Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf & Mike Waltz | Designing the DoD for the 21st Century Battlefield

Reforming the American defense industrial base requires shifting from rigid, multi-decade acquisition cycles to a capability-based model that leverages commercial innovation and market competition. By prioritizing manufacturability in design and incentivizing industry through large-scale procurement of proven technologies, the government can overcome current bottlenecks and sustain a credible deterrent. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and industry leader Brian emphasize that the current geopolitical climate, marked by China’s rapid technological and territorial advancements, demands a move toward faster, more accountable defense spending. This transition involves dismantling regulatory hurdles, empowering program offices to take calculated risks, and fostering a supply chain capable of rapid replenishment. Ultimately, maintaining a rules-based global order depends on integrating commercial agility with military requirements, ensuring the United States remains a reliable partner to its allies while outpacing strategic competitors in critical domains like AI and autonomous systems.