There are frequent discussions about how the military should draw from the nation’s commercial innovation base to gain an advantage for the U.S., especially regarding the application of artificial intelligence. Too often, the conversations lament missed opportunities, valleys of death, and painful contracting or other DOD processes. But positive stories are starting to emerge, and the case of the 18th Airborne’s Scarlet Dragon Exercise and the Maven Smart System (MSS) is an instance where frontline Army leaders and a coalition of technology companies—enabled by Pentagon leadership and policies—pursued and developed a new technology that is having a meaningful impact on operations.
The Center for Security and Emerging Technology hosted an event on Thursday, August 29, 2024, discussing how technology companies and the operating forces came together to prototype and build a substantial new capability for the U.S. Army. The event also explored how MSS and Scarlet Dragon served as a case study in prototyping to accelerate government adoption of AI.
![Panel on Scaling Software and AI for the Department of Defense](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Panel-2-Image-1.jpg)
Recording
Panelists
Keynote
![VADM Brad Cooper](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Brad-Cooper-1-700x673.png)
VADM Brad Cooper
Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command
Panel on Developing Software and AI for the Department of Defense
![](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Jason-Brown-1-700x673.png)
Jason Brown
General Manager, Government at Applied Intuition Defense
![](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Aki-Jain-1-Updated-700x673.png)
Aki Jain
Chief Technology Officer, Palantir
![](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Joe-Larson-1-700x673.png)
Joe Larson
SVP and Chief of Staff, Anduril
![Colonel Joe O’Callaghan, USA](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Joe-Callahan-1-700x673.png)
Colonel Joe O’Callaghan, USA
AI Fires Officer, 18th Airborne Corps
Moderated By:
![Emelia Probasco](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Emmy-Probasco-1-700x673.png)
Emelia Probasco
Senior Fellow, Center for Security and Emerging Technology
Panel on Scaling Software and AI for the Department of Defense
![Doug Beck](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Doug-Beck-1-700x673.png)
Doug Beck
Director, Defense Innovation Unit
![Margie Palmieri](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Margie-Palmieri-1-700x673.png)
Margie Palmieri
Deputy Director, Chief Digital and AI Office
![](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/VADM-Frank-Whitworth-1.1-700x673.png)
VADM Frank Whitworth, USN
Director, National Geospatial Agency
![Bob Work](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Bob-Work-1-700x673.png)
The Honorable Bob Work
Former Deputy Secretary of Defense
Moderated By:
![](https://cset.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Christine-Fox-700x673.png)
The Honorable Christine Fox
Senior Fellow, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Agenda
- 1:00 Welcome
- 1:15 Keynote with VADM Brad Cooper, Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command
- 2:00 Developing Software and AI for DOD applications panel
- 3:00 Scaling Software and AI for DOD applications
- 4:00 Reception
Space is limited. Register to attend in person here.
RSVP to view online here. A recording of the session will be made available on CSET’s website following the event. Please RSVP to receive a follow-up note with links.
We hope you will join us!
This event will have live closed captioning. For all other accommodation requests, please email cset@georgetown.edu. A good-faith effort will be made to fulfill requests. Please note that this event has been designed to comply with House and Senate ethics rules.