NDIA Hypersonics Community of Influence debuts with Shanahan, Griffin

Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin and Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan at the launch of NDIA's Hypersonics Community of Influence, Dec. 13.

ARLINGTON, VA – Defense Department leadership discussed the latest in U.S. hypersonics development as the National Defense Industrial Association launched its Hypersonics Community of Influence before a standing-room-only crowd, Dec. 13, at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin spoke of strategies, budgets and development of offensive and defensive systems, among other areas of hypersonics.

Shanahan emphasized resources, noting the Defense Department has been building a $733 billion budget and has prioritized greater investment in technology. The aim is to move hypersonics forward while adhering as close as possible to the 2018 National Defense Strategy, which called out hypersonics as a technology that will change “the character of war.”

Joining these defense officials at the launch were Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue University, who helped NDIA craft the Community of Influence. Also attending were Hawk Carlisle, NDIA’s president and chief executive officer, and Frank Michael, NDIA’s senior vice president of programs and membership, as well as many executives from industry and government. With its Hypersonics Community of Influence, NDIA aims to lead the conversation on advancements for this national security priority. Military and civilian leaders, industry executives, government labs and research institutions will meet and examine how to best promote this operational requirement at NDIA’s inaugural 2019 Hypersonics Capabilities Conference at Purdue, March 12-14.