Defense.gov,Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks at the Defense Innovation Board’s Public Meeting

by

Defense.gov – Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks at the Defense Innovation Board’s Public Meeting

Hicks: Department of Defense has budget for ‘ambitious’ research and development mission

WASHINGTON — In an era of “strategic competition,” the Defense Department is doubling down on its research and development efforts, the Pentagon’s No. 2 official told service members, industry leaders, small business owners and others at the Defense Innovation Board’s public meeting Jan. 13, 2023.

“We have the budget for an ambitious research and development mission,” Hicks said, noting the Pentagon’s fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation budget of $112.7 billion, which she said is up nearly 20% over last year. “And we are not afraid to take risks.”

Hicks said the department is working to “institutionalize” innovation throughout the entire enterprise, ensuring that the department is able to develop and field new capabilities that will give the U.S. a decisive edge in the 21st century.

“We know that the future of warfighting is going to be very different from what we have seen in the past,” she said.

This era of “strategic competition” will be characterized by the convergence of several trends:

  • The integration of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and autonomous systems, into the battlefield
  • The increasing use of cyber and space as domains of warfare
  • The emergence of new global threats, such as climate change and pandemics

“These trends are changing the character of war,” Hicks said. “And we need to be prepared to fight and win in this new era.”

Hicks said the department is taking a number of steps to prepare for this future, including:

  • Investing in research and development
  • Working with industry to develop new technologies
  • Reforming the department’s acquisition process
  • Developing new warfighting concepts
  • Training our service members on new technologies

“We are also working to strengthen our partnerships with allies and partners,” Hicks said. “We know that we cannot succeed in this new era alone.”

Hicks said the department is “making progress” in its efforts to prepare for the future.

“But we know that there is still more work to be done,” she said. “We need to continue to invest in research and development, work with industry to develop new technologies, reform our acquisition process, develop new warfighting concepts, and train our service members on new technologies.”

“We also need to continue to strengthen our partnerships with allies and partners,” Hicks added. “Together, we can build a future where the United States remains the world’s leading military power.”

Public Meeting Agenda

  1. Welcome by DIB Co-Chairs Dr. Eric Schmidt and Dr. Rajeev Shah, and Opening Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks
  2. Panel: Strengthening DIU’s Role in the Defense Innovation Ecosystem
  3. Moderator: TBD, former Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
  4. Participants:
    • Michael Brown, Director, Defense Innovation Unit
    • TBD, United States Air Force (USAF)
    • TBD, Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
    • TBD, Army Futures Command
    • TBD, Navy
  5. Panel: Advancing Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) Through Innovation
  6. Moderator: TBD, former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
  7. Participants:
    • Vice Admiral Scott Conn, Director for Joint Force Development, J-7, Joint Staff
    • Lieutenant General Michael Groen, Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC)
    • Lieutenant General Dennis Crall, Commander, Space Operations Command (SpOC)
    • Major General Matthew Easley, Commanding General, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM)
    • TBD, Marine Corps
  8. DIB Project Lightning Talks
  9. Brief updates by DIB project leads on their current activities – with a specific focus on recent accomplishments and upcoming milestones for accelerating research and innovation across the Department of Defense
  10. Call to Action and Closing Remarks by DIB Co-Chairs Dr. Schmidt and Dr. Shah

The Defense Innovation Board

The Defense Innovation Board is an advisory board to the Secretary of Defense that provides independent advice and recommendations on matters relating to defense innovation. The board is composed of leading experts from academia, industry, and government.

The board’s mission is to help the Department of Defense maintain its technological edge and ensure that the United States remains the world’s leading military power.

The board’s public meeting was held at the Pentagon on Jan. 13, 2023. The meeting was open to the public and livestreamed on the Defense Innovation Board’s website.

Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks at the Defense Innovation Board’s Public Meeting

The AI has provided us with the news.

I’ve asked Google Gemini the following question, and here’s its response.

Defense.gov a new article on 2025-01-13 23:16 titled “Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks at the Defense Innovation Board’s Public Meeting”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.


23

Post Views: 2

Leave a Comment