The Tidewater Government Industry Council (TGIC) held one of its largest and most successful Exchange Briefings on August 16, 2011 in the auditorium of the Meyera Oberndorf Central Library in Virginia Beach. With advance registrations and actual attendance approaching 175 Defense contracting professionals from Government and Industry, longtime TASC and TGIC member Ms. Dona Storey of GOVtips.biz moderated a panel discussion on the overarching topic of "Defense Contracting Approaches and Techniques—What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Needed?" Distinguished panelists included Mr. Elliott Branch, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Acquisition and Procurement; Mr. Mike Canales from the Office of the Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy (USD AT&L); Mr Alan Chvotkin, Executive Vice-President and Counsel, The Professional Services Council; Mr. Damien Walsh, Legal Advisor to the Joint Staff; and Mr. Terry Murphy, Chairman of the Government Contracts and Construction Practice, Kaufman and Canoles.

Following remarks by each panelist on the issues they see currently confronting our business, and ensuing discussion among the panel and moderator, the audience supplied a continuous dialogue of questions and their own perspectives on the challenges we all face in conducting business in light of an austere budget, increasing regulation, and an unseasoned workforce while attempting to maximize support to the Warfighter and stewardship to the Taxpayer. The panelists and audience were very direct and outspoken in their comments which clearly demonstrated the continuing need for knowledge and communication among and between the Government and Industry components of Defense contracting. Not only is the exchange of information crucial to acquisition planning, processing, and execution of actual requirements, the information and its communication must be based on a clear understanding of the facts and actual rules that govern the process, a situation that requires greater mentoring of emerging acquisition professionals.

The straightforward comments and lively discussion clearly reaffirmed the very purposes of the TGIC for mutual education and training as well as policy and process improvements to benefit the Warfighter and taxpayer. While the panelists appreciated the perspectives they gained from our regional audience that they can carry back to Washington, the audience was invited for more of the same at the monthly TGIC meetings held every second Thursday, 0800-0915 at UNISYS in Virginia Beach.