Advances in technology are occurring too quickly for the procurement process to keep pace, Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), told an audience representing military, academia and industry on May 22, during the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) in Tampa. As a result, special operations troops are running the risk of having such technologies fall into the hands of their adversaries first.
“[It is an] increasing risk to our force and mission,” Thomas told the audience.
More than 9,000 special operations troops now deployed in some 70 countries around the world today, Thomas said. “Seventy-five percent are conducting operations left of ‘bang’ and left of crisis.”
James Smith, SOCOM’s civilian acquisitions executive, also spoke — urging planners and developers to focus their efforts on providing equipment that U.S. special operators and their allies can use quickly, amid the chaos of battle. Communications improvements, for example, should be able to function in extreme conditions, and remain undetectable by foes.
The Arlington, Va.-based National Defense Industrial Association sponsored the conference.
