Incoming deputy defense secretary pledges to shake up defense budget; cast sharp eye on military research
WASHINGTON – The White House’s pick to be the next deputy defense secretary, David Norquist, has pledged to throw his weight behind tackling one of the military’s most intractable problems: reforming the complex Pentagon budget and business processes. Breaking Defense reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
25 July 2019 -- Norquist, who as comptroller oversaw the DoD’s first-ever audit last year — the department, as expected, failed — is in a unique position to move the needle if confirmed as deputy given his years of experience looking at the Pentagon’s books for new ways of reform.
Part of the plan includes pushing the Pentagon to invest more in developing cutting-edge technologies like hypersonics and artificial intelligence (AI). But with research and development spending squeezed by flatlining Pentagon budgets, the Pentagon will have to make some tough choices in the coming years.
A key task for Norquist will be managing the research and development budget, which is seeing an influx of critical new programs looking for funding.
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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
