In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join The Honorable Ellen M. Lord, former Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network.  

Ellen emphasizes the necessity of frequent and rich communications between Congress and the Department of Defense to properly budget programs while also allowing for the program to flex as necessary. She argues that commercial technology is becoming increasingly important to the warfighter. To that end, the DoD must have the capability to immediately grant a contract when they find a technology that fits a critical need. 

Hondo, Lauren, and Ellen go on to discuss a variety of topics, including:  

• Consolidation in the Defense Industry 
• Financial Security 
• COVID as a Flashpoint 
• Partnering with Allies 
• Beneficial Ownership of Contractors