Government And Industry Collaboration Needed, Says Lockheed Martin CEO

As threats to the homeland evolve, so must the security measures taken to combat them, said Robert Stevens, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin, during his morning keynote at Fose, which kicked of this morning. But those changes are less about the technology, he said, and more about efficient collaboration between government customer and industry partner.

"[Threats] are more complex today than half a century ago," Stevens said. "And American citizens also have a more expansive view of conditions. Our missions are more multifaceted and interwoven. [We need to] improve transparency and access while ensuring privacy."

For that to happen, access to information is crucial, expanding the need to know to include the need to share. "For some, this is an unnatural act," Stevens said. "But in the 21st century, it's the Holy Grail."

At the technical level, efficient exchange of information requires an increased focus on service-oriented system architectures that enable interoperability (SOAs). But beyond that, there needs to be adequate cooperation at the people level as well.

"In almost every assessment, defining and controlling requirements are correlated with program success," Stevens said. "And success demands collaboration between government customers and business partners. With stakes high, now is the time for us to act."

The biggest hindrance to such collaboration is mounting pressures in the acquisition environment. Those pressures often come from faulty legislation. If laws prove to be inadequate, Stevens said, change them; if they express the proper intent, follow them to the letter.

"The process for acquisition needs to be based on integrity and trust," he added. "We should not allow concern to break down the collaborative climate. Upon this our success depends."