Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Dr. William LaPlante, co-chaired the 18th Annual Defense Cooperation Committee (DCC) meeting with Mr. Melvyn Ong, the Permanent Secretary for Defence Development, of the Republic of Singapore Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) at the Pentagon, November 8, 2023. The DCC is the senior forum to discuss cooperation across acquisition, logistics, research and engineering, capability development, and industrial base cooperation and was last convened in 2021.
Dr. LaPlante and Mr. Ong discussed a wide range of topics, with particular focus on supply chain resiliency. Both leaders acknowledged the impacts of recent supply chain shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and conflict in Ukraine, and emphasized opportunities to deepen supply chain cooperation. Dr. LaPlante highlighted DoD's efforts to develop a strategy for building a robust, resilient, and modernized defense industrial ecosystem, noting the role that allies and partners worldwide will play.
The delegation also discussed a range of topics surrounding small businesses. Recognizing the importance of small and non-traditional companies to their respective defense industrial bases, co-chairs discussed prioritizing engagements with industry that possess new and innovative capabilities but are not traditionally operating in the defense sector.
The meeting reaffirmed both countries' commitment to deepen defense technology cooperation and to enhance collaboration in areas of mutual interest, including supply chain resilience.