The INSIDER daily digest -- March 22, 2021

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on Navy shipyards, the Missile Defense Agency's Next Generation Interceptor program and more.

Vice Adm. William Galinis, head of Naval Sea Systems command, testified late last week at a House Armed Services readiness subcommittee hearing:

Galinis: Navy looking to accelerate shipyard improvement program

The Navy is seeking to accelerate its efforts to improve the infrastructure of its public shipyards, following calls from members of Congress to do so.

Document: House hearing on 'organic industrial base'

The Next Generation Interceptor project has been approved to proceed to the next phase of development:

Hicks approves NGI to proceed; contract award imminent for $2 billion, three-year initial design phase

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has approved the Next Generation Interceptor project to proceed, clearing the way for the Missile Defense Agency to award a pair of contracts as well as seek $1.6 billion in fiscal year 2022 and FY-23 for the new Ground-based Midcourse Defense guided missile, according to a source familiar with the decision.

Officials from Canada, Denmark, Norway, the United States and the United Kingdom late last week discussed their priorities in the Arctic region at a forum hosted by the Atlantic Council:

North American, European officials preach stability for evolving Arctic theater: 'No crisis right now'

Defense and diplomatic officials from key Arctic nations and the United States affirmed their shared commitment to peace in a region predicted to play an increasing role in global security and transit in the coming decades.

The Pentagon's No. 2 civilian spoke late last week at a virtual event organized by the National War College:

Hicks previews 'difficult decisions' on legacy systems, pledges to bridge 'valley of death'

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said the Pentagon would work with Congress to make "difficult decisions" to "phase out" legacy weapon systems unsuitable for competition with China, but also committed to help developing technologies bridge "the valley of death."

The head of Army Materiel Command spoke recently at the Association of the U.S. Army's Global Force Next conference:

AMC chief: Army modernization must include sustainment modernization

There are five primary ways in which the Army's sustainment operations will support modernization, according to Gen. Edward Daly, the leader of Army Materiel Command.

(For complete coverage of the Global Force Next conference, click here.)