NPR: Could Smaller Companies Help Better Equip Troops?

Could Smaller Companies Help Better Equip Troops?

Ward Carroll's DefenseTech.com blog offers an interesting take on the problems associated with procurement bottlenecks for the military. At a time when these bottlenecks are growing and research dollars are shrinking, there is a new trend: Smaller companies that can develop needed military equipment and move it where it is needed much faster are springing up.

These smaller companies would act as middlemen, especially on smaller projects -- "low hanging fruit" as it is referred to in the blog -- that many believe the Department of Defense procurement system has trouble dealing with. Owners of these smaller companies believe they could produce the needed materials in months rather than years.

Defense experts like Edward "Otto" Pernotto have the potential to make a difference because they understand how to exploit the system in effective ways. Otto recently launched Excalibur R&D, LLC, which he calls a "small business focused on providing rapid, innovative, and collaborative national security solutions."
"We cannot continue to throw money at huge military programs that in many ways are breaking the bank of this country," Otto said during a discussion with DT at the recent Milblogging conference in DC. "We need to do things smarter and quicker."

Carroll admits that individuals like Pernotto may be "tilting at windmills" when working against the huge bureaucracy of the Pentagon and fighting the big companies that eat so much of its budget, but "Those who really care about the heath of America's forces aren't waiting around for the machine to fix itself."

11:27 AM ET | 05-10-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Tom,
Thanks for the post, but is some ways Ward didn't catch the essence of my thought process here at www.excaliburrd.com It's not procurement focused, it's actually concept and analysis focused. One of my main concerns is that there is very little new thinking going on and that we have a defense industrial complex that does not allow average Americans with good ideas to help out.

Just as the bloggers and the internet are to the so called mainstream media, I see an opening towards the traditional defense industry and the supporting think-tanks, war colleges and the like. We just can't wait months or years when some of our major problems need addressed in very short order. I am also concerned that so few of our guys and gals are actually serving but others would like to help and don't have a way to help out. In about a month, I'll be posting my first concept that I will be seeking help from Americans across the spectrum, it'll be an unsolicited proposal to help with countering insurgencies and I hope folks come by and check it out.

Once again, thanks for the post and let me know if I can answer any more questions
Otto

Sent by Otto Pernotto | 10:37 AM ET | 05-26-2007

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