AIA confirms DOD officials met with associations last week

By Marjorie Censer  / March 9, 2020

(Clarification: The story has been updated to clarify that AIA expects a rule on performance-based payments.)

Pentagon officials on Friday afternoon met with the Aerospace Industries Association, the National Defense Industrial Association and the Professional Services Council for a wide-ranging conversation, according to AIA's chief executive.

The three associations have regular meetings with the Defense Department.

During a briefing with reporters today at AIA's Arlington, VA, office, Eric Fanning said the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification was one part of the conversation.

He said cybersecurity was the "biggest" topic, but that the meeting encompassed many.

“The associations controlled the agenda,” Fanning added.

He also noted that the meetings have gotten larger.

“It's a sign of success,” Fanning said. “Increasingly more people from the Department of Defense come.”

Meanwhile, Fanning also said AIA is expecting the Pentagon to soon introduce a rule on performance-based payments.

The association, he said, “is not expecting any surprises in it.”

“It's in everyone's interest not to surprise the other side,” Fanning added.

Asked about the effects of coronavirus, Fanning told reporters it is adding to the uncertainty generated by the trade wars.

“It takes a while for the impacts of changes like this . . . to manifest themselves,” he said. “We're still figuring out all the trade uncertainty and it will take a while [to figure out] the effects of this virus as well.”

However, he said coronavirus “has taken over the conversation, which is amazing in an election year.”