Harvard in Tech Seattle: Technology Innovation in US Defense

Harvard in Tech Seattle presents a special panel webinar on "Technology Innovation in US Defense"

Panelists:
Arjun Bisen, Product Policy Advisor, Google
Dr. Sarah Kreps, Professor, Department of Government, Cornell University
Jake Sotiriadis, Ph.D. Sotiriadis, Chief, Strategic Foresight and Futures Branch, US Air Force
LTG. (Ret.) Russel Honore, US Army

Moderators:
Mahenoor Yusuf, Chair, Harvard in Tech Seattle
Roger Hackett, Program Director, Harvard in Tech Seattle

Key Takeaways:

1. There are a plethora of emerging technologies with NatSec implications and DOD has made great strides in building cross sector partnerships, up-skilling, and forecasting, to help it take advantage of several tech revolutions, including digital, bio and quantum. Still more needs to be done to allow emerging tech to be integrated and adopted at a DOD scale and with older hardware while developing norms and humanitarian law to ensure new tech is deployed responsibility.

2. Quantum Computing is a long horizon platform that will vastly reshape war and peace, from Quantum security, to Quantum Clocks, and Quantum Communications to synchronize All Domain Warfare. These same technologies have the potential to transform economies, supply chains, and data security, and privacy for corporations and individuals.

3. The tradeoff between security, role based access, and ease of use in Military Technology on the battlefield needs to evolve to match the civilian experience.

4. Military and University partnerships need to be broader to include social sciences to address global culture to go beyond winning wars, and win the Peace. Universities need to offer, and Military roles and leadership needs to embrace PhD and advanced Graduate programs for Military personnel as part of a core leadership progression.

5. Culture matters and needs to be considered on the front end of Military Action. Once we win the war, we need to win the peace. The seamless transition to a PeaceTime governance happens best when there is a comprehensive understanding of the end goal, and the means to achieve this goal through leadership in the countries where the war takes place. Like South Korea, Germany, and Japan, part of achieving a successful peace and thriving economic partnerships may involve long term military base installations to safeguard alliance countries and regions.

6. The world population growth from 7B to 10B will strain Global security, putting pressure on Food, Water, and Energy. The overlap between national security, and civilian economic activity will be expansive and requires holistic thinking and planning. DOD efforts need to seamlessly implement strategies and technologies to eliminate threats, increase sustainability of DOD activities, and to support compatible leadership regimes that resonate with the authentic cultures of the diverse regions of the world.

Resources:

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