Whether you opt for President Donald Trump’s doctrine of Peace through Strength or the timeless words of Teddy Roosevelt: “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” wars are often won long before a shot is fired. As our nation’s resolve is tested constantly on multiple continents, America must always be prepared for any scenario that our enemies present.On Nov. 7, 2025, War Secretary Pete Hegseth stated: “Our objective is to … rebuild the arsenal of freedom. American industry and its innovative spirit are begging to be unleashed to solve our most complex and dangerous warfighting problems.” Thirty-five years of working in procurement for the U.S. Air Force has taught me that this will only be achievable if we take a multipronged approach, as the battlefields of today are changing quicker than our old methods can predict and respond.
The Department of War must expand the base, embrace advanced manufacturing methods, work more closely with our allies, and fix bottlenecks to transform weapons design and production.We, the military, need the ability to rapidly scale at a rate faster than the rate of replenishment.Here is my four-point plan to build a true Arsenal of Freedom:Expand the base
COVID-19, Ukraine, and now Iran revealed the fragility and limitations of our industrial base and supply chains. For too long, we have self-limited our sources for weapons because of overly restrictive requirements, red tape and selection processes. Through agile acquisition approaches, less rigid requirements, and broader acceptance of commercial technology, there are now many new suppliers in the mix.The addition of new contractors gives us more options, increases competition to accelerate innovation, and improves affordability. It also contributes to geographic dispersion for increased redundancy and reduced risk to continuity of operations.Advanced manufacturing methods
