Bridenstine Bill Supports Sharing of IT Expertise Between DoD and Private Industry

Press Release

Congressman Jim Bridenstine has introduced legislation to strengthen the relationship between Department of Defense and private industry information technology (IT) communities.

The Information Technology Exchange Program Act of 2013, H.R. 2105, is a bipartisan bill sponsored with Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA). The bill authorizes an extension of a program for exceptional private sector IT to temporarily work for the Department of Defense (DoD), and vice versa, for 3-12 month rotations. This personnel exchange of high caliber IT professionals will aid the DoD's efforts to modernize and protect our nation's information technology infrastructure and will benefit private industry and academic institutions in developing tools and products to make lasting and significant contributions to the national defense.

"Our national defense increasingly relies on enhancing our IT infrastructure in the Department of Defense and the private sector. Too often, DOD is a step behind the private sector. Too often, IT acquisition decisions are undermined by differences in cultures and expertise," said Representative Derek Kilmer. "Our private tech companies are the best in the world. This program promotes an exchange of expertise to help private industry understand how to develop innovative tools and products and help our country defend itself in a way that is efficient and at no extra cost to taxpayers."

Representative Bridenstine praised his colleague on the House Armed Services Committee and the co-sponsor of the bill, Representative Kilmer, for putting national security above politics. "Protecting our country is not a partisan issue. Republicans and Democrats should support H.R. 2105 because it will help get DOD and industry on the same page in regard to IT systems development, acquisition, and integration. I look forward to working with Representative Kilmer to ensure that ITEP extension is included in the FY14 National Defense Authorization Act. Together we will also promote ITEP and encourage our most exceptional IT professionals to participate across government, industry, and academia."

This technical exchange of ideas, cultures, and expertise will help modernize the Department of Defense by exposing its employees to best practices from the constantly changing and evolving informational technology sector, especially in key areas like cloud computing, cyber security, information technology consolidation, network services, information technology project and data management, and enterprise architecture. Industry will benefit from learning how the DoD operates, how it can better develop tools and products, and how to navigate and help change cumbersome DoD systems.

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