There are patterns in history. Similar circumstances that have emerged over the centuries. The names are different, the locations change, but the lessons are there for those that are astute enough to observe them. The opportunities to change history are there for those who have the courage to lead, and most importantly to act. Now is one of those times.
Today we face a Gathering Storm from authoritarian regimes in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea that are determined to exploit and dominate the global order. They have developed a wide range of capabilities including a vast array of ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles, and dozens of types of drones. One need only look at the daily use of missiles and drones in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Red Sea to be reminded of how missiles and drones have become primary instruments of warfare.
We have seen similar patterns in history before. The names were different, the locations different. But the patterns are there. We have a Golden Opportunity to learn the lessons of history. This is a time for leadership and most importantly a time to act.
The Golden Dome initiative is an opportunity for just such leadership and now is the time to act. And we must act with speed and purpose.
President Trump has put forward a vision in his executive order establishing the Golden Dome initiative to protect America from missile and drone attack. The Department of Defense is readying a plan and putting in place the leaders and organization necessary build and operationally employ this critical capability.
Key to the success of such an initiative is an empowered leader with the authorities and resources necessary to push the initiative to success, just like Admiral Rickover achieved with the development of the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, and General Bernard Schriever achieved with the development of America’s first ICBM.
In empowering such a leader and launching the initiative, Secretary Hegseth must be cautious to avoid being waylaid and stymied by the vast bureaucracy of the Pentagon with its systems of parochial processes and webs of competing authorities and disparate agendas. Make no mistake, the Pentagon manages fiscal risk and happily transfers operational risk to the warfighters as we have seen in a catch-up effort in the Pacific with China.
This leader must understand how to navigate around the institutionalized mindset of safeguarding Service, Industry, or Program equities and focus on delivering outcomes. This leader will need access to existing capabilities in various programs of record and pull forward residual enabling capabilities without the burden of justification through the Pentagon’s processes. This leader will also need access to on-ramp enabling commercial technology to adopt the best of breeds across all industries. More importantly, this leader must have the power of the pen to sign procurement cheques, sign off on prototype testing, sign off on implementation directives, sign policy change inputs, and sign-on their own team.
For an expert perspective on Space and Missile Defense, we held a CRT last month on Space and Missile Defense with one of our Nation’s most qualified and experienced military leaders, the current Vice Chief of Space Operations General Michael Guetlein. Here is the link to our 71st Congressional Roundtable and Transcripts.
Our adversaries and the threat simply won’t wait. Time to act and act decisively.
