DSCA Director

So on day one of retirement I am very grateful to all for the wonderful ceremony yesterday and for the career I have had. Thanks for the friendships, inspiration and support!

Jim, Fantastic work at DSCA to cap an amazing career! Wishing you all the best in the next chapter!

On July 30th, I was invited to speak at the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) breakfast roundtable and Q&A session, which involved multiple stakeholders from across our country’s defense industry.   My remarks were centered on demonstrating DSCA’s resolve regarding last year’s Foreign Military Sales ‘call to action’ and attendant process improvements; and emphasizing U.S. government support to the Defense Industrial Base while holding it accountable for return on investment. We continue to make progress on implementing process improvement recommendations as the Department seeks to establish critical standards and timelines for acquisition and codify ways to better incentivize the Defense Industrial Base to align to national security interests.   Events like these provide important touchpoints for DSCA to advance important U.S. national security objectives due to the critical role U.S. industry plays in manufacturing and furnishing defense capabilities for our allies and partners. #dsca #securitycooperation #fms #foreignmilitarysales #securitycooperation #bciu

Effective August 1, DSCA Deputy Director Mike Miller will assume duties as Acting DSCA Director. This account will feature Mr. Miller’s speaking engagements and thoughts on security cooperation. The DSCA Deputy Director account will take a brief hiatus until a new Director and Deputy Director are selected by the Department of Defense. To see the official DSCA press release, go to: https://lnkd.in/eGgimvQj #securitycooperation #dsca #dscu #isg #drmi #diils #departmentofdefense

Friends of the DSCA Director LinkedIn account: It has been a great honor to lead DSCA and the U.S. security cooperation enterprise for the last 2 ½ years. I could think of no better way to conclude my 39 years of federal service. I can say that we have accomplished more than anyone could have anticipated. While working to evolve the FMS system through deliberate and iterative improvement efforts, we also played a key role in advancing our National Defense Strategy and U.S. foreign policy interests in the most complex and dynamic security environment our nation has faced in decades. I am especially proud of our work in establishing the new Defense Security Cooperation Service, which positions the Department’s workforce at the forefront of identifying capability gaps with our partners and connecting them with the expertise, resources, and support that only the United States can provide. It reflects a sweeping reform, and I look forward to seeing it bear fruit and shape how coalitions work together to advance our common interests. Current DSCA Deputy Director Mr. Mike Miller will serve as Acting Director as the Department works to select my permanent successor. I have full confidence in his ability to lead this Agency through this transition. #securitycooperation #dsca #dscu #isg #drmi #diils #departmentofdefense

From July 21-25, 2024, I participated in the Farnborough International Airshow in London, UK along with key leaders from the United States Department of Defense of Defense. With the dynamic security environment in Europe and the unprecedented global demand for U.S. defense articles acquired through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system, this trade show was an excellent opportunity to engage with U.S. allies and partner nations as well as U.S. defense industry representatives. With 1,262 exhibitors, 250 U.S. defense companies and 102 visiting countries in attendance, Farnborough is one of the premier international trade shows. While there, I held several industry engagements to discuss ongoing and future FMS programs and issues. I also had several valuable engagements with U.S. allies and partner nations focused on the strength of the defense industrial base and how best to partner with U.S. industry to meet demand. I also took the opportunity to speak at a roundtable organized by the Aerospace Industries Association. This gathering gave me the opportunity to discuss initiatives through the Continuous Process Improvement Board and Competitive Financing, which we have been highlighting throughout the summer. As my final trade show prior to retirement, this was a fitting end to my time in government service. While I’m all too aware of the challenges facing the Security Cooperation enterprise, it was remarkable to see how the U.S. defense industry -- and our vast network of alliances and partnerships -- are prepared to face, and overcome, these challenges. #dsca #securitycooperation #foreignmilitarysales #farnbourough #departmentofdefense #osdp #fia2024

This was a particularly fun night on the margins of the Farnborough International Air Show for the Defense Technology Security Administration and the Aerospace Industries Association. We gathered one current and two former DTSA directors this evening. Thanks to James Hursch, Michael Laychak, and Heidi Grant for joining us this evening (and being good sports with this photo!). #AIAatFIA #FIA24

On June 4, I had the pleasure of giving a keynote address at the 2024 Danish Bilateral Export Promotion symposium in Washington, D.C. It is a three-day event which aims to create exposure for the Danish defense industry and establish connections with the U.S. defense industrial base and the United States Department of Defense, as well as create a platform to showcase the Danish defense industrial base’s capabilities and services. The engagement was attended by several important Danish government representatives including His Royal Highness Brigadier General Prince Joachim, Danish Defense Industrial Attaché; and Lieutenant General Kim Jesper Jørgensen, Danish National Armaments Director. It was also attended by executives from 15 to 20 Danish companies and 15 to 20 U.S. companies. In my remarks, I addressed the significance of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program as a critical component of U.S. foreign policy and national security and the role it plays in maintaining U.S. alliances and partnerships. I also discussed the status of FMS reform and current and expected future trends in the FMS program. I want to thank the Embassy of Denmark for inviting me to contribute to this discussion.  Mange tak! #DSCA #SECURITYCOOPERATION #NATO #DENMARK

DSCA’s mission is to advance U.S. defense and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign partners to encourage and enable allies and partners to respond to shared challenges. An integral part of that mission is administering the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program across the United States Department of Defense on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. DSCA has brought a new, educational tool online to help bring clarity to a highly complex and deliberative process. Defense Security Cooperation University, as the center of intellectual life for the #securitycooperation enterprise, collaborated with subject matter experts to create a publicly available course that offers an overview of the FMS process, from requirements generation to case closure. The virtual Wall Walk is a mobile-ready course and is intended for a diverse community – really, anyone interested in learning more about security cooperation and how the U.S. Federal Government uses these programs to meet important foreign policy and national security objectives. Click here for virtual Wall Walk: https://lnkd.in/eTH3-tH7

Prior to my departure from Seoul, I met with United States Forces Korea (USFK) Deputy Commander Lieutenant General David R. Iverson and J4 Brigadier General Martine S. Kidd to share our perspectives. I then transitioned to the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKIAPCSS) in Honolulu, one of DOD’s six regional centers worldwide of which DSCA is the Executive Agent. During my visit to APCSS, I spoke to students at the Comprehensive Security Cooperation course, where I emphasized the importance of respecting different views while finding ways to cooperate, as relationships cannot be surged. I also emphasized the relationships that are made amongst alumni. I then bid farewell to RADM Pete Gumataotao, USN (retired), as he prepares to depart APCSS this summer. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Pete! At U.S. Indo-Pacific Command HQ, J5 Major General Jay Bargeron and I exchanged our views, on how security cooperation supports our warfighters. Prior to returning to Washington, I visited the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) forensic lab at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, where I witnessed Team DPAA’s dedication to identify the missing and return them home, with dignity. I would like to thank those who hosted me for office calls during this trip, especially their staffers.  #dsca #securitycooperation #apcss