Government and industry people often say there's an important partnership between the two sides. It's what helps the government do its job. But nothing happens unless there's a contract, and contracts don't run themselves. It takes active management.

"There's been a lot of tension in the relationship between government and industry," said Charlie Chadwick, vice president for contracts and business conduct at BAE Systems. "I actually find that there's less reality in that today than people think. We are actually both committed to doing the same — serving the public interest."

Chadwick is the national president of the National Contract Management Association, which is having its 30th annual government contracts conference today in Bethesda. He spoke to Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris from the conference.

Click here for full coverage of the 2011 Government Contracts Management Conference.