National Security Leaders Underscore Urgency in Complex Threat Landscape

SENEDIA—the alliance for defense tech, talent, and innovation—concluded Defense Innovation Days, an important national defense convening that featured three days of policy discussion, industry networking, and planning for the future in an increasingly-complex national security landscape.

Senator Jack Reed, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, participated in multiple sessions, providing critical insight and underscoring the urgency of the moment.

“Our defense industry leaders understand the urgency and enormity of the challenges we face today in a constantly changing national security landscape,” said Reed. “Our adversaries have found ways to exploit this environment, and in order to keep pace, we need to transform the Department of Defense to innovate at the speed of progress. Innovation must be nourished and maintained. We must work smarter and harder to regain ground lost.”

Urgency, innovation, and collaboration emerged as key themes at this year’s ninth annual event, with speakers warning of the potential consequences if investments stall in research and development, workforce training, or military deterrence.

“Defense Innovation Days brings together the most influential voices in national security, paired with the most innovative leaders of the defense industry, and this year’s event illustrated the power of that partnership,” said Molly Donohue Magee, Executive Director of SENEDIA. “When we collaborate in service of our nation—guided by a desire to support our men and women in uniform—we can maintain and advance our strength at home and abroad.”

Among the key takeaways are:

• China and climate change are among the greatest threats and sources of instability facing our national security landscape.
• We are in a “decade of maximum danger,” which calls for a “decisive decade” of investment, training, and strategic planning in return.
• By working with and learning from private industry, as well as investing in its own internal capacity, DoD is rapidly scaling up the development and deployment of innovative and emerging technologies. Innovation must concurrently include the ability to scale to meet the demand.
• Collaboration is essential to accelerate progress, including connecting supply chain companies to DoD contracts, investing in workforce development, and enacting meaningful public policy like AUKUS.

Distinguished speakers at this sold-out event with more than 400 registrants included the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy; Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Dr. William LaPlante, the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; and Rear Adm. John Mauger, Commander of the US Coast Guard First District.