Secretary of the Army to Address Defense Forum

Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth is set to speak this Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum, which is taking place in Simi Valley, California. His discussion will focus on strategies for revitalizing the “Arsenal of Freedom.”

Leading up to his keynote, Hegseth shared a video showcasing the X Tour facility in California. In the video, he emphasized the need for an innovative approach in what he described as “an era of vendor-locked, prime-driven, closed architectures, cost-plus overruns.” He stated, “We compete, we move fast, we run open architectures, we innovate, we scale, and we run lower costs because this is a commitment to our mission.”

“If you’re a veteran or have served, you are contributing to the Department of the Army, the American people, and the arsenal of freedom,” Hegseth remarked. “It’s important to remember that while we support those currently fighting for our country, their success relies on everyone involved.”

Department of the Army’s Focus Areas

In a broader strategic shift, the Department of the Army is looking at priorities such as artificial intelligence, hypersonics, and directed energy as central to its upcoming strategy review.

Hegseth also pointed out that the military’s operations in “faraway places, in moments of danger” depend heavily on the contributions from those in civilian roles. “This arsenal of freedom is built not only by servicemen and women in uniform but also by those in everyday attire across the country who work tirelessly to outpace our rivals,” he asserted.

At the Reagan Defense Forum, scheduled to start around 2:50 p.m. Eastern time, Hegseth will be joined by various U.S. military leaders.

He shared on social media, “We are rebuilding the armory of freedom,” alongside the informative video about the initiative.

Event Details

The forum will be hosted at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. It is noted for gathering leaders from across the political landscape and key figures in the defense sector, including congressional members, past and present administration officials, military executives, and tech innovators.

The mission of the forum is to assess and recommend policies that enhance the national defense of the United States, particularly in response to the current global threats.