Since taking on the role of secretary, I’ve become increasingly aware that our military is at a risk of lagging behind other leading nations, particularly China. It’s puzzling, really. For years, outdated methods and excessive bureaucracy have hampered our drive for innovation and modernization. If we stick with business as usual, it could jeopardize our national security.
The gap between the military we have and the one we actually need is widening quickly. Our soldiers are truly innovative, resourceful, and capable—they’re the best we have. But they’re also constrained by lobbyists and complacent stakeholders who seem more focused on their interests than on enhancing our military’s effectiveness.
Lobbyists, in general, don’t engage in battles. They haven’t won any wars. Our service members deserve more, and our country certainly deserves better. That’s why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has recently urged the Army to expedite significant reforms.
We’ve already begun work on this.
1. Equip the troops effectively
Our soldiers need to be able to operate and defeat enemies effectively on the battlefield. Today, they require access to drones, counter-drone capabilities, AI-assisted decision-making tools, and responsive combat vehicles. We’ve been slow to provide these capabilities, not from a lack of vision, but because of antiquated procurement processes. That’s going to change. Our mission is now focused on cutting through the red tape—everything must move faster to ensure our forces have the best equipment available.
2. Take the offensive
We need to harness America’s spirit of boldness and innovation—not just pay lip service, but actually act on it. This means streamlining processes to encourage market competition, supporting industry-led research, and bringing users and developers together. By doing so, we can adapt, overcome inertia, and stay a step ahead of our adversaries.
3. Eliminate unnecessary spending
For too long, our hands have been tied by the vested interests of lobbyists, forcing us to purchase equipment we neither want nor need. Leveraging Army Transformation Initiatives (ATIs) will help ensure that taxpayers’ money is used wisely. If something doesn’t enhance our soldiers’ capabilities or effectiveness, we simply won’t buy it.
4. Streamline bureaucracy
We’re not just updating gear; we’re revamping the entire Army structure. The goal is to create an organization that fosters process improvements, which ultimately lead to better products and outcomes for our troops. To start with, we will integrate different parts of the Army to cut down redundancy and overreach.
5. Focus on frontline soldiers
We need to redirect resources toward combat units from Army Headquarters. Soldiers belong in training and on the front lines, where they can prepare to dominate the battlefield. Our troops, and by extension, American citizens, deserve a military that’s ready to confront threats anywhere and at any time. Under Secretary Hegseth’s guidance and the leadership of President Trump, that’s exactly what the Army Transformation Initiative aims to achieve.
