S1 E02 - From the Pentagon to the Plant: Adele Ratcliff on Strengthening America's Industrial Base

Few people have had a front-row seat to the evolution of America's defense industrial base quite like Adele Ratcliff.In this episode, John Barnes is joined by Adele Ratcliff, recently retired from the U.S. Department of Defense's Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, where she spent her career working to ensure America's manufacturing and defense supply chains remain strong, resilient, and ready. Adele brings a rare perspective, the view from inside the Pentagon on what it really takes to sustain and grow a competitive industrial base, how government and industry can work together more effectively, and the lessons learned from decades on the front lines of national manufacturing policy.In this conversation, you'll hear:What the DoD's IBAS Program does and why it matters for manufacturers across the countryThe biggest vulnerabilities in America's defense industrial base todayHow Adele's career shaped her view on public-private partnership in manufacturingWhat she believes the next generation of manufacturing leaders needs to understand about national securityA fascinating conversation for anyone at the intersection of manufacturing, policy, and national resilience.Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.Connect with John Barnes and The Barnes Global Advisors at barnesglobaladvisors.com