Defense Industrial Base Accelerator Conference Coverage

Four conversations examining how government, industry, and the sustainment community are working together to strengthen America’s defense industrial base, from supply-chain resilience and workforce development to critical materials and regional sustainment.   Jeffrey Frankston — Industrial Base ResilienceKevin Sampels speaks with Jeffrey Frankston, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience, about the first Defense Industrial Base Accelerator Conference and the Department’s effort to bring government and industry together around a common mission. Frankston discusses the vulnerabilities created by single- and sole-source suppliers, the importance of identifying risks before they become crises, and the need to strengthen domestic capacity across critical sectors. He also highlights the importance of critical minerals and materials, industry feedback, targeted investments, and the use of analytics, appropriations, and authorities to address supply-chain challenges and build a more resilient industrial base.Vy Nguyen — Supply Chain Planning & Industrial AnalysisKevin Sampels sits down with Vy Nguyen, Director of Industrial Planning and Analysis, to examine how the Department is working to create a more predictable demand signal for industry and gain greater visibility into the defense supply chain. Nguyen explains how multi-year procurement can give companies the confidence to invest in capacity, while advanced analytics and industrial engineering help uncover vulnerabilities deeper in the second-, third-, and fourth-tier supplier base. The discussion also explores the importance of government-industry collaboration, supply-chain mapping, private investment, and building trust before a crisis occurs.Kristopher Rick — Build Freedom / WorkforceKevin Sampels talks with Kristopher Rick, Program Manager for the Defense Industrial Base Workforce, about Build Freedom, a national campaign designed to raise awareness of career opportunities across the defense industrial base. Rick explains how workforce development programs are connecting Americans with careers in skilled trades, manufacturing, technology, and other critical fields while helping address an aging workforce and rapidly growing demand for talent. The conversation looks at pathways beginning in K-12 education and continuing through technical schools, community colleges, transitioning service members, and workers looking to reskill—highlighting workforce development as a critical component of national security.4. Joe Brooks — Regional SustainmentKevin Sampels welcomes Joe Brooks, Executive Director of the Regional Sustainment Office, back to The Logistics Lens to discuss the evolution of Regional Sustainment Forces from a prototype program into a potential enduring capability. Brooks explains how the expansion of sustainment sites, multinational participation, and burden sharing can create a more distributed and resilient logistics network. The conversation also examines lessons learned from recent conflicts, the need to connect capabilities across multiple theaters, and the importance of giving commanders options for repair and sustainment rather than relying on predictable, vulnerable locations. Brooks and Sampels also discuss opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses to work with major OEMs and bring innovative maintenance capabilities into the defense industrial base.👉 Catch up on more episodes here:⁠ www.youtube.com/@The-Logistics-Lens⁠#Strategy #Logistics #USArmy #Commerce #War