Cyber (Formerly Information and Communications Technology) Dec. 17, 2019

Cyber Domain and Advanced Computing

The United States is in a great power competition that is increasingly fueled by an information revolution within the ever-evolving cyber domain. To enable future leaders and policy-makers to prevail in this domain, the Eisenhower School’s Cyber Domain / Advanced Computing Industry Study (IS) examined key information technologies (IT), including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, commercial cloud, and quantum computing. The U.S. Government should increase its partnerships with academia and private industry as a triple helix of intertwined equities and investments. Doing so will stimulate economic growth, address threats, and develop human capital. U.S. leadership is needed to encourage and enact effective cyber legislation and policies to protect citizens. Such a strategic approach enables development of a cyber-savvy culture and society capable of nurturing international cyber norms and fostering global cooperation.

Artificial Intelligence (Formerly Emerging Technology) May 31, 2019

Emerging Technology Industry Study

2019 Antonelli Award Winner: This paper provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities that emerging technology has for the United States (U.S.) National Security and for national competitive advantage. Emerging technology comes from innovation and research in universities, government research labs, and private industry. New technology has always been central to the Department of Defense (DoD), and, traditionally, much of the new technology was developed throughout the government, giving the DoD early and direct access to the most cutting-edge technological advances. What has changed recently is that emerging technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), is now being developed and adopted first by private companies for the commercial market. Meanwhile, as the DoD struggles to identify, adopt, and field emerging technology to warfighters, China’s civil-military fusion policies provide its military direct access to new technology. This paper examines the implications of the U.S.’s and China’s contrasting approaches to innovation. To innovate while proactively protecting and preserving the existing system, the U.S. should work with allies and partners to invest in education and vocational training; promote policies to encourage technology clusters; promote business-friendly regulations; and use national security requirements to encourage innovation for defense applications. Simply put, it is imperative that the U.S. establishes and maintains an AI advantage in order to ensure favorable and sustainable conditions for technological innovation.

C4ISR March 23, 2019

Command, Control, Computers Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR)

This is the first year Command, Control, Computers Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) is an Eisenhower School Industry Study. The specific focus for academic year 2018-2019 was Air Force C4ISR. The Air Force focused approach fostered broad insights about how the Department of Defense should engage with industry. This study defines C4ISR as an integrated operational capability supported by a myriad of technologies and industries. The guiding study question was: How does the DoD better enable the defense industrial base to exploit emerging C4ISR technologies in order to maintain a competitive advantage in an era of great power competition? In answer to this question, this report offers four interrelated propositions. First, it argues that four relevant industries: 1) Aerospace and Defense, 2) Information Technology (IT) Hardware, 3) IT Services, and 4) Software are healthy and capable of meeting the Department’s requirements. This leads to the second point; the locus of effort must start with the Department’s uncoordinated and archaic interactions with these industries. Next, the report argues that outdated DoD business practices restrict product innovation, inhibit industrial base growth, and stymie human capital improvement. Finally, this report argues that Air Force and DoD must embrace new modalities, business practices, technologies, and policies to think differently about C4ISR. Based on these four propositions, this report offers the seven key recommendations listed on the next two pages.