Inside the Pentagon highlights

Some must-reads from this week's edition of Inside the Pentagon:

1. Ellen Lord, the new top acquisition official in the Pentagon, said in her first public event Oct. 11 she is drawing on her industry experience to take a more commercial approach to the Defense Department.

Full story: Lord promises more commercial approach to managing Pentagon

2. The Defense Department has begun fiscal year 2018 without a new budget, but Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is calling on all Pentagon personnel to remain committed to three core lines of effort: restoring military readiness, strengthening global alliances and reforming DOD business practices.

Full story: Mattis seeks to rally Pentagon amid fiscal gridlock

3. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis again called for closer ties with industry during his keynote address at the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting, as he highlighted the importance of reforming the Defense Department's business processes.

Full story: Mattis: DOD needs to open up communications with industry