Now that the President has signed the 2014 budget and Defense authorization bills, what’s next? As part of the Federal Drive series, Looking Ahead to 2014, a long time expert in defense management shares his thoughts.

Jacques Gansler is former undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. He’s now director at the Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise at the University of Maryland. Gansler describes the implications of the budget deal and the evolving priorities of the Pentagon.

Air Force people, like many in the military and the federal government for that matter, can land almost anywhere in the world. The Air Force Culture and Language Center is creating new field guides to help deployed service members understand customs and cultural norms in other countries. Jay Warwick is the director of the center. He says one of the guides came in handy for recent relief efforts in the Philippines.