Last week, our DHS community was honored to join more than 400 private industry participants at our third annual Strategic Industry Conversation. We hold this event each year because we understand that industry is vital to supporting our mission. We know that fostering meaningful engagement activity helps industry keep the Department leaning forward when delivering mission‑critical products and services.
This year’s theme was Doubling Down on Unity of Effort. The spirit of this theme was on display throughout the day, beginning with the event’s opening remarks delivered by Deputy Under Secretary for Management Chip Fulghum, who began by highlighting the Department’s greatest mission challenges and opportunities. He then discussed the Management Directorate’s Integrated Priorities, which are a roadmap for mission enablement that will drive the Department’s business operations for the next five years. The Integrated Priorities focus on cross-cutting initiatives that lead to a more unified approach to the way we manage resources, acquire goods and services, secure systems and networks, and attract and hire talent. Following his remarks, a panel of DHS executives echoed his sentiments by providing concrete examples of how they work in a Unity of Effort each day to enable the DHS mission.
The day featured panels and networking sessions led by senior Department leaders who discussed mission-focused topics spanning the homeland security enterprise. Some topics, such as information technology and cybersecurity, were familiar to prior participants, while others, such as border security, received a new focus. Industry participants were able to engage with DHS leaders in a meaningful way. From beginning to end, industry representatives provided DHS leaders with constructive feedback they can use to ensure that industry’s perspective is incorporated into mission planning.
With events such as our Strategic Industry Conversations and others hosted under the Acquisition Innovations in Motion (AIiM) framework, the Department continues to demonstrate our commitment to engaging early, often, and meaningfully with industry in order to enhance outcomes for our critical mission areas while remaining a business partner of choice.