On this Washington Roundtable episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast, sponsored by Bell, our guests in segment one are Michael Bayer, former chairman of the Defense Business Board and the president of the Dumbarton Strategies consultancy, and Arnold Punaro, the chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association and CEO of the Punaro Group consultancy to discuss the ongoing presidential transition and how to best accomplish the monumental task of a peaceful transition of power. 

In segment two, our roundtable guests are Dov Zakheim, PhD, former DoD comptroller, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Gordon Adams, PhD, Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute, Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International, and Byron Callan of the independent equity research firm Capital Alpha Partners.

Topics:

— Key characteristics for future deputy defense secretary to complement Lloyd Austin as defense secretary

— Stimulus, NDAA and omnibus update

— Whether Russia’s massive cyber hack will drive change in spending priorities

— Biden’s decision to tap House members for cabinet roles and impact on Democratic majority

— Progressives list of defense talent for new administration

— Sweden’s defense spending increase and parliamentary vote on NATO membership

— US concessions in Western Sahara in driving Morocco’s recognition of Israel