Key Defense Sector People To Watch in 2021

U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements

The Air Force somehow has to ramp up modernization of the nuclear arsenal, fighter fleet and tanker force within a flat-to-declining long-term budget environment. The ideas and recommendations Hinote sends up the chain may shape the service’s force structure for decades to come.

European Commission Vice President

Borrell is in charge of coor­dinating the external actions of the EU and leads the Permanent Structured Cooperation initiative and European Defense Fund as they start to make technology development grants. Borrell recently wrote that the U.S. election of Joe Biden as the next president has raised hopes of restoring the relationship with the EU, adding: “A stronger Europe that shoulders a greater share of global responsibilities can ensure that it does.”

Democratic Congresswoman from Connecticut

DeLauro has been endorsed by key members of the Democratic Party, making it likely she will lead the powerful U.S. House Appropriations Committee, which controls how Congress allocates money. She has served on the defense subcommittee and has been an advocate for home-state companies, including Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky.

German Defense Minister

Kramp-Karrenbauer is a lead­ing voice for preserving upward momentum in the German defense budget and will be a driving force in a major modernization of the German Armed Forces. She also sees the German military taking a more active role in cooperating with nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chief of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

Bouncing from program executive officer for integrated warfare systems at Naval Sea Systems Command to leader of a large command, Small will oversee the Navy and Marine Corps contributions to Joint All-Domain Command and Control, known as Project Overmatch.

Vice President, Northrop Grumman Advanced Programs

One of the principal architects of Northrop’s autonomous-systems portfolio, Winship is publicizing a new vision for collaborative semiautonomous aircraft just as the U.S. Air Force comes to grips with Skyborg and low-cost attritable aircraft.