DRMIPremiere Edition | 2015 Newsletter SIDMC SPECIAL EDiTION Senior International Defense Management Course WHAT’S INSIDE DRMI CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE Natalie’s Nuggets IN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT EDUCATION A Word from DRMI’s Executive Director By Kenneth A. Stewart (Reprinted with permission.) Natalie welcomes you in reading this, DRMI’s first issue of the “SIDMC Special” newsletter edition. … pg. 3 46th SIDMC Course Review SIDMC Empowers Participants from Around the World with Knowledge, Tools, and Stronger Relationships Distinguished Guest Speakers address course participants. … pg. 4 Building Relationships Additional Insights and Summaries from the 46th SIDMC DRMI faculty gather for a group photo in front of the Institute’s spaces in Halligan Hall. (U.S. Navy photo) The importance of providing opportunities for participants from around the world to … pg. 6 forge relationships. he Defense Resources Manage- Since its first course in 1965, DRMI has ment Institute (DRMI) at the educated 34,841 U.S. students and 20,258 SIDMC/DRMI Photo Galleries TNaval Postgraduate School (NPS) international students from 171 different Team Building, Anniversary, and Graduation in Monterey, Calif., is celebrating 50 years nations. DRMI graduates include promi- of educating defense leaders with an eye nent world leaders like His Majesty King … pg. 7 toward creating sound fiscal policy and Abdullah II of Jordan, ministers of defense, the efficient allocation of precious defense ambassadors, and other dignitaries from resources. around the globe. DRMI’s mission can perhaps be best “Our goal is to develop a broad-based summed up in the words of former British analytical framework for defense decision Prime Minister Winston Churchill who makers emphasizing the economic and said, “Gentlemen, we have run out of efficient allocation of defense resources, money. Now we have to think.” and to provide an environment for the DRMI Celebrates 50 Years of Excellence economic analysis, because the main prob- In 1970, NPS offered its first Senior lem in defense economics is the allocation International Defense Management Course, of scarce resources among many competing or SIDMC. SIDMCs are comprised of senior interests under conditions of uncertainty,” defense leaders from around the world who explained NPS Professor Emeritus, Dr. gather to listen to a variety of subject matter James Blandin. experts, NPS faculty, and each other for four weeks at NPS. SIDMC students also Blandin, whose father was one of DRMI’s participate in an exercise designed to test founders, taught at NPS for 34 years. He their ability to allocate resources amongst The Honorable Mike McCord addresses attendees notes that McNamara’s push to imple- competing interests. during DRMI’s 50th anniversary celebration. ment the PPBS system was frustrated by a (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Lewis Hunsaker) lack of people qualified to use it. As a result, “If we’re successful, the participants will McNamara directed the founding of a center think about their national security at a comparative exchange of ideas related to that could be used to develop people with strategic level, and gain a new perspective the management of national security,” said the skills necessary to realize his vision. and additional tools for managing their DRMI Executive Director Dr. Natalie Webb. The decision to stand up that center at organization’s resources to respond to NPS was driven by recognition of the NPS contemporary security challenges,” Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) faculty’s experience in defense-focused said Associate Professor Eva Regnier. and Chief Financial Officer, the Honor- graduate education. able Mike McCord, recently weighed in on Assistant Minister for Plans, Policy DRMI’s continued contributions toward Later, during President Lyndon Johnson’s and Operations Victoria K. Sawyer, with the education of DoD policy makers administration, a PPBS system similar to the Liberian Ministry of Defense, is a during a celebration honoring DRMI’s the one used by the DoD was enacted SIDMC graduate. 50th anniversary. throughout the federal government, and civilians began to join DoD professionals “This sort of international cooperation helps “Many things have changed over the last 50 at NPS to receive the education necessary to change minds and creates greater under- years, from the cold war to a man walking to ensure its success. standing,” said Sawyer. “Strategic planning, on the moon and the fall of the Berlin Wall. value for cost thinking, decision making, For DRMI to stay relevant over this period DRMI rose to McNamara’s challenge and most importantly, accountability and of incredible change is a remarkable and remains true to its core mission. transparency… That is what my country testament,” he said. needs most.” Like the university itself, however, DRMI The Navy Management Systems Center, has also extended its faculty expertise to our SIDMC successes at DRMI led to the which eventually became DRMI, was estab- international partners by providing resource creation of the International Defense lished in 1963 by then Secretary of Defense management courses to allied defense pro- Management Course (IDMC) in 1971. Like Robert McNamara. Before he became the fessionals from around the world. the SIDMC, the IDMC aims to arm students from allied nations with resource manage- ment and other fiscal planning tools, but it “Many things have changed over the last 50 years, from is geared toward mid-level officers and defense civilians. the cold war to a man walking on the moon and the fall of the Berlin Wall. For DRMI to stay relevant over this When the Soviet Union fell in 1991, demand for DRMI expertise increased further. period of incredible change is a remarkable testament,” Former Soviet republics began to turn to the -The Honorable Mike McCord U.S. for assistance as they developed new economic policies within their respective defense ministries and departments. leader of DoD, McNamara was the CEO of “[DRMI’s] international participation has the Ford Motor Company, and he attempted been invaluable to the U.S. It creates a link- “Countries that had previously been in to apply some of the private sector economic age between the U.S. and other nations, the orbit of the Soviet Union became new principles that led to his successes at Ford to and we have had some illustrious people democratic states. When countries in the the DoD. come through and go on to do some pretty Balkans, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia amazing things… Over the years, we have gained independence they looked to the U.S. “McNamara installed the Planning, Pro- received a tremendous value for the dollar to help them with their educational pro- gramming and Budgeting System [PPBS], that we spend [at DRMI],” said McCord. grams, and DRMI was called upon,” which is still in use today. It requires good said Blandin. Page: 2 DRMI Celebrates 50 Years / Natalie's Nuggets / 46th Annual SIDMC And while DRMI has been offering courses to international students from Natalie Webb nearly day one, on the heels of its suc- Executive Director, cesses among the former Soviet Republics, DRMI it increased its mobile course offerings bringing DRMI and NPS expertise to more than 70 different nations worldwide. NATALIE’S NUGGETS DRMI International Programs Coordina- A WORD FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR tor Al Polley believes there are several benefits to bringing DRMI courses to allied nations. f you’re a regular reader of DRMI’s celebrated its 46th year, provides defense newsletter, this issue should come leaders with a wealth of information and “Teaching abroad is efficient. We can Ias a surprise to you. For the first an opportunity to build relationships on teach 30-40 people for what it would cost time, DRMI has developed a publica- a global scale. We hope that you find our to teach only three people attending a tion to exclusively highlight the annual emphasis on the SIDMC as worthwhile as resident course at NPS. When teaching Senior International Defense Manage- we do. overseas, we also benefit from our abil- ment Course (SIDMC). With this publica- ity to use local interpreters to overcome tion, DRMI now has the space to provide DRMI is also giving our regular newsletter language barriers and are able to tailor greater insight into what our organization a facelift, which we will now publish bian- our courses to issues relevant to our host offers to flag and general rank military of- nually. Please keep an eye out for future nation,” said Polley. ficers and equivalent-level civilian officials issues. As always, we welcome constructive from around the globe. The efficient and feedback and your suggestions so that we As McCord, and other defense leaders effective management of scarce defense may continue to improve our organization. spanning five decades, can attest, DRMI resources is more important now than Please feel free to contact me at has made a lasting contribution to the ever before—budgets are decreasing and [email protected]. n DoD’s ability to allocate and manage complex demands on defense leaders are defense resources and has helped to shape increasing. Defense managers must learn to the defense departments and ministries of plan strategically for an uncertain security allied nations around the world. n environment. DRMI’s SIDMC, which just DRMI’S SIDMC EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WITH KNOWLEDGE, TOOLS, AND STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS REVIEW OF 46TH ANNUAL SIDMC RMI’s 46th annual Senior Inter- DRMI faculty specifically developed the GAINING VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS national Defense Management SIDMC for flag and general rank military OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR WEEKS DCourse (SIDMC) began on 3 officers and equivalent-level civilian of- August 2015 with an opening reception in ficials from around the world. Throughout During the SIDMC, participants gained DRMI’s lecture hall. The SIDMC had 38 the course, participants gained beneficial valuable knowledge and tools to improve participants from the following 28 countries: information and the tools for strategic-level the link between strategic goals and finan- Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herze- decision making and management in order cial and resources management.