deputy Program Executive Officer for PEO Ground Combat Systems.
Panelists:
Professor Chris Merkel
Defense Acquisition University (Government)
Mr. Merkel has served as a Professor of Financial Management at DAU for the past 13 years. Prior to that, he worked as a Business Finance Manager where he bought aircraft for the Joint Primary Air Training System (JPATS) program office at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Professor Merkel also completed 28 years as a Naval Aviator in the U.S. Navy Reserves where he flew with multiple squadrons, served with OPNAV N8 and N9 in the Pentagon, and with the Joint Special Operations Command.
Scott Davis
Vice President, Programs and Technology, Combat Mission Systems, BAE Systems (Industry)
Prior to his current position at BAE, Mr. Davis served as the vice president for Combat Vehicles and Armaments at Cypress International, Inc. Additionally, he worked as an Army civilian for 31 years including two past assignments as a Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems and the PEO for Combat Support and Combat Service Support. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve retiring at the rank of Colonel
Antonio Cushman
Assistant Program Executive Officer for Business Management – PEO Ground Combat Systems (Government)
Prior to accepting his position as the APEO for Business Management, Mr. Cushman served as the business manager for PL Future Battle Platforms (FBP), which manages the Army’s M10 Booker and Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program.
Anisah Zeghir
Assistant Program Executive Officer for Business Management - PEO Combat Support and Combat Service Support (Government)
Prior to accepting her position as the APEO for Business Management, Mrs. Zeghir served as the Director of Business Management for JPO JLTV, which managed the Army's Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, Light Tactical Vehicle and Ground Mobility Vehicle programs.
Phil Wills
Director of Business Development, VES LLC (Industry)
Mr. Phil Wills is the local Director of Business Development, for Vidovich Engineering Services (VES) LLC based out of Troy, Michigan and a newly elected Board of Director supporting the Michigan Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). VES is a small business headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Established in 2014, VES’ core competencies are the development of custom Government off the Shelf (GOTS) infrastructure software, integrating tactical Command and Control (C2) systems, and rapidly building prototypes demonstrating emerging technologies solving Army tactical architecture challenges. Phil has over 25 years of Air Force, Army acquisition, program management, and executive leadership experience, including four years of active duty as a systems acquisition officer in the United States Air Force and 20 years at Booz Allen supporting major Air Force and Army acquisition programs
If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding this new DAU partnership, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DAU Midwest and the NDIA Michigan Chapter present:
OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITIES (OTAS)
WHEN: February 8, 2024, 2023 from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
FORMAT: Webinar
COST: Free to Government, Military, and Industry
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Personnel at all levels who want to learn about OTAs
CLP Eligibility: 1.0
REGISTRATION: Register Here!
The Defense Acquisition University (DAU), with the help of the Army Acquisition Command-Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA), the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC) and some good friends from Navistar Defense and Cougaar Software, will:
- Describe what other transaction authorities are and are not
- Review recent statutory and policy changes
- Discuss insights and perspectives on how the Army uses OTAs to include negotiating OTAs with industry consortia and awarding OTAs through consortia
- Provide an understanding on how large and small businesses have successfully pursued and negotiated the use of OTAs to help other organizations respond and utilize these opportunities in the future.
Within the acquisition and defense industry communities, it is important for program managers, functional directors, and their staffs to be aware of how OTAs work, which OTAs are available, and how they are advertised and implemented.
This webinar will provide participants with a better understanding of what OTAs are and how they can be used in lieu of traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) based contracts. Additionally, it will provide insights and perspectives on recent National Defense Authorization (NDAA) changes to OTAs and updates to DOD OTA policy and guidebooks.
Moderators:
Kim Wegner
Lead Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton (Industry)
Kim Wegner is an accomplished strategic marketing professional who develops integrated programs designed to effectively position clients in the defense industry in order to generate awareness and engagement opportunities. Currently, Ms. Wegner is a Lead Associate for Booz Allen Hamilton where she has supported the U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC)’s Force Projection Technology (FPT) clients for the last seven years as a Project Officer. Additionally, she is an active member of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Michigan Chapter. In 2015, she was elected to the NDIA Michigan Chapter’s Board of Directors, where she was held the Communications Chair position until 2020. She has also held the position of Chapter Vice President and most recently, Chapter President.
Dr. Tom Bagwell
Professor of Program Management, Defense Acquisition University (Government)
Dr. Bagwell currently serves as a Professor of Program Management and executive coach for the Defense Acquisition University (Government). He is a former member of the Army’s Senior Executive Service. Dr. Bagwell worked for 37+ years with the Army in a variety of program management and engineering positions. His last assignment was as the Deputy Program Executive Officer for PEO Ground Combat Systems.
Panelists:
Colonel (Ret.) Warren Sponsler
Chief Operations Officer, The National Advanced Mobility Consortium (Industry)
In this leadership position with the NAMC team, Warren is responsible for enabling NAMC to achieve its mission to foster member-driven innovations that ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and victory for the US Military. NAMC connects innovative technology solutions from the consortium’s approximately 500 members to meet critical US Department of Defense needs in advanced ground mobility and enabling capabilities. Warren retired as a Colonel in the US Army in 2022 after serving more than 26 years on active duty with his last positions as the Deputy Director and Chief of Staff of the Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team (NGCV CFT), Army Futures Command.
Michael Gray
Senior Vice President (SVP) for Business Development, Navistar Defense (Industry)
Mike has more than 30 years of Defense-related experience over a wide range of programs. Since joining Navistar Defense in 2020, he has worked on several cornerstone programs for the company in the U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command community, international tactical vehicle community, and commercial manufacturing community, including Common Tactical Truck (CTT), Canadian Forces Logistics Vehicle Modernization (LVM), Water Bison, Tactical Fuel Distribution Systems (TFDS), and JLTV Trailer Contract Manufacturing.
Before Navistar Defense, Michael had worked with SAIC since 2006 where he held roles as the Senior Director, VP of Business Development Program Manager, Division Manager, and Account Manager
Michael retired from the US Army as an Acquisition Professional, with assignments on PM Stryker BCT, and Future Combat Systems (FCS), where he held operational positions at the Brigade through Platoon level, and the Commissioned, Warrant Officer, and NCO levels.
Traci Webb
Business Development Manager, GS Engineering (Industry)
Traci Webb serves as the Business Development Manager for GS Engineering, a full-service engineering services supplier, where she oversees their defense business portfolio. In this role, she relies on previous experience as an Army Civilian with CCDC GVSC's Product Integration Facility, where she gained hands-on experience in DoD vehicle engineering, as well as acquisition, systems engineering, and program management. At GS Engineering, Traci is responsible for business relationship development, sales forecasting and targets to achieve strategic goals, and proposal activities, as well as leading program teams. Her experience and relationships within the defense industrial base help to forge strong partnerships with clients and provide novel solutions to their engineering needs.
In 2023, Traci was elected to the National Advanced Mobility Consortium's (NAMC) Board of Directors, where she serves also as a member of the nominating committee.
Elizabeth Wearn
Chief of the Research and Development (R&D) Services Branch, Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA) (Government)
Ms. Elizabeth Wearn serves as the Chief of the Research and Development (R&D) Services Branch at Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA). In this capacity, she leads five teams which span across multiple missions, to include: Other Transaction Agreements (OTA) and non-FAR based acquisitions; emerging R&D technologies and laboratory support for Ground Vehicle System Center (GVSC); and TACOM Strategic Services Solutions (TS3). She also provides direct support to the Acquisition Services Division which falls under the Combat and Services Contracting Directorate at ACC-DTA.
Kristine Kassekert
Director, Other Transaction Learning, Defense Acquisition University (Government)
Ms. Kassekert is the Learning Director for Other Transaction Authority (OTA) at DAU. She deployed the OTA Credential and is responsible for DAU's OTA offerings, including Neg-OTA-tion 101, the 2-day OTA Simulation, and the webinars OTA Today, OT Counsel Corner and the OT Huddle. Prior to joining DAU Ms. Kassekert supported Marine Corps Systems Command and the largest OTA production award that the Navy had approved as of 2021. She is an attorney by trade with more than 20 years of experience successfully supporting private industry and Government clients.
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