Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, received the Eisenhower Award from the National Defense Industrial Association for his leadership of the unit in national security efforts, the Department of Defense said Sunday. The award recognizes U.S. citizens that demonstrate strategic impact and leadership in national security and industrial base issues.
Previously, Dunford supported efforts to address global conflicts in Venezuela, Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan as the U.S. continues to compete with China and Russia in technological advancement. In order to maintain the nation’s edge, Dunford said that U.S. companies must support government development programs and be mindful of doing business with countries that don’t prioritize democratic values.
“When I talk about competitive advantage, I mean being able to project power when and where necessary to advance our national interests and being able to operate freely across all domains,†he added. NDIA recognized Dunford’s leadership as the organization celebrates its centennial anniversary this year.