WASHINGTON, DC – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) today joined with Congressman Geoff Davis (R-KY) in announcing a bipartisan bill touted as “the most noteworthy [national security] reform since the 2004 reorganization of the intelligence community.” The Project on National Security Reform (PNSR) applauds this effort, which aims to strengthen the development of interagency national security professionals.

Recent months have seen many calls for sweeping reforms to enable a whole-of-government approach, including those in the National Security Strategy and the Quadrennial Defense Review Independent Panel’s report. The Skelton-Davis bill (H.R. 6249) would take a significant step toward answering these calls through the establishment of an Interagency National Security Professional Education, Administration, and Development System (INSPEAD System).

PNSR has been working for nearly four years to assist in the transformation of the antiquated national security system. Recent work has focused heavily on the personnel and human capital dimension. On June 25 of this year, the Department of Defense, acting as the Executive agent for the President, selected PNSR to conduct a study on interagency national security professionals, pursuant to a mandate in section 1054 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2010. PNSR’s report is due to Congress with the president’s comments by December 1, 2010.

PNSR’s President and CEO, James R. Locher III, praised the bill, saying, “I commend Congressmen Skelton and Davis for their leadership in introducing this bill. Their willingness to work across party lines sets an example that I hope many others in Congress are prepared to follow. We need a broad coalition to stand up and put national security transformation in its rightful place as a priority that transcends partisan divides.”

Contact:
Project on National Security Reform
media@pnsr.org
www.pnsr.org

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