Russian-Ukrainian Elana Broitman (above)
US Department of Defense in 2014
Elana Broitman-current director "New America" (go have a look at NewAmerica's board-see anyone we know?)
https://www.newamerica.org/our-people/
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http://www.executivegov.com/2014/01/profile-elana-broitman-dod-acting-deputy-assistant-secretary-for-manufacturing-and-industrial-base-policy/
Profile: Elana Broitman, DoD Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy
January 3, 2014
Elena Broitman serves as acting deputy assistant secretary for manufacturing and industrial base policy at the Defense Department, where she is responsible for issues related to the defense industrial base.
Before joining the Pentagon, Broitman spent a decade on the Senate and her time there included service as senior advisor to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Notably, Broitman wrote and managed cybersecurity provisions that were included in the National Defense Authorization Act.
Her federal career was also spent serving as counsel to the House International Relations Committee, senior rule of law advisor to USAID’s Europe and newly independent states operations.
Broitman also spent nine years in the private industry before she joined the federal sector, focused on intellectual property and international policy matters at companies such as Pfizer and Register.com.
During her time at Register.com, she testified before the House Commerce and Judiciary Committees regarding intellectual property and Internet policy.
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https://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-industrial-policy-chief-resigns-1406583424?ns=prod/accounts-wsj&ns=prod/accounts-wsj Pentagon Industrial Policy Chief Resigns
Elana Broitman Resigns For Family Reasons After Short Tenure
By Doug Cameron
July 28, 2014 5:37 p.m. ET
The U.S. Defense Department is seeking a new industrial policy chief after the resignation of Elana Broitman left a leadership gap at a time of mounting concerns over the financial health of small- and medium-size suppliers.
Ms. Broitman plans to step down at the end of August for family reasons, having become in her short tenure a central figure in efforts to preserve critical suppliers that have borne the brunt of Pentagon budget cuts and delays over the past two years, according to defense executives.
Industry executives on Monday expressed concern about any prolonged effort to replace her, particularly as her own deputy's position is also vacant. Ms. Broitman only took on the formal role in March, having served in an acting capacity for several months.
A former congressional aide, Ms. Broitman joined the Pentagon staff last year, and as deputy assistant secretary of defense for manufacturing and industrial base policy reported directly to Frank Kendall, the department's procurement chief.
"It's a very pivotal role," said one U.S. defense executive who worked with her on industrial base issues, praising her communication skills and ability to develop proactive solutions to the problems facing smaller suppliers. The Pentagon has looked to keep some firms going when large contracts are delayed or frozen by advancing smaller-scale deals such as buying spare parts, or encouraging larger companies to provide financial support.
Defense executives also praised Ms. Broitman's ability to champion longer-term industrial planning at a time when much of the Pentagon's focus has been on securing shorter-term improvements in buying power.
Jim Hasik, an analyst at the Atlantic Council, said Ms. Broitman and her predecessor, Brett Lambert, had been counterbalancing Pentagon leaders focused firmly on price at the potential expense of U.S. defense industry capabilities.
The reliance of the U.S. on Russian-made rocket engines to launch military and intelligence satellites has created mounting concerns in recent months, but the withering of specialized manufacturing niches that may have only a single domestic supplier is starting to gain more attention among lawmakers and military leaders.
"We want to preserve those niche capabilities, and we want to do more to help those companies," said Ms. Broitman at a Wall Street investor event earlier this year.
While the large prime contractors have been cutting thousands of jobs to boost productivity and sustain higher margins at a time when revenue is shrinking, smaller companies have borne the brunt of the budget impasses affecting Pentagon spending.
The Defense Department has forecast that the industry will shed another 330,000 jobs this year, reducing employment to 2.3 million, with further declines expected over the next four years.
Ms. Broitman had taken an increasingly visible role, appearing at Wall Street and industry conferences, and forming part of the U.S. delegation alongside Mr. Kendall at the recent Farnborough Airshow.
The Pentagon confirmed she was leaving at the end of next month. "The department will ensure that the work of [the policy unit] will continue through this transition," said a spokeswoman.
