Defense Industry Leaders Who Can Dig In for the Fight Ahead

In the face of shrinking federal budgets and shifting Pentagon priorities, defense companies and suppliers are recalibrating their businesses strategies for leaner and more competitive times ahead.

Defense Industry Leaders Who Can Dig In for the Fight Ahead, the latest white paper published by the Korn/Ferry Institute, outlines the four leadership competencies that will be crucial as the sector adjusts to an estimated $500 billion in cuts to U.S. defense spending over the next decade. The paper was co-authored by Clarke Havener, Global Leader of the aviation, aerospace and defense practice, and Aileen Alexander and Jamey Cummings, both principals in the practice.

Among the most vital needs they identified: Strategic Agility, Creativity, Managing Vision and Purpose, and Dealing with Ambiguity. Collectively, these traits describe the type of unflappable leaders who can uncover fresh opportunities, generate breakthrough strategies, and effectively articulate a new mission.