The Defense Department’s (DoD) highest ranking uniformed official emphasized this week that it’s vital for the military to stay ahead of the “tech curve” in order to meet emerging needs driven by adversaries.
Speaking at the Billington CyberSecurity Summit on Sept. 5, General CQ Brown, Jr., who is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscored the need for DoD to stay current with tech advancements and adapt to the evolving digital landscape.
“Adequate manufacturing and other factors have evolved, so it’s crucial that we keep pace with technology to effectively gather and utilize data for improvements,” Brown said.
And to “stay ahead of the tech curve,” DoD must collaborate with industry, he said.
The general focused on the need for DoD to collaborate with the tech industry, especially in the realm of digital transformation, “to address these challenges, focusing on developing low-cost capabilities and ensuring we have the commercial capacity to handle emerging threats like unmanned aerial vehicles.”
“We have to make sure that we are moving at that same pace,” Brown said. “As we look at digital transformation, it’s about integrating new tools with existing capabilities and investing in the tools we need to pursue.”
Collaboration with industry, he said, is also critically important to understanding what the technology landscape looks like outside of the walls of the Pentagon.
“We need to have a good understanding of what’s happening outside of [DoD], and we need to work closely and collaborate with industry to solve problems from both a technological and operational perspective,” Brown said. “It’s crucial to define the problems we’re trying to solve and engage those with the skills and innovation to provide solutions.”
Brown also highlighted the significance of training, retraining, and upskilling the military workforce, and ensuring they have the right tools and opportunities. He emphasized the need for the DoD to align with the technological advancements that shape daily life, and ensure that service members are not left behind by outdated systems.
“It’s important that we continue to provide the latest tools and opportunities to our workforce. We must keep pace with technology to ensure our service members are equipped to handle the challenges of today and tomorrow,” Brown said.
Specifically, Brown highlighted the need to begin recruiting “the next generation” of tech and defense leaders, and he said that effort begins with inspiration and education.
“We need to ensure that as we recruit the next generation, we offer them opportunities and resources to develop their skills,” Brown said. “Young people aspire to be what they see, so it’s vital that we provide the right tools and support to help them succeed.”
