Sustainment Series: People… Our Most Lethal Weapon System and the Key to Integrated Deterrence

Event Recording

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Event Details:

1300-1305: Opening Remarks and Introduction of LtGen Faulkner by Mr Frank Kelley, DAU Vice President

1305-1310:  LtGen Faulkner (USMC, ret), President, Institute for Defense and Business (IDB), Opening Remarks and Introduction of Panelists

1310-1340: Panelist Perspectives

1340-1355: Panel Round Robin Discussion

1355-1420: Audience Q&A

1420-1430: Closing Remarks

CLPs: 1.5

Who Should Attend:  Members of the acquisition and sustainment work force.

Event Description

DAU has partnered with the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB) to bring you senior executive perspectives on the partnership between Defense and Business and the critical importance of the workforce in executing the vision of the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) to deliver Integrated Deterrence. The session will include audience Q&A.

DISCLAIMER: The perspectives expressed during this event are those of the speakers, not necessarily those of the Department of Defense or DAU.

Host:

Mr. Frank Kelley, Vice President, Defense Acquisition University

Moderator:

LtGen William M. Faulkner (USMC, ret), President, Institute for Defense and Business (IDB)

Lieutenant General William Mark Faulkner is the President of the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB). He was most recently the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Marine Corps Association. General Faulkner served at Headquarters Marine Corps in the Pentagon as the Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics prior to his retirement in 2015. He previously served as the Vice Director, J-4, Joint Staff. He commanded both 2d and 3d Marine Logistics Groups and served as the Chief of Staff, 2d Marine Logistics Group (Forward) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08.

Panel: 

Andrew Busch, Lt Gen (USAF, ret), IDB Executive Fellow

Andy Busch is a tested senior leader with extensive experience in supply chain management and aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO). As a senior executive, he provided strategic leadership while commanding an aircraft MRO depot, the aviation spare parts supply chain for the Department of Defense, as well as the Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. In his final assignment, he served as the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency leading nine supply chains supporting the U.S. military, as well as federal, state, local and international partners. His Agency provided food, medical material, uniforms and construction equipment, 98 percent of the Defense Department's fuel, and the majority of spare parts for military weapons systems. He completed his Air Force service in June 2017 retiring as a Lieutenant General. Since completing his government service, his pro bono activities include serving as a panel member for a National Academies of Science study sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (SAF/AQ). The panel was chaired by the Honorable Frank Kendall (current Secretary of the Air Force) and is titled "Weapon System Sustainment Planning Early in the Development Lifecycle."

Jim Smerchansky, SES (USN, ret), IDB Executive Fellow

Jim Smerchansky is the Executive Vice President for Innovative Defense Technologies (IDT), an information technology company providing disruptive innovation which dramatically improves the quality and accelerates the delivery of capability to the U.S. Military. Completing over 35 years of dedicated service as a Department of the Navy civilian, he retired in December 2020 as the Executive Director of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) which designs, builds, and maintains the U.S. Navy's ships, submarines and warfighting systems. From 2014 to 2016, he served as the Executive Director of the Marine Corps Systems Command which designs, builds, and maintains everything a Marine wears, shoots, drives and uses to communicate. In addition, from 2009-2014, Jim was the Chief Engineer of the Marine Corps.

Ms. Erin Kern , Executive Deputy, Marine Corps Logistics Command

Ms. Erin Kern is the Executive Deputy for Marine Corps Logistics Command. She is responsible to the Commanding General (CG) for the executive leadership of all logistics functions executed across MARCORLOGCOM to include the Marine Depot Maintenance Command and Blount Island Command. She provides comprehensive logistics, supply chain and distribution management, depot level maintenance, and strategic prepositioning support to all Operating Forces, other agencies and organizations, and is the principal advisor to the two-star CG. Ms Kern was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2008.

For further information please consult:

• Investing in People is the Real Key to Integrated Deterrence - https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/4/3/investing-in-people-is-the-real-key-to-integrated-deterrence
  

• 2022 National Defense Strategy - https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3201683/department-of-defense-releases-its-2022-strategic-reviews-national-defense-stra/