About

Assistant Vice President, Industrial Base Policy

Department: National Security & Acquisition 

Purpose:  The Assistant Vice President for Industrial Base Policy ( hereinafter, “AVP – Industrial Base Policy”)  supports the Vice President for National Security and Acquisition Policy on all matters relating to defense industrial base policy and supplier management and represents AIA on these and related issues to the membership, USG agencies, outside organizations, executive branch agencies, and legislative offices.   The incumbent supervises the Director, Supplier Management and provides extensive ongoing support to AIA’s Supplier Management Council (SMC)and its activities.  The incumbent may be called upon periodically to serve as the acting Vice President, National Security & Acquisition. 

The incumbent works with and seeks input from member companies, councils, and committees, and is responsible for monitoring, analyzing, recommending, and advocating policies on:  defense industrial base policy and the ongoing senior level dialogue on such issues with Office of the Secretary of Defense and other Pentagon officials; defense budgets and their impact on the supply base; defense supplier concerns as determined by the Supplier Management Council (SMC day-to-day work is managed by the Director, Supplier Management); defense security cooperation and related international issues; human capital/workforce related issues supporting the defense industrial base and supplier network; and related areas.    

Nature and Scope of Work: This position reports directly to the Vice President, National Security and Acquisition, and interacts periodically with member CEOs and senior company representatives in the membership. 

The incumbent maintains regular contact with government officials and representatives from a variety of cabinet and related departments including but not limited to the Departments of Defense (primarily Offices of the Under Secretary for Acquisition Policy & Logistics) and other cabinet agencies and related offices.   Periodically, the AVP – Industrial Base Policy may accompany the Vice President for National Security and Acquisition Policy, other senior staff from AIA, including the President and CEO of AIA, to: meet with members of Congress and staff, and prepare  testimony on authorized association positions before Congress and others; meet with senior Administration officials; and meet with senior member company representatives.   
As AIA’s lead for industrial base policy issues, the incumbent serves as a central resource person and responds to inquiries from member companies, government officials (civilian and military), the public, and the press seeking information and background data.  These inquiries range from general questions to highly technical requests requiring significant effort to assemble data and background information. 

The incumbent will be called upon frequently to present industry’s views orally and in writing to government and industry officials and to the media, and to represent the association in coalitions that are formed to present a unified approach on industrial base policy issues of mutual interest.  The AVP – Industrial Base Policy is also expected to represent AIA positions as a spokesperson at conferences and seminars.  The incumbent will contribute articles and news items to AIA publications, highlighting issues and developments falling within the sub-division’s domain, and prepare summaries of such issues for use during AIA or outside meetings.

With the support of the Director, Supplier Management, the AVP for Industrial Base Policy has responsibility for supporting, coordinating and otherwise assisting with activities of a variety of AIA sponsored councils, committees and working groups, including, but not limited to, the National Security Council and related committees and working groups and the Supplier Management Council. 

Additional related duties include:

Analyzes significant industry problems and synthesizes the concepts and ideas coming from government contacts and the numerous council, committee and working group  activities into cohesive patterns and trends;

provides insights into future aerospace developments to prompt deliberations and actions; 

builds industry consensus among member companies on all topics related to relevant issues and serves as staff liaison to internal and external groups dealing with related issues;  and,

oversees meeting arrangements for periodic council, committee and working group   meetings (including, developing the agenda; assembling background information and materials; arranging for speakers and other participants; site selection and facility; and ensuring that minutes are prepared), and approves expenses associated with all council and committee meetings.