Collaborative Disruption at DoD: Kathleen Hicks in Conversation with Sharon Weinberger

Summary

This dialogue addresses the tragic loss of three US service members and the importance of advancing counter-drone technologies. It highlights the United States' focus on counter-UAS efforts, the necessity for rapid technological innovation, particularly in software, and the challenges posed by budget constraints. The conversation also delves into the 2024 budget's role in procurement and innovation, the evolving defense industrial base, and the significance of private investment in defense. Furthermore, it explores the cooperation between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, emphasizing AI and autonomous systems' responsible development and deployment. Lessons from Ukraine's conflict and the ongoing effort to reform the Department of Defense's acquisition process are discussed, underscoring the critical nature of agility and innovation in maintaining national security.

Takeaways

• 👏 The tragic loss of three US service members highlights the critical importance of counter-UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) technologies and the urgent need to evolve and accelerate their deployment on the battlefield.
• 💡 Software-driven innovation, particularly demonstrated in Ukraine, showcases the rapid pace of technological development and iteration, underscoring the need for continued evolution in military tech.
• 🛡️ The 2024 budget constraints and governmental operational limits are challenges to advancing military technology and readiness, emphasizing the need for adequate funding and operational authority.
• 💰 High levels of private investment in defense underscore the potential for innovative technologies to transform warfare, though matching these investments with acquisition dollars remains a concern.
• 🚩 The Defense Department's procurement strategies are evolving to meet the changing nature of warfare, with an emphasis on software-defined capabilities and advanced manufacturing.
• 🔨 The defense industrial base is expected to diversify beyond traditional prime contractors, incorporating more non-traditional companies and innovators to enhance competition and innovation.
• 🧑‍💻 Cooperation between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon is crucial, with efforts ongoing to ensure the alignment of commercial sector innovation with defense needs, while maintaining American values.
• 🧠 Project Lima and the focus on responsible AI and autonomy reflect the Department of Defense's commitment to safely integrating cutting-edge technologies in a manner consistent with American values and military effectiveness.
• 📡 Lessons from Ukraine, particularly in the use of satellites and autonomous systems, inform U.S. military strategy and technology deployment, emphasizing the importance of communication, innovation at the unit level, and intelligence.
• 🚀 Ongoing acquisition reform and the utilization of alternative pathways are critical to streamlining the deployment of innovative technologies and maintaining the U.S. military's technological edge.

Q & A

What is the significance of counter-drone systems mentioned in the context of US service members' loss?

The counter-drone systems are emphasized due to their importance in protecting against attacks using unmanned aerial systems (UAS), highlighted by a tragic incident where three US service members were killed, underscoring the need to advance these technologies.

How has the conflict in Ukraine demonstrated the importance of software-driven technologies in modern warfare?

The conflict in Ukraine has shown the rapid pace of development and iteration of technologies, particularly software-driven ones, indicating the critical role of such innovations in enhancing battlefield capabilities.

Why is the 2024 budget mentioned as crucial for advancing military technologies?

The 2024 budget is crucial because financial constraints and the lack of a fully functional government budget limit the ability to innovate and deploy new technologies, impacting the military's operational capabilities.

What criteria define the success of the August 2025 timeline for the replicator initiative?

Success is measured by meeting the goal of deploying technologies across multiple domains in large numbers within 18 to 24 months, transforming the Department of Defense's systems, and driving down risks in processes.

How is private investment in defense technologies perceived, and what challenges are mentioned?

Private investment is seen positively, with a significant influx of funds into defense technologies. However, challenges include ensuring these investments are matched by acquisition dollars to meet the warfighter's needs effectively.

What future vision is portrayed for the defense industrial base?

The vision for the defense industrial base includes greater competition, the inclusion of small businesses, and an expanded notion of the defense industrial base that integrates traditional providers with innovations from other sectors.

How is the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon described, and what efforts are made to maintain cooperation?

The relationship has historically fluctuated, with efforts focused on aligning the values of the nation with technological advancements to ensure companies want to work with the Pentagon, especially in areas like responsible AI.

What is Project Lima, and what is its purpose?

Project Lima is tasked with examining the use of generative AI and large language models within the Department of Defense, aiming to establish a framework for safe and effective deployment in line with American values.

What lessons have been learned from the use of new technologies in the conflict in Ukraine?

Lessons include the advantages of space-based communications, mixed results in autonomy, the importance of scaling tactical innovations, and leveraging intelligence for strategic advantage.

What challenges are identified in reforming the defense department's acquisition process?

The main challenge is the need for fundamental reform to accommodate rapid technological advancements and innovation, which requires building trust between Congress and the executive branch to utilize alternative acquisition pathways effectively.

Outlines

00:00

🛡️ Addressing Drone Threats and Accelerating Defense Innovation

The speech begins by addressing the tragic loss of three US service members due to drone attacks, marking it as the 165th such incident. This incident underscores the urgency in advancing counter-drone technologies and innovations in defense. The speaker highlights the significant role of software-driven advancements in Ukraine, demonstrating rapid technological iteration. However, the current budget constraints under a continuing resolution limit the potential for growth and innovation in defense technologies. The speaker emphasizes the necessity of the 2024 budget to enhance the United States' defense capabilities. Furthermore, the discussion touches upon the anticipation and challenges surrounding the 2025 timeline for a project dubbed 'replicator,' focusing on achieving ambitious goals across multiple domains. The overall narrative stresses the importance of evolving defense strategies, leveraging private investment in defense, and the critical need for acquisition reform to match the pace of technological advancement and fulfill the future requirements of warfare.

05:03

🏗️ Transforming the Defense Industrial Base for Future Challenges

This segment explores the future composition of the defense industrial base, emphasizing the importance of competition and the pivotal role of small businesses. The speaker suggests a shift in perspective is necessary, proposing that the entire American industrial base should be considered part of the defense industrial base. This inclusive approach encourages collaboration with traditional providers while also incorporating new sectors such as compute and other innovative areas. The narrative reflects on the historical cooperation between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, acknowledging periods of rift and efforts to mend them. It underlines the ongoing commitment to align the commercial sector's values with those of the nation's defense goals, especially in areas like responsible AI and autonomy. The speaker also touches on the Department's proactive engagement with generative AI providers to ensure the safe and value-aligned implementation of new technologies for the warfighter. Lastly, the segment underscores the importance of learning from the technological deployments in Ukraine, highlighting the advantages of space-based communications and the need for rapid adoption and scaling of tactical innovations.

10:05

🔧 Streamlining Acquisition Processes and Fostering Technological Innovation

This paragraph emphasizes the critical need for reforming the Department of Defense's acquisition process to keep pace with technological advancements and operational demands. The speaker outlines efforts already underway, including alternative acquisition pathways and a focus on software acquisition. The dialogue stresses the importance of building trust with Congress to demonstrate the effectiveness of these new pathways. Moreover, the 'replicator' project is highlighted as a key initiative for acquiring specific capabilities, with a promise of forthcoming details on selected systems. The discussion concludes with reflections on the growth of technology and collaboration with Silicon Valley compared to five years ago, attributing significant progress to global events that underscore the importance of American innovation. The speaker expresses optimism about the potential for individual innovators and investors to contribute to national defense and counter the challenges posed by authoritarian regimes.

Keywords

💡Counter-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems)

Counter-UAS refers to technologies and systems designed to detect, track, and neutralize unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones. In the context of the video, counter-UAS is discussed as an area where innovation is needed to address the tragic loss of US service members due to drone attacks. The script mentions that counter-UAS is a 'big topic' where many companies are trying to innovate, highlighting the importance of accelerating these technologies to the battlefield.

💡Replicator

Replicator is a project or initiative mentioned in the video that aims to deliver thousands of multi-domain capabilities across multiple domains within 18 to 24 months. It is described as an ambitious goal and a part of the Department of Defense's efforts to transform its systems and processes. The success metric for Replicator is stated to be meeting the goal of delivering thousands of capabilities within the specified timeline. The video suggests that Replicator builds upon previous work like 'Raider' and 'Cap,' and is part of the effort to speed up the acquisition process.

💡Defense Industrial Base

The defense industrial base refers to the companies and organizations that produce goods and services for the defense sector, including traditional defense contractors and newer companies involved in emerging technologies. The video discusses the need to shift the mental model of what constitutes the defense industrial base, recognizing that the American industrial base as a whole is now the defense industrial base. The discussion highlights the importance of competition, small businesses, and teaming with other parts of the economy, suggesting that the defense industrial base is evolving to incorporate new areas of innovation.

💡Responsible AI

Responsible AI refers to the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in a way that is safe, ethical, and aligned with societal values. The video mentions the Department of Defense's approach to responsible AI and responsible autonomy, which has been a focus for decades and continues to evolve as technology advances. The script specifically cites 'Project Lima,' which is examining the use of large language models, emphasizing the importance of safety and reflection of American values in the adoption of AI innovations.

💡Innovation

Innovation refers to the process of introducing new ideas, methods, or technologies. The video discusses innovation in various contexts, such as the rapid pace of innovation in technologies and capabilities observed in Ukraine, the need for innovation in counter-UAS systems, and the importance of fostering innovation within the defense sector. The script highlights the role of the commercial sector as a driver of innovation, particularly in areas like software, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology, and the need for the Department of Defense to embrace these innovations.

💡Acquisition Reform

Acquisition reform refers to efforts to improve and modernize the processes and procedures used by the Department of Defense to acquire goods and services. The video acknowledges the need for fundamental acquisition reform and discusses initiatives like alternative acquisition pathways and the software acquisition pathway as steps in that direction. The script emphasizes the importance of building trust between Congress and the executive branch by demonstrating the ability to deliver through these alternate pathways, with the goal of expanding acquisition authorities.

💡Tactical Innovation

Tactical innovation refers to the development of new tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) at the operational or unit level, often in response to evolving battlefield conditions. The video highlights the importance of capturing and scaling these tactical innovations, citing examples from Ukraine where clever sergeants have developed software or other innovative solutions. The script emphasizes the need for the United States to quickly promulgate these tactical innovations across the force, leveraging its ability to rapidly iterate and adapt.

💡Intelligence

Intelligence, in the context of the video, refers to the gathering and analysis of information about potential adversaries, their capabilities, and their intentions. The script states that the United States clearly has an advantage in intelligence, which has paid off substantially, especially in supporting partners like Ukraine. Intelligence is presented as a strength that the US can build upon, particularly in conjunction with other capabilities like rapid iteration and innovation.

💡Commercial Sector

The commercial sector refers to private companies and industries that operate primarily in the civilian or non-defense markets. The video emphasizes the importance of the commercial sector as a driver of innovation, particularly in areas like software, advanced manufacturing, and biotechnology. The script suggests that the changing nature of warfare requires the Department of Defense to embrace and integrate innovations from the commercial sector, as well as foster collaborations with non-traditional companies and service providers.

💡Rapid Iteration

Rapid iteration refers to the process of quickly developing, testing, and refining technologies, capabilities, or tactics in response to evolving conditions or requirements. The video highlights the importance of rapid iteration, particularly in the context of Ukraine, where the pace of innovation has been accelerated. The script discusses initiatives like 'Raider' and the concept of 'concept to experimentation to fielding,' which aim to facilitate rapid iteration by quickly transitioning concepts to testing and deployment phases, with close collaboration between operators and technologists.

Highlights

The tragic loss of three US service members in a drone attack is unacceptable, and the US needs to continue evolving counter-drone technologies.

The replicator program aims to deliver thousands of AI models across multiple domains within 18-24 months, transforming the Department of Defense's systems.

Success metrics for replicator include meeting the timeline, delivering capabilities valued by the warfighter, and transforming processes within the DoD.

The DoD's procurement budget request for 2024 is the highest in decades, but the focus is on acquiring the right technologies for the evolving nature of warfare.

The future defense industrial base needs to shift from a traditional model to include more non-traditional and commercial partners.

Maintaining cooperation between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon is a constant effort, focused on upholding American values and responsible AI development.

The Lima task force is evaluating hundreds of use cases for generative AI to develop a responsible framework for the DoD by Spring 2024.

Key lessons from Ukraine include the value of commercial space and communication technologies, scaling tactical innovations, and leveraging intelligence advantages.

The US excels at rapidly iterating from concept to experimentation and fielding, closely linking operators and technologists.

Fundamental acquisition reform is underway, building trust with Congress through alternate pathways like software acquisition.

System-level details on replicator will be shared with Congress in the next few days, with some aspects remaining classified.

Recent world events have increased awareness among Silicon Valley of how individual innovation can contribute to American dynamism and the risks of falling behind.

Transcripts

I wanted to start off with a more somber

note um of what you referenced um in

your speech talking about the tragic

loss of life of the three US service

members um is that I realize it's still

early days in terms of what happened um

but counter uas counter drone systems

have been a big topic it's an area where

a lot of companies are trying to

innovate is this an area where there are

lessons to be learned from that and ways

to accelerate Technologies to the

battlefield uh absolutely first of all

that I think is about our 165th attack

on um us using those sorts of techniques

largely U uh uas but a variety of

techniques um this one this one hit it

took three US service members and

wounded many

more um and that is absolutely

unacceptable to the United States and

and and um you know that's an issue that

is being worked very closely as I'm sure

those watching the news have seen um by

the president um it is an area we have

been very focused on counter us and yes

we absolutely know we need to continue

to evolve there so softwar driven

Ukraine more than anywhere else has

shown the pace the rapid pace of

iteration in terms of the development of

the Technologies and the capabilities

again a lot of its software there are

some other aspects um without the budget

it's very very hard for us um there are

great limitations on what we can do

Under A continuing resolution we have

some rapid acquisition authorities we

are using everything we have but there

just frankly limits to not having the

government functioning as it should and

we need that we need that um 2024 Budget

on replicator which you both acknowledge

there's a lot of excitement and also

questions about it it sounds like you're

committed to the August 2025 timeline

for it what is the metric for Success

when you get to that point what are the

concerns what are the things that would

say that didn't quite work out as we

planned or that worked out great how do

you measure that I think there are a

couple different measures the first is

did we meet that goal thousands multi-

doain across multiple domains in the

thousands in the timeline 18 to 24

months we know it's an aous goal we said

it at the beginning um I'm confident

we're doing um everything on track to

get there we're going to meet that goal

but the real uh payoff even though

that's real payoff to the war fighter if

you talk to the Indo paycom team they're

very excited by what we we hope to

deliver um the real payoff is you know

not trying to hack the system in one

particular way but to transform the

system at DOD replicator as I said is

the latest of our efforts it actually

quite very clearly for those who are

kind of following the game um building

on work we've done in Raider and cap

sorry to throw up more acronyms um but

that very clearly driving down the risk

burning down risk R for our processes

inside the building trying to identify

where we are in our own way or maybe

where there's some frozen middle issues

that get stuck so another aspect of

success beyond the immediate is are we

able to then take this bring it into

other areas and uh transform the system

to speed it up another thing you talked

about is just this tremendous level um

amount of private investment Venture

Capital going into defense um we

recently wrote about the1 billion that's

G in since

2021 but one of the concerns from those

companies and from those investors is

that it's not being matched yet by

acquisition dollars is that a concern

for you and how do we actually change

that yeah so first of all I think the

what I really would um hit that our

procurement budget request for 24 is is

you know the highest sec in the

peacetime you know era second highest in

the peace time era in 35 years um so

it's not that we don't have money going

into acquisition the question is what

are we acquiring and are we acquiring

what the war fighter needs and are we

acquiring everything we think the war

fighter needs well we've always had to

make hard choices there's no surprise

that we will continue to have to make

tradeoffs I think what I would stress is

as we um innovate and move through the

changing nature of warfare again shaping

that changing nature of warfare we know

so much of what is in that shift is

softwar defined um and is also could be

produced manufactured Ed much more

rapidly through um Advanced

manufacturing there are a lot of um

areas biotech I could think of others

that are driven right now by the

commercial sector so as we shift in the

nature of warfare there's more and more

opportunity for non- traditionals and

service providers to be a part of that

procurement story so lots of dollars

going to procurement that's not the

issue um the issue is are we able to buy

what we need and and are we thinking far

enough ahead to what the shape of

Warfare needs to be so what in that view

does the defense industrial base look

like and you know we could say 5 years

10 years time are there more than five

primes are there a dozen primes how does

that actually look in terms of of a

successful change in strategy I don't

think there's a predefinition of number

of primes I think the it is important to

have competition in the defense

industrial base there's no doubt about

it and we know um small business is a

huge driver of that pardon me so we work

very hard and trying to drive up the

percent that is coming uh percent of our

procurement and investment that is going

to those small

businesses with apologies uh but I don't

think I would try to guess here today

how many primes there would be I I think

the whole nature of what constitutes the

defense industrial base we need to shift

that that that mental model um the

American industrial base is the defense

industrial base we obviously have

traditional providers who we greatly

value we need them we need them to stay

at The Cutting Edge um and we continue

to work hard with them but but you know

it's very clear to everyone including

them that teaming with other parts of

the economy understanding the new areas

of innovation compute others um is

incredibly vital to Growing where we

need to go in defense you talked about

this long history of cooperation that

goes back decades between Silicon Valley

and the Pentagon there have also been

periods where there's been a rift um

most notably after the Vietnam War

period and then there was a big effort

to heal that Rift have we we've clearly

come a long way are there still issues

there um is there still a need to

overcome some of the hesitancy of tax

Silicon Valley to work with the Pentagon

or do you feel like we're pretty much

where we need to be I think that's a

constant um a constant refrain for us

and and we focus very much on as a

department across administrations you

know I think there has been a strong

focus on making sure that companies want

to work with us we know part of that is

making sure we represent the values of

the nation um and we we Lean Forward on

that um that's always been important for

the United States in terms of bringing

the commercial sector into work with

government so we continue to do that

today I don't think we are in a crisis

phase to use your Vietnam analogy and I

do think as I said in my remarks that

the PRC did a lot of that work by

comparison and the types of um uh both

their military activities and the types

of um coercive strategies they use

working with companies have done a lot

to turn others to looking to how you can

work with us um I will stress one area

that we've been very clear about is our

um AI responsible AI approach and a

responsible autonomy approach that's

decades long but we continue to evolve

it as the technology evolves we have

project Lima right now which is looking

at large language

models we you know safety is vital to

Effectiveness for us these aren't

trade-offs they are one in the same so

we look at how to adopt um Innovations

in a way that's safe for our war

Fighters and again reflective of

American values and we'll continue to do

that you actually preempted my next

question which is on uh Lima on that

task force looking at generative AI

where is it at what what what do you see

coming out of that what are the issues

it's looking at if you could expand on

that sure so they are looking at

hundreds of use cases um to identify

what are the right what's the right

framework for the Department this spring

is when that information comes forward

to the cdao and then to me and the

secretary thereafter so I anticipate

getting some feedback on where there are

use cases that are ready to go today if

there are those and other areas where we

need to do more more work but we work

closely with the with all the major um

generative AI you know providers and

wouldbe providers to make sure we're

lashed up we're very enthusiastic I

Astic to work with them we just have to

do it in a way that actually delivers

for the war

fighter um you spoke about both Ukraine

and then the Challenge from China um

there have been a lot of new

technologies deployed in Ukraine in some

ways it's been almost I think some

people have compared it to a test lab

for things like uavs for drones what are

some of the Lessons Learned um out of

that from your perspective of the

technologies that have been deployed

there sure I think um what I would

stress for the US really has been um the

proliferation of of space lower orbit

satellites in particular and

Communications that the commercial

sector really drove that's been a a

clear that ability to communicate and

and have uh Mass that's distributed has

paid off um I think when you look at

autonomy it's it's a more um mixed

picture in terms of exactly um how it

has evolved where it has provided

benefit and we take all of those lessons

away I think one piece that the United

States has an advantage on is is O over

other competitors is that when

Innovation happens down at the unit

level we know how to bring that up and

scale it we also need to make sure we do

that exceptionally well and

fast so that Tactical Innovations TTP

innovations that happen software

innovations that some very clever

Sergeant comes up with for instance

which you see in Ukraine all the time

that sort of is lifted up and

promulgated quickly AC Ross the force as

we go through Rapid iteration so I think

that's another lesson I would add and

then the last is Intel in general the

United States clearly has an advantage

in intelligence that's paid off

substantially um and to the extent that

we can help our partners with that in

this case Ukraine um that you know

that's an area we know is a strength to

build on that iter of process that you

talked about particularly coming down

from the Tactical level how do you get

that into the US system it's it's it's

an all Hands-On deck it comes at all

kinds of different levels we've really

um emphasized with the J War fighting

concept making sure that there's rapid

concept to experimentation to Fielding

that's our ridar initiative excuse me is

one of those areas where we've really

tried to highlight how do you quickly

take um a concept make sure you have the

right testing environment

experimentation environment the lab if

you will the substitute for Ukraine for

us the the the the experiment and

exercise realm for us out with our cooms

and you see a lot of that Innovation

going on today southcom centcom

indopacom others are doing a lot of that

work that's how we do it really make

sure we're testing it in the field with

the war fighter closely linked to the

technologist so the operator and the

technologist work together um to do that

rapid iteration a lot of this too is

again concept of employment so it's not

just technology it's about how do we use

that technology best and that's where we

really can Excel we have the most

incredible um military service members

um they are uh individuals who are um

incented to bring forward their best

that is definitely a different model

than authoritarian States it feels like

still sort of the um the biggest barrier

you talked about you know American

Ingenuity is where we have an advantage

over China it still very much feels like

our acquisition process is the 300 PB

gorilla can we get to where we need to

be without fundamentally reforming

defense department acquisition I think

we have to fundamentally reform defense

acquisition but we are down that path we

did have um the alternative acquisition

Pathways middle tier acquisition

Pathways for example we have to prove

those out um you know we have to show

that those Pathways software is one for

example we've already put billions of

dollars through that software

acquisition pathway now we have to show

our our um oversight committees that we

can deliver through those alternate

Pathways because there is a different

oversight model built into those and

it's really about trust between Congress

and the executive branch to prove out

that we can do good things with these

tools that they've given us so that's

why we've been so focused in this

Administration on taking all those

Authority changes showing we can make we

can advance against them replicators an

example of that and then where we can

build that trust I think there's more

opportunity to expand our authori so yes

we need acquisition reform we're in

acquisition reform now and we need to

build trust as we go through that

turning back to replicator for a moment

since you mentioned it um so there have

been specific capabilities that have

been selected when do you think we'll

learn about specific systems so the

systems we are talking to Congress about

um uh in in the immediate uh so we're

having those conversations right now at

the system level um expect to have um

those uh uh and we've been working with

sorry let me step back and say we've

been already working with Congress they

know it's coming the system level

information comes forward in the next

several days as I said in my um remarks

um when you'll know about them at the

system level is a different issue we

have a classification guidance we're

working through it is not unusual for

the defense department to keep some

aspects of the systems that we are

pursuing at a classified level it

doesn't mean that we are hiding them and

we work very closely with Congress

there's nothing hidden from Congress

they have to approve all of that funding

um so we'll work closely with them and

more to follow in terms of what we'll

share publicly great are you surprised

where we are now with with tech and

Silicon Valley compared to five years

ago I am I I think it is it is a marker

for what's happened I think in broader

world events I think um there's uh more

ability to see how you as an individual

innovator or investor can contribute to

the uh you know to the American

Experience to American dynamism dare I

say um and more concern about what the

alternative might hold we've seen that

in Hong Kong we've seen that elsewhere

and I think that more than anything has

brought to mind what the risks are for

uh falling behind it's a great way to

wrap up thank you so much right

[Applause]

thanks