Defense Secretary Ash Carter has highlighted changes throughout his 35-year career at the Defense Department during his farewell address in the Pentagon auditorium, DoD News reported Wednesday.
Cheryl Pellerin writes Carter said DoD missions have transformed from the “great-power competition of the Cold War years” to more than a decade of counterinsurgency operations and the return to full-spectrum readiness.
“When I started my career in defense… most technology of consequence originated in America, and much of that was sponsored by government, especially [DoD],” Carter said.
He noted that the government is still a major sponsor of today’s technologies but more technology developments are commercial and other countries are working to match the U.S. military’s capacity, Pellerin reported.
Carter added that he witnessed commitment to maintain technological advantage at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, Defense Digital Service, Defense Innovation Board and DoD labs and research centers.
Carter said DoD personnel are also committed to the establishment of the Force of the Future –an initiative that seeks to update DoD’s efforts to recruit, develop and retain service members and civilian employees.
