Henrico Times

Today, Congressmen Rob Wittman and Pat Ryan announced significant achievements in the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. As co-chairs of the House Defense Modernization Caucus, they have worked to enhance the defense innovation ecosystem.

The initiatives include streamlining the Department of Defense's Authority to Operate process, expanding rapid hire authority for innovation engines, and increasing access to classified space for startups. The next caucus meeting is scheduled for February 2025 with the Silicon Valley Defense Group.

"The Department of Defense must become a software-centric organization," said Congressman Wittman. He emphasized the need for new ideas and technologies to expand the defense industrial base.

Congressman Ryan highlighted their aim to push the DoD towards working better with innovative companies. "We’re at an inflection point, and our adversaries are watching closely," he stated.

The caucus has introduced measures to improve DoD processes, attract top talent, establish pilot programs for shared infrastructure access, enhance training efficiency, and drive commercial solutions adoption. They also focused on unmanned systems procurement pathways and cyber attack risk mitigation.

Additionally, they secured language requiring feedback from the DoD on various strategic plans and capabilities development.

Reps. Wittman and Ryan founded the caucus earlier this year to integrate emergent technologies into national security efforts. Wittman serves as vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, while Ryan is vice-ranking member.