John Ferrari

6 days ago | breakingdefense.com | John Ferrari

As the Army prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, it appears poised for major changes, bolder than the Marine Corps Force Design effort. And as with the Marine’s Force Design push, the Army is almost certain to see some dissent from those who stand to lose from the new paradigm.

2 weeks ago | aei.org | John Ferrari

The Pentagon should soon send Congress its “skinny budget,” which is an outline of what it intends to spend, but without specific funding tables. Since the new administration has taken control of the Pentagon, proposals including eight percent budget trims, trillion dollar budgets, and major weapon cancellations have dominated the news. Much less discussed is a reported — and disputed — proposal to cut Army end-strength by up to 90,000 troops.

2 weeks ago | breakingdefense.com | John Ferrari

The Pentagon should soon send Congress its “skinny budget,” which is an outline of what it intends to spend, but without specific funding tables. Since the new administration has taken control of the Pentagon, proposals including eight percent budget trims, trillion dollar budgets, and major weapon cancellations have dominated the news. Much less discussed is a reported — and disputed — proposal to cut Army end-strength by up to 90,000 troops.

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Todd Harrison |John Ferrari

In the early 1990s, the Department of Defense made a pivotal decision that has shaped American defense production for decades. Then-Secretary of Defense Les Aspin’s infamous “Last Supper” meeting with defense industry leaders signaled that the end of the Cold War would mean a drastic reduction in military spending and that industry consolidation was required. This move, reminiscent of Britain’s post-war industrial policies, has led to an inefficient and uncompetitive defense sector.

2 months ago | breakingdefense.com | John Ferrari

The United States Navy stands at a critical juncture, and as the global maritime landscape evolves, so too must our approach to maintaining naval supremacy. As it stands now, the navy is incapable of being active in three simultaneous theaters, lacks the depth in munitions, ships, and personnel for sustained combat operations, and struggles to produce the necessary warships, using outdated concepts from World War II and the Cold War. Which is to say, almost every part of the system is flawed.