Chris Whitlock has worked defense and national security issues for the past 30 years. For the last 20, he focused primarily on strategy consulting on intelligence issues from an analytic perspective. He co-founded and was the CEO of Edge Consulting, which applied empirical methods and management consulting techniques to advise on major programmatic issues confronting DoD and the Intelligence Community. He holds a B.A. in History (Mississippi), an M.A. in National Security (Georgetown) and an M.B.A. (George Mason).

Mission of DoD’s Deputy Chief Management Officer Our goal is to deliver a streamlined, 21st-century systems environment comprised of IT capabilities that work seamlessly together to support effective and efficient business processes and operations.

Principal Financial Advisor to the Secretary of Defense

In this issue of The Business of Government magazine, we survey the intersection where leadership, complex challenges, and the need for transformation meet.

In this issue of The Business of Government magazine, we survey the intersection where leadership, complex challenges, and the need for transformation meet. Whether it’s in the response to the global financial crisis, the national deficit, or the myriad of other pressing issues facing us, uncertainty seems boundless while constraints on resources are very real. It is within this context that we’ve assembled a varied group of government executives and thought leaders who are focusing on these problems and working to mitigate their effects.

To manage this very large and complex organization, DoD has developed and maintained some 4,150 different business processes and systems. Given the size and complexity of the department’s finances and operations along with the rapid pace of change, engagement in major military campaigns, and worldwide economic uncertainty, it is imperative that DoD create more agile, responsive, and efficient operations. To this end, DoD continues to pursue enterprise business transformation efforts.

On the History of the Military Health System

It is within this context that we’ve assembled a varied group of government executives and thought leaders who are focusing on these problems and working to mitigate their effects. They offer their insights, lessons learned, and recommendations on these topics. It’s about connecting research to practice--crafting smart approaches that tame immediate demands without losing sight of the iterative nature of problem solving. This goes to the core of the Center’s mission: linking theory to practice as a way of shaping the business of government.

Reverse Auctioning: Saving Money and Increasing Transparency by Professor David C.Wyld, is the latest report from the IBM Center. It is Professor Wyld’s second on the subject of reverse auctions.