Greg Head

This alarming, insightful report, the "Commission on the National Defense Strategy," released in June, should be required reading for all Americans. Chaired by Jane Harman and Vice-Chaired by Eric Edelman, two highly regarded leaders, the report sounds the alarm for a nation ill-prepared to meet the challenges of an increasingly violent world. See for yourself here in the first paragraph of the summary, "The threats the United States faces are the most serious and most challenging the nation has encountered since 1945 and include the potential for near-term major war. The United States last fought a global conflict during World War II, which ended nearly 80 years ago. The nation was last prepared for such a fight during the Cold War, which ended 35 years ago. It is not prepared today." It's time for Americans to put aside the differences that divide & weaken us and unite & strengthen around our shared values. Each of us can do our part by respectfully seeking to understand other people, not to undermine them. It's also time to push past the political drama and focus on the pertinent issues crucial to America's ability to survive and thrive. #leadership #nationalsecurity #values

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DoD rule-makers have been busy with proposed rules for DFARS. Those of you with a NAICS code that begins with 5416--management, scientific, and technical consulting services NAICS--will want to pay attention to this first rule in particular... Preventing Conflicts of Interest for Certain Consulting Services (DFARS Case 2024-D007) - Proposes amending DFARS to-- ▶ implement Section 812 of the FY24 NDAA which prohibits DoD from awarding contracts assigned a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code beginning with 5416 to offerors who hold contracts that involve consulting services with certain covered foreign entities. ▶ add a new solicitation provision in which an offeror certifies whether the offeror, its subsidiaries, or affiliates hold a contract for consulting services with one or more covered foreign entities and whether the offeror maintains a conflict-of-interest mitigation plan that meets certain requirements. ▶ requires that if the offeror, its subsidiaries, or affiliates hold such a contract and the offeror is selected for award, the offeror may submit its existing conflict-of-interest mitigation plan, which will be incorporated into a contract resulting from the solicitation. The provision is prescribed for use in solicitations assigned a NAICS code beginning with 5416 that involve consulting services. (https://lnkd.in/gCdMD7D4) DoD Cost or Pricing Data Reporting Requirements (DFARS Case 2022-D004) - Would amend DFARS to-- ▶ require offerors to submit data other than certified cost or pricing data upon contracting officer request. ▶  establish a $2 million threshold for the Truthful Cost or Pricing Data statute requirements with respect to contract modifications, subcontracts, and modifications to subcontracts.  ▶ require that contract modifications to reflect the revised threshold be executed “as soon as practicable.” The proposed rule implements these changes via several proposed new clauses. (https://lnkd.in/gfNcW2rR) Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research (DFARS Case 2020-D028) - Proposes two new clauses that require contractors with contracts that include fundamental research to develop and maintain a data management plan and to submit final peer-reviewed manuscripts to the Defense Technical Information Center’s publicly accessible repository. (https://lnkd.in/g7bDcij6) Comments for all proposed rules are due on 11/25/2024. Instructions to comment are found at each permalink.

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The Pentagon is Reaching Out to the Private Sector to Engage in Public Private Partnerships to Support US National Security and Rebuild the Defense Industrial Base. America’s nation-state adversaries, lining up in a coordinated fashion, do not have private sectors that they must activate under their command economy models; we do. Thus it’s incumbent upon US and Allied business leaders to step up and partner with the DOD. A lot depends on us getting this right. In testimony this week before the Senate Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee, William A. LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, pointed to……”the need to send a steady demand signal to the defense industrial base to ensure the right workforce and production capabilities remain in place to meet warfighter needs.” https://lnkd.in/es9aD3Qn

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America is not producing the requisite products and services to support our military facing myriad existential threats throughout the world. Addressing this crisis and inviting the private sector to action at scale, the Department of Defense just issued its “………..National Defense Industrial Strategy Implementation Plan (NDIS-IP), detailing how the DoD will achieve the four strategic priorities laid out in the NDIS…….. the document outlines ongoing and future actions that DoD is taking, to modernize the defense industrial base. The NDIS-IP describes six cross-cutting initiatives and associated lines of effort, which will enable the DoD to achieve a more resilient defense industrial ecosystem and buy-down risks. In addition to detailing the work being done across the Services and DoD components, the NDIS-IP demonstrates activities and initiatives that the U.S. Government, private industry, and international allies and partners are undertaking, emphasizing that this effort cannot be a DoD-only initiative. "Publishing the NDIS was a significant accomplishment as we work to strengthen the size and resilience of our industrial base," Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment William LaPlante said, "………"This implementation plan offers industry, global allies, and partners clear direction on the Department's priorities for industrial capacity building." said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale. "Implementing these initiatives will require coordinated efforts across the DoD, and support and cooperation from our interagency, industry, and international stakeholders, as well as our champions in Congress." https://lnkd.in/euHQ96vd

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As the Senate debates supplemental funding for national security, we hear a lot of talk about sending taxpayer dollar overseas. But most of this funding actually stays right here in the United States – supporting the defense industrial base and creating good jobs in 65 congressional districts across 30 states. This doesn’t even count all the suppliers that provide parts and services – which expand the footprint of this legislation even further.   Marc Thiessen breaks it down here with some important facts – and a helpful map.

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Disappointment within the Navy. The naming of ships has a defined history codified by legislation and tradition. Beginning with the term of former Secretary of the Navy Mabus in 2009, however, the number of “exceptions” has been pervasive to the point that naming conventions are no longer respected.  Herein, Secretary Del Toro names a “Virginia Class” submarine for a city, Baltimore, instead of a state.  Why?  Why another exception? Virginia Class submarines are/were to be named for states and by extension, territories. Recently, Secretaries of the Navy have decided to name ships and submarines without apparent regard for the originally intended purpose of convention. The pivot away from tradition was quite noticeable in 2012 (then Secretary Mabus) as cited in the depths of countless footnotes and explanations in the [frequent] periodic congressional update regarding ships names, the Congressional Research Service, https://lnkd.in/en53D7ys.  It’s a mess. We’re now naming ships for “important people”, e.g., former Secretaries of the Navy, former CJCS etc., who are still living and made significant contributions to the navy but are not “heroes” nor individuals of the eminent stature whose names are enshrined in most consequential chapters of our Nation’s history. There are other deviations. Why? Why chip away tradition and the importance of tradition? Sadly, the most casual eye would suggest the art of politics is quite apparent in the often-creative rationalization of arbitrarily changing rules and justifying exceptions. In the case of the Virginia Class and Columbia Class submarines there are enough names of states and territories to satisfy the number of planned boats. Traditions in a military service have a defined purpose that’s unique in society. They typically inscribe with permanence the highest of standards and respect for the fundamentals that guide a Service through its future. Recent actions by Secretaries of the Navy that clearly deviate from traditions would suggest a loss of institutional discipline and respect for such traditions and purpose thereof.

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We are living in a world that embodies our Industrial Transformation & Supply Chain Technology investment thesis at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund: Escalating Geopolitical Tensions & Great Power Competition; The Climate Crisis & Severe Weather; Consumer Behavior & Demographics. Join us. #IndustrialTransformation #SupplyChain #Innovation #Technology #Startups #VentureCapital

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Engage with CRG to unlock innovative manufacturing strategies & secure high-value defense contracts IAW the Army's critical needs. Contact us at [email protected] to explore cutting-edge solutions. #CRG #DefenseManufacturing #AIinManufacturing #DistributedProduction #AdvancedManufacturing #MilitaryProduction #InnovativeSupplyChains #DefenseContracts #StrategicManufacturing #MilitaryLogistics #DoD

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Weekly Insights to Grow Your Revenues – November 4, 2024 https://lnkd.in/dYVfzKM3 My posts for this week ending November 10, 2024 : 1. World War 3 is coming- Capitalize on U.S. Military Defense Investments - Investing in U.S. military defense stocks have yielded 58% higher returns than the S&P 500 over the past 21 years, and the potential for further growth remains strong. https://lnkd.in/dBQ4RYk5 2. Negotiating Personality Types and How to Deal with them - The Ambivalent Negotiator Finalising negotiations with an indecisive person can be very frustrating. Here are some advice, tactics and tips from , “How to be a Great Negotiator” by Neville Berkowitz https://lnkd.in/dGqsPtz9 3. A Lateral Thinking Puzzle to develop your critical, lateral and creative thinking https://lnkd.in/dcXT5AtV 4. A Leadership Thought of the Day https://lnkd.in/dvzsjWiB In case you missed them- My LinkedIn posts from last week ending October 27, 2024: 1. Two "Global Viruses" are on the horizon. Here's Why That Could Be Good News for You.  https://lnkd.in/dd7Vw9SV 2. Negotiating Personality Types and How to Deal with Them -The Adversarial Negotiator- “It’s My Way or the Highway” - an extract from How to Be a Great Negotiator by Neville Berkowitz https://lnkd.in/dPruAZQB  3. Two Lateral Thinking Puzzles to develop your critical, lateral, and creative thinking https://lnkd.in/dmQCMB85 4. A Leadership Thought of the Day https://lnkd.in/d5AM9xA7 Neville Berkowitz https://lnkd.in/dYVfzKM3 47 years of experience increasing clients’ revenues locally and globally on a risk-reward basis neville@ https://lnkd.in/d83Bn5qB

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EVelution Energy applauds Jeffrey Nadaner’s precise grasp of the steps necessitated to orchestrate public and private capital to secure allied supply chains. This effort also requires support from U.S. Department of the Treasury and United States Department of Commerce to ensure American manufacturing has a path to sustainable economic prosperity. Software is important, but hardware operated by an American workforce is critical. It is incumbent on private capital (ie, investment fiduciaries to #pensionfunds) to participate in defending the national security interest underpinning our capital markets. Alliance for American Manufacturing

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There's an "unprecedented" scramble underway to find defense industry workers, per a new Financial Times report and survey of nearly two dozen U.S. and European companies in the sector. Russia's invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago coupled with evolving geopolitical risk have pushed global military spending to new highs. In 2023, countries spent $2.4 trillion on defense in total — the most ever recorded by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. U.S. military expenditures represented 37% of the world's share, trailed by China at 12%, Russia at 4.5% and India at 3.4%. At the same time, defense giants have been on their heels after decades of competition with Big Tech over talent. Businesses built to serve defense ambitions are now recruiting at the fastest rate since the end of the Cold War, the FT reports. Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics, whose combined market cap exceeds $250 billion, have nearly 6,000 roles to fill. Ten more major players are aiming to add roughly 37,000 positions altogether — or about 10% of their collective workforce — ranging from apprentices, engineers, software developers and analysts to senior executives. The Nuclear Skills Delivery Group, a trade organization in the U.K., forecasts more than 30,000 new jobs will be needed in the nuclear sector alone this decade. A trustworthy supply chain and reliable munitions production is critical to waging war. Sloppy logistics, for example, crippled Moscow's war machine in the opening months of the Russia-Ukraine war. Dependencies on foreign parts can also jeopardize critical technologies in wartime. To that end, the U.S. Army and Navy have reduced their reliance on Chinese suppliers. Hiring and training have been "unprecedented in recent times," Beccy Pleasant at the Nuclear Skills Delivery Group told FT. "We don't adequately recognize or cultivate nontraditional career paths and skills, which are becoming more and more essential as warfare and defense technologies evolve," U.S. Army Recruiting Command Chief of Innovation Col. Kristin Saling said at a public meeting this spring. Apprenticeships, increased work flexibility and streamlined security clearance processes could help with private-sector recruiting. Meanwhile, government agencies and the armed services are rolling out incentives, such as bonuses for cyber talent, to attract and retain workers. Talent exchanges — where troops circulate across private-sector, academic and military projects, as has been floated by the Pentagon — could also grow the workforce pipeline.

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An important piece by @General T. Michael Moseley. He disparages quadcopters as tactical toys for the Army. His key point is that military investment should be prioritized based on cost-per-effect. Agreed. He uses this logic to highlight that the US will need fighters and bombers and is underinvested in them. Agreed. He uses the Israeli attack on Iran as an example. I find his argument on the Houthis less convincing. We have only slowed them down a bit. I think he is so focused on denigrating drones that he misses the larger context. The US is the high-cost producer of everything. If that high cost is mitigated with a better cost-per-effect, then it is not a problem. But is that always the case? It seems ridiculous to build more manned bombers and fighters. Unmanned versions can have a much better cost-per-effect and do not risk the lives of a crew. The CCA seems ridiculously expensive compared to what Turkey and China are working on. We have a service that is very low-cost-per-effect—the US Navy. Only one-third of the fleet can be put into battle. One-third requires training, and one-third requires maintenance. The deferred maintenance is a growing problem, and probably the Chinese picked 2027 for Taiwan because they know the USN can't build any more ships by then and, in the very best case, can only deploy 2/3 of the fleet. If you haven't sold your Taiwan holding, don't say Xi didn't warn you. While I agree with the General that quadcopters are tactical, they have been the highest cost-per-effect weapon in the defense of Ukraine. Nothing to be disparaged there. Who would willingly sit in a tank again? Ukraine is working on deep-strike drones with a very high cost-per-effect, especially compared to what is produced in high-cost America. They are working on cruise missiles at less than half the price of the US version. They are working on ballistic missiles. Given that NATO won't defend them, I would be shocked if they haven't ramped up a nuclear warhead program. Ukraine is even competitively advantaged versus the US in making the original drone for GPS-denied environments--the 100-year-old 155mm howitzer shell. It's an oldie but a goodie. They make them at half the US price. The US should defend Ukraine to bring its cost-per-effect capacity into the NATO fold and deny it to Russia/China. But, as the General notes, denying Ukraine the fighters to secure its airspace, the anti-drone/missile batteries to defend its cities, and the bombers to bring the war to Russia risks losing not only Ukraine to the Axis of Autonomy but potentially much of the free world. World War 3 is game on for China/Russia/Iran, while the US pretends we are at peace. On a strategic level, that is a losing strategy. The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Thank you David A. Deptula for posting this article.

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Great article by Retired General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.) and former Army special-operations commander.Andy Yakulis on Ukraine's conflict with Russia and how low-cost, innovative tech is being produced at scale and used on the battlefield. Some key lessons here for all emerging tech: - The Pentagon must prioritize speed, volume, and collaboration with private companies to ensure it’s equipped with the technologies necessary to maintain superiority on future battlefields. - Ukraine’s success against Russian forces highlights the transformative power of low-cost, mass-produced technologies like drones and robotic systems. These innovations are changing the very nature of warfare, providing systems at scale. - The lesson for the U.S. military - rethink its doctrine, training, and procurement processes to stay ahead, particularly in adapting to mass-produced systems. - While initiatives like the Replicator program are success stories that are developing, they still lag in speed and scale compared to Ukraine’s "People’s Drone" efforts. #emergingtech #ukrainewar Dr. Kristina Soukupova 🇺🇦Marcel 'Otto' YON Jesse Levin Dr. Marina Theodotou

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Heads Up...DoD News related to Architect - Engineering (AE) Services! (1) FINAL RULE Effective 8/26/2024 - DFARS Case 2024-D019 Architect and Engineering Service Fees. This rule changes DFARS to implement Section 2881 of the FY24 NDAA to increase the limitation of the contract price (i.e., "fee") for A-E services for the preparation and delivery of designs, plans, drawings, and specifications from 6% of the project's estimated construction cost to 10%. It is applicable to Army, Navy, and Air Force projects (references in 10 U.S.C. 7540,8612, and 9540). The new 10% limit replaces the 6% fee limitation on contract modifications for work not initially included in the contract and redesign, and applies only to that portion of the contract (or modification) price attributable to the preparation of designs, plans, drawings, and specifications. If a contract or modification also includes other services, the part of the price attributable to the other services is not subject to the fee limitation. (Personally, I've been waiting since the early 1990's for this percentage to change (and yes, I've been doing this THAT long). This makes it easier for small AE businesses to participate in the Federal space. So, YEA!) Permalink: https://lnkd.in/g7vF95R6 (2) PROPOSED RULE Comments due 9/27/2024 -- DFARS Case 2023-D007 Task Order and Delivery Order Contracting for Architectural and Engineering Services. This rules proposes a corresponding change to DFARS Subpart 216.5, Indefinite-Delivery Contracts, to require DoD Contracting Officers (KOs) to use qualification-based selections when awarding task orders and delivery orders for AE services that was previously implemented procedurally under FAR Subparts 16.500, 16.505, and 36.6 procedures in 2005 under the final rule for FAR Case 2004-001 Improvements in Contracting for Architect-Engineer Services. This proposed rule adds DoD-specific statutory guidance (10 U.S.C. 3406(h)(2)) to DFARS directing KOs not to request additional info regarding qualifications unless necessary to determine qualifications for a particular task order or delivery order under a multiple-award contract. There should be little to no impact from this proposed rule since there are no procedural changes, new clauses or provisions, and no new applicability in terms of thresholds or types of contracts. Permalink: https://lnkd.in/gwh2_38J

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Harris or Trump Campaign: What cuts will be made to decrease the annual deficit by $1T dollars? How will annual revenue be increased by $1T dollars? Here are 2 easy questions for the right candidate!

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Recruiting for JETS 2.0 Task Orders: Key Challenges & Solutions The JETS 2.0 contract, a $11.9 billion opportunity supporting the Defense Logistics Agency and DoD, demands specialized IT and cybersecurity talent. But how do you efficiently recruit for such complex roles? Our comprehensive blog tackles the unique staffing hurdles of JETS 2.0, offering actionable strategies for success: ✔️Decoding Complex Labor Categories ✔️Sourcing Cleared Personnel. ✔️Federal Hiring Compliance. ✔️Rapid Task Order Staffing. ✔️Long-Term Talent Retention. Streamline your JETS 2.0 hiring with iQuasar's specialized ATS and extensive network of cleared professionals. Read the full blog and ensure your JETS 2.0 staffing success. https://lnkd.in/gaYW4TVm Contact Us today https://lnkd.in/gNTeSbgR #JETS2.0  #DefenseContracting #ClearedITRecruitment #iQuasar #USA

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Ocean Power Technologies agrees with Brian Schimpf of Anduril Industries when he says “Let’s just have the DOD be a better buyer. Buy the best tech. Show the entrepreneurs that if you build technology that actually works, that solves a real problem, we will actually buy it. And you have a chance to actually succeed doing that at scale.” We are excited to develop and deliver Made in the USA dual-use technology into the market. As a small and agile business, we will continue to scale and deliver the technology that is needed to beef up our national security and defense. Ocean Security is National Security! Resident, persistent, and autonomous systems keep our oceans safe, our adversaries at bay, and create jobs outside of the traditional defense hubs. #MadeintheUSA #oceantechnology #USVs #Buoys #maritimedomainawareness

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