Defense Trade Solutions

Struggling with slow TSFD approvals and painful CN value thresholds? ?? ??♀? Okay, maybe we can’t promise world peace, but we can help you navigate export approvals faster, cut through red tape, and win international deals without the headache. ?? Let’s make defense trade easier—talk to DTS today! Also, this meme was sent to us by a long-time fan! You know who you are! #FMS #DCS #ITAR #TSFD #DefenseTrade #ExportSolutions #DefenseIndustry #AUKUS #SecurityCooperation #ExportControls

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to facilitate a working group at the Vistage Worldwide, Inc. 2025 GovCon Roundtable hosted by Gallup in Washington, DC. With over 60 small business CEOs in the DMV, we tackled the realities of DoD budget cuts, a more competitive and challenging business landscape, and the increasing complexity in the current government contracting environment. Thanks to Rick Vanasse, Rob DeSimone and the other facilitators for making this an amazing event. Two things are clear: First, government contractors must focus on what they can control, double down on relationships (customers, partners, employees) and be a transparent, yet steady hand for those in our charge. Second, defense companies can no longer rely solely on U.S. government contracts. With tightening budgets, shifting priorities, and heightened export enforcement—companies must diversify and lean into high-risk, high-reward international business to stay competitive. Now is not the time to wait—it’s time to act, have laser focus and control what we can control. #DefenseTrade #GovCon #FMS #DCS #ExportControl #DoDBudget #InternationalSales #Vistage

SAHR and International Trade Advisors Pty Ltd are excited to welcome Defense Trade Solutions (DTS) as an international sponsor for this year’s Export Controls Conference in Brisbane over 12-13 May. DTS is a recognised leader in export controls, technology security, and global trade compliance, supporting clients across the U.S. and international defence industry. We’re particularly excited to welcome DTS' President Steven A. Casazza and Chanel Miller, Director Strategy & Growth, to Australia as part of the DTS delegation and are looking forward to Steven sharing his insights on export controls from a U.S. perspective during the conference program. With DTS’ extensive experience across ITAR, EAR, Security Cooperation, and Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure, their presence will be a valuable addition to our shared conversations on global compliance and capability growth. To learn more about DTS and the services they provide, visit: https://defense-trade.com/ Thank you again to DTS for your generous support — we look forward to welcoming you to the conference. For more information about the event and to register, visit: https://lnkd.in/g9qzdUjN #ExportControls #TradeCompliance #SecurityCooperation #ITAR #EAR #DefenceIndustry #DTS #Conference2025 #SAHR #ITA

It's #FMS week here! So let's talk #exportcontrols (or, more accurately, the vegetables on your plate you don't want to eat but know you have to). Ultimately, you can't have an #FMS (or #DCS) discussion and not talk about (drumroll) - the regulators. Export controls is basically a foreign language (sorry, export controllers, you know this to be true) ??. So the team at the Aerospace Industries Association tried a baseline export control chart showing the regulations that govern #FMS and #DCS. Those with a basic export control knowledge know the State (#ITAR) and Commerce (#EAR) regs. What trips some up in the final Jeopardy question is Treasury (anything coming from the Office of Foreign Asset Control - #OFAC). Less well known, but equally important. Three agencies with three regulatory mechanisms. The #ITAR, #EAR, and #OFAC regs are in constant flux. They're not static by any means. They adjust to new technologies, new foreign partners, changes in existing partner relationships, and ultimately, adjustments in U.S. foreign policy. Any changes to these regs impacts the process flows of both #FMS and #DCS. Want to know defense trade, then you need to know export controls. Hand in glove relationship. This is why trade #compliance is a thing. Trade #compliance is a little like Hotel California - you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave. #FMS #DCS #defensetrade #exportcontrols

?????? Don’t Let Export Approvals Sink YOU. At Sea-Air-Space 2025, the latest tech and game-changing defense solutions will be on full display. But let’s be real… none of it matters if it’s stuck in export limbo. ?? Foreign Military Sales delays? ?? ITAR & EAR roadblocks? ?? Allied partners losing patience with TSFD? ?? Meet Steven A. Casazza and Audrey Sutton at Sea-Air-Space. Let’s talk strategy, sales, and how to outmaneuver bureaucracy. Comment below or Contact Us to set up a meeting ?? https://lnkd.in/dM-KRaAd #SeaAirSpace #SAS2025 #SeaBedToSpace #MaritimePower #FMS #ITAR #DefenseExports #DefenseTrade #TSFD #AUKUS #GlobalDefense #ExportControls

Ready for an #FMS sequel from yesterday? Let's do Volume II.... And I'll start how I ended yesterday: it's time to call the question. When the Aerospace Industries Association looked at the #FMS system along with the National Defense Industrial Association - (NDIA) and the Professional Services Council, it was pretty clear we needed a second volume to cover all the U.S. Department of State equities. That's what we have here. Remember, the #FMS process does not have a single "owner". There's not one department or agency that can "see" the entire system from start to finish, so challenges in one part of the system have to be addressed with the department or agency responsible for that part of the system. And unlike any administrative process in the entire U.S. government, the Congress gets a say. Again, if you're in the business, you know the winding road. For Volume II of the #FMS report, we hit the following recommendations: ?? Strengthen defense trade leadership and resources; ?? Streamline Foreign Military Sales and commercial sales authorities and management; ?? Simplify export authorizations; ?? Review congressional notifications and rethink government funding; and ?? Enhance government-industry information sharing. In this volume, you find some specifics, such as: ?? [State] should elevate and reemphasize defense trade as a critical mission area for the Department – and commit the necessary resources to its success. ?? Review the interagency criteria for FMS-only transfer requirements. ?? Strengthen authorities for dual-use items initially sold via FMS. ?? Review Congressional Notification (CN) processes and align tiered review. There's a whole host of recommendations here. Some of them, like defense financing, we've seen great progress. In other areas, well.......let's just say they are "enduring" challenges. If there's an #FMS review to be had, let's get after it - and skip to end. Quickly. We know the challenges. We know the players. And, for the most part, we know the solutions. Everyone in the boat. It's time to call the question. #FMS #defensetrade #defense #defence

Today's #sundayread has Foreign Military Sales (#FMS) in its sights. SHOT: The #FMS process has been "reviewed" seemingly every three years over the last 25-ish years. The last review was the #FMS "Tiger Team" at the United States Department of Defense in 2022/2023, with a concurrent review at the U.S. Department of State. On top of that, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs did its own "TIGER" Task Force report, published in 2024. To feed those reviews, the Aerospace Industries Association along with our colleagues at the National Defense Industrial Association - (NDIA) and Professional Services Council did a comprehensive take on what #FMS reform was needed. That series of reviews with U.S. industry led to two reports, one focused on DoD and one focused on State (since they have different legal authorities within the same #FMS process). The report below is the DoD-focused report, with the subsequent State Department-focused report in the links below. CHASER: So, what did industry recommend for #FMS? For DoD, it was: ?? Accessible and transparent communication; ?? A strategic and creative FMS process; ?? A resourced and flexible acquisition process; ?? Defense export financing and the expansion of DoD’s Special Defense Acquisition Fund; ?? A modern technology release process; ?? Improved exportability; and ?? Enhanced support of Non-Program of Record (NPOR) systems. For State, it was: ?? Strengthen defense trade leadership and resources; ?? Streamline Foreign Military Sales and commercial sales authorities and management; ?? Simplify export authorizations; ?? Review congressional notifications and rethink government funding; and ?? Enhance government-industry information sharing. In the last #FMS review, some of these items were addressed, including great work on export financing by State and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. But much more is needed. If you're in this business, you know what those issues are. If I had to narrow it down to three items for immediate action, it's: ?? A resourced and flexible acquisition process (contracting is a huge bogey for #FMS) ?? A modern technology release process (#TSFD reform is sorely needed) ?? Review congressional notifications (we must talk with our friends in Congress about #CNs) We're headed into another round of #FMS reviews. Let's have this be the last time we do these reviews and get after what industry and many of our government colleagues and foreign partners already know are the challenges. Decisions ahead. It's time to call the question. Key links: ?? Link to industry's DoD recommendations: https://lnkd.in/esBdqEp7 ?? Link to industry's State recommendations: https://lnkd.in/e_2EktEf ?? HFAC TIGER Task Force Report: https://lnkd.in/exqu7vcU #FMS #defensetrade #defence

?? Cybersecurity is no longer optional—it’s a national security imperative. We recognize that securing Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), export-controlled data, and Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD) assessments is mission-critical for companies navigating Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS). That’s why we are investing in Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 compliance. This strategic move ensures that our clients can operate securely, meet DoD requirements, and de-risk their international defense trade operations. ?? Why does CMMC Level 2 compliance matter for FMS & DCS? ? Secures export-controlled and releasability data against unauthorized access ? Reduces risk in FMS & DCS transactions, preventing cybersecurity threats from derailing deals ? Strengthens trust with the U.S. Government and international partners for secure collaboration ? Provides a competitive edge in DoD contracts as compliance requirements become stricter ?? The future of defense trade is secure, compliant, and cyber-resilient. DTS is leading the way. Learn more about how we can help your organization navigate secure and compliant global defense trade on our blog ?? https://lnkd.in/e-zbQYde #CMMC #DefenseTrade #FMS #DCS #CyberSecurity #ITAR #DefenseIndustry #AUKUS #TSFD #GlobalDefense

?? The struggle is real. You’ve lined up the perfect deal, your customer is ready to buy, and then… export approvals grind everything to a halt. ?? Foreign Military Sales (FMS) stuck in interagency reviews. ?? ITAR licenses caught in an endless feedback loop. ? Your competitor (with fewer restrictions) is already closing deals. If your sales cycle is shorter than your export approvals, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to accept it. We help you predict, accelerate, and simplify the process—so approvals don’t become dealbreakers. Let’s fix this ?? https://lnkd.in/dM-KRaAd #ExportControls #FMS #ITAR #DefenseTrade #TSFD #DefenseIndustry #AUKUS