By MC1 Lewis Hunsaker

Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer, the Honorable Mike McCord, left, listens to a question from Senior International Defense Management Course (SIDMC) student Humphrey Okpala in the Quad Auditorium, Aug. 4. This was the 46th annual SIDMC course offered by the Defense Resources Management Institute (DRMI) at NPS.

"Talking about resources, which is what I'm in charge of, is never the right place to start. You have to start with what you are trying to accomplish. What are your ends? What are your goals?" said McCord. "At the Pentagon, Gen. Dempsey reminds us that if you really want to have a true conversation about priorities, you need to start with the ends."

During his visit to NPS, McCord met with senior leaders, toured DRMI facilities, and was the guest speaker for the DRMI 50th Anniversary celebration at the Hilton Garden Inn.

"Many things have changed over the last 50 years, from the Cold War to a man walking on the moon and the fall of the Berlin Wall," said McCord. "For DRMI to stay relevant over this period of incredible change is a remarkable testament."

Since 1965, DRMI has taught more than 35,000 professionals from over 160 countries.