Operation Just Cause... ...for as long as it takes
By Rudi Williams WASHINGTON -- The lofty hopes of DoD's Electronic Commerce Day
last year have fast become reality, Defense Secretary William S.
Cohen told the 600 attendees of this year's conference here June
10.
Cohen called last year's gathering and the creation of the Joint
Electronic Commerce Program Office "the beginning of the end."
"The end of a department that was burdened by paper," he said.
"It was the beginning of a new department whose lifeblood was
going to be the electron. Indeed, when we created that Joint
Electronic Commerce Program Office, we turned our rhetoric into
reality."
Cohen's 1997 Defense Reform Initiative established the office at
Fort Belvoir, Va., in January 1998. Tasked to accelerate the use
of electronic commerce, it is a major facet of a "Revolution in
Business Affairs" to make the DoD contracting process paperless
by Jan. 1, 2000.
Since the first E-Day, Cohen said, suppliers participating in a
DoD electronic "mall" sold more than $27 million worth of
everything from socks to semiconductors. DoD has dramatically
reduced overhead costs and delivery times for countless agencies
and instituted the widespread use of government purchasing cards
for most small purchases, he said.
DoD is "rapidly approaching the point where we can say we're
going to have a virtually paper-free contracting system [next
year]," Cohen said. "These were once simply lofty hopes. We are
turning those into reality.
Conferees included military personnel, DoD and other federal
civilian employees, state and local government representatives
and private sector providers of electronic commerce. The meeting
highlighted how DoD is using electronic commerce to improve
warfighter support, trading-partner interface and the defense
business infrastructure.
He said the administration has agreed to the first major spending
increase for military purposes in 15 years -- at least $112
billion over the next six years. He warned the audience, though,
not to let the infusion of money derail defense reform.
Cohen said successful reform depends on the willingness of the
people within and outside the Defense Department to change. "We
have to change not only the way in which we operate, but … the
way in which we think about operating," the secretary said.
"We have to continue to harness the power of the microchip so our
men and women in uniform can get what they need when they need
it, faster, better, cheaper than ever before," Cohen said. "Bear
in mind your essential mission: They can't be successful unless
you are successful -- unless we are successful."
Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services
American Forces Press Service
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