WASHINGTON — The new head of the Pentagon's Defense Business Board is an old face.
Michael Bayer, who served as chairman of the Board from 2007-2011, will return as chair when the group reconvenes in July, the Pentagon announced Wednesday evening.
Bayer, the president and CEO of Dumbarton Strategies, is a current member of the Defense Science Board and the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel.
In a statement, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter praised Bayer's agreement to return to the DBB.
"We need Michael's energy and expertise to bring the very best private sector ideas and actionable solutions to the department," Carter said.
Bayer replaces Robert Stein, who will remain on as an adviseor on how to best implement Board suggestions made during his tenure. Stein is President of the Regency Group, a Florida-based holding company.
"I want to thank Bobby Stein for the outstanding work done supporting the department as the chair of the DBB," Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work was quoted as saying in the announcement. "The reports and perspective provided by the Defense Business Board have been invaluable in improving the business operations of the department."
The Board was established in 2002 to provide Pentagon leadership advice on private sector business practices that could be implemented inside the building. It's considered a key path for bringing outside voices and ideas inside the DoD.
Carter has made the inclusion of voices and idea from outside the Pentagon a key component of his early tenure as Secretary of Defense. Last week he travelled out to Silicon Valley in hopes of encouraging tech companies to communicate and share ideas with the Pentagon.
Email: amehta@defensenews.com
Twitter: @AaronMehta
Aaron Mehta was deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, covering policy, strategy and acquisition at the highest levels of the Defense Department and its international partners.
