The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) have announced that senior leaders of both organizations had met to discuss ways of implementing significant cost-cutting measures aimed at reducing overall Information Technology (IT) spending by 20 percent. The goal of the effort is two-fold and seeks to reduce costs while simultaneously avoiding any direct impact on overall services; a delicate balance for sure.
At present, services including telecommunication and network services, as well as server and mainframe hosting, have cost DLA more than $240 million in 2012 alone, according to DISA. Additionally, nearly 31 percent of DISA services dedicated to DLA last year were allocated to custom services that are no longer required or needed.
Revelations that discussions regarding cost-efficiencies are ongoing between the two agencies is not surprising in and of itself, as DLA continues to examine areas in which it can reduce operating costs. However, DLA Director Vice Admiral Mark Harnitchek’s clarification on the scope and size of such target spending reduction goals does add a bit of newsworthy shock-factor. He recently indicated that DLA is looking to shrink overall operating costs by roughly $14 billion over the next five years.
DLA Information Operations Director Kathy Cutler, in a statement, observed: “We’d like to see more upfront involvement with DISA on what we need on the DLA side. As opposed to us just saying we need ABC, we would like you all to offer advice to us on what we really need to become more efficient and take advantage of new technology out there.”
In the same public release, DISA Director Air Force Lt. Gen. Ronnie D. Hawkins stated, “One of the things that we’re very proud of is what we’re doing is trying to drive the Department of Defense toward enterprise solutions,” adding, “I believe we can help you achieve some of the savings you’re looking for.”
Discussions between senior managers of DISA and DLA occurred on June 17 at DLA’s McNamara Headquarters Complex on Fort Belvoir.
About the author:
Timothy W. Coleman is a security analyst who has co-founded two technology startup firms. He has a Masters of Public and International Affairs in Security and Intelligence Studies and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance. You can follow his updates on Twitter @CyberTimbo.
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