AIA Issues Report on Health of National Security Space Industrial Base
AIA released a new report, Tipping Point: Maintaining the Health of the National Security Space Industrial Base, that details several challenges faced by the national security space industrial base, including overly restrictive export control policies, a shrinking, aging workforce and budget instability. The report, which was released Sept. 28, includes multiple recommendations for improving the health of the industrial base.
According to AIA, the national security space industrial base faces a tipping point beyond which irreparable harm to our nation’s defense and economy could occur. “Our national leaders, the military and our economic well-being all rely on our space assets more than at any point since the dawn of the space age,” said AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey. “It’s critical that policy be backed by strong leadership, integrated strategy and the long-term funding and stability needed to maintain cutting-edge, cost-effective space programs.”
In conjunction with the release of the report at a Capitol Hill event, AIA hosted a panel of experts to discuss the importance of space and the U.S. space industrial base. Keynote remarks were provided by Dr. James Miller, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Dr. Miller outlined the importance of space systems to U.S. security and discussed some of the key points of a soon-to-be released space strategy.
 |
|
Space panel at launch of the Tipping Point report. |
A separate panel moderated by Blakey focused on the space industrial base and the steps needed to maintain its health. Panelists included the former Director of the Missile Defense Agency Lt. Gen. Henry “Trey” Obering (Ret.); Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy Brett Lambert, and Steven Miller, an official from the Defense Department’s Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office.
Among the recommendations in the report:
- Establish leadership and program stability
- Modernize and maintain infrastructure
- Modernize export control policies and promote industry’s ability to compete
- Support current and future workforce
- Focus and support robust funding for research and development and science and technology efforts
- Ensure the protection and responsiveness of U.S. space and cyberspace capabilities
For more information, the report may be found on AIA’s website at: http://www.aia-aerospace.org/issues_policies/reports_white_papers/
AIA Source: mike.conschafter[at]aia-aerospace.org
