DBB to meet on global security issues and administration transition

By Georgina DiNardo / July 23, 2024 at 10:43 AM

The Defense Business Board will hold closed and open meetings on Aug. 1 and 2 to hear from senior Pentagon officials to discuss technology integration, global security operations and transitioning to the next presidential administration.

The DBB posted a notice in the Federal Register today detailing who will be speaking at the next rounds of closed and open meetings in early August.

The first closed session on Aug. 1 will begin with a discussion about vulnerabilities to the defense supply chain and how the Defense Department can better properly manage threats, led by Paul Cromwell, deputy division chief, and Chris Diehl, senior intelligence officer, both from the Supply Chain Risk Management-Threat Analysis Center.

Then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown will speak about “strategic initiatives to enhance the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems into defense operations, addressing how these innovations can improve operational readiness, streamline logistics, and ensure the United States maintains a position of relative advantage in Great Power Competition,” the notice said.

The first closed session will end with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin informing the board about DOD’s current operations.

“The discussion with Secretary Austin will focus on the state of the current global security environment and its implications for current and future business operations,” the notice stated.

The second closed session that day will take place at the State Department so the board may hear a classified briefing on State's business operations and foreign policy issues.

Richard Verma, deputy state secretary for management and resources, will lead this discussion, which, according to the notice, will “explore best business practices from the DOS that may be applicable to the DOD, with a focus on how both agencies align business practices to achieve better outcomes for national security stakeholders.”

In the final Aug. 1 closed session, the board will hear from Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks about how to prepare DOD for an “orderly” transition to the next presidential administration.

“This discussion will involve how the Deputy Secretary and other key officials plan for and manage a transition between administrations,” the notice said. “The Deputy Secretary will provide insights on how the Department plans to solidify progress on key initiatives.”

The first closed session on Aug. 2 will start by hearing again from Hicks, this time speaking about reoccurring themes the DBB has found across several studies conducted during the board’s tenure.

“This discussion will provide an opportunity for the Deputy Secretary to ask the board to provide their private industry perspective on common findings and their views on the most important recommendations for the Department to tackle,” the notice said.

The open session on Aug. 2 will begin with Ashish Vazirani, performing the duties of the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, and Bryant Parmeter, DOD chief talent management officer, leading a discussion surrounding the progress of talent management initiatives.

In the Aug. 2 closed session, Army Under Secretary Gabe Camarillo will discuss initiatives for software modernization reform.

“This discussion will provide insight into the Army's new policy to institutionalize modern software development approaches across the Army, along with the opportunities and obstacles to expand software reform across the DOD enterprise,” the notice said.

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