Defense & Aerospace Report DEFAERO Strategy Series [Nov 18, 25] Leonardo DRS' Bill Lynn
Nov 18, 2025
Bill Lynn, former Deputy Defense Secretary and CEO of Leonardo DRS, shares insights on defense acquisition reforms and industry transformation. He discusses the need for sustained senior-level attention for reforms to take hold and emphasizes prioritizing speed over immediate cost savings. Lynn addresses the growing importance of alliances and the strategic shift in defense focus towards peer competition. He reflects on Washington's political changes over decades and details his vision for DRS's future as a pure-play defense tech firm.
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Speed Requires Trade-Offs
- Acquisition reform must accept trade-offs between speed, cost, and performance.
- Prioritizing speed means accepting lower performance or higher cost to get capabilities faster.
Sustain Senior-Level Focus
- Sustain senior-level attention to drive broad acquisition reform over months and years.
- Senior leaders must stay engaged or reforms will stall when delegated to mid-level staff.
MRAPs Show Hands-On Success
- Bill Lynn cites the MRAP program as a targeted, successful acquisition effort driven by senior focus.
- Secretary Gates' near hands-on role sped procurement and likely saved many lives despite inefficiencies.