House Armed Services Committee
Subcommittee Chairman Smith's Opening Statement--March 28, 2007
"Information is just as vital a component in the outcome of a military engagement as ammunition. Our Armed Forces' ability to acquire, defend, and disseminate information is one of the major factors in our supremacy on the battlefield.
"From top to bottom, new software and hardware permeates our weapons, vehicles, and headquarters facilities. The military has become increasingly dependent on technology, and that makes it imperative we get the best technology faster and more efficiently.
"We must also coordinate these investments to make sure the systems are interoperable, that we are not duplicating other investments, and that we have streamlined systems that will not require overly burdensome maintenance over the long term. Doing so will help ensure our military maintains supremacy on the battlefield through better weapons systems and faster communication of vital information to units in the field.
"I am also interested in how our Armed Forces harness innovation in the commercial technology field. We have a real interest in being able to identify industry innovations and innovators and recruiting them into our Armed Forces. The US military has to be able to get the best tech solutions for problems on the battlefield, and when no solution exists, be able to create an original solution.
"I hope our panelists will speak to some of the barriers that can frustrate our efforts to interact with the commercial technology sector in a way that benefits our national security, and I look forward to hearing their suggestions for overcoming these barriers.
"Today the subcommittee will hear from Defense Department witnesses on how we best invest in the IT infrastructure of our Armed Forces to make sure our information systems remain cutting-edge and secure. I thank our panelists for their time and look forward to their testimony."
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