In his first public appearance in the role, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Michael Kratsios joins CSET Founding Director Jason Matheny for a combination of discussion and prepared remarks in an event entitled, “U.S. Tech Leadership in an Era of Competition.”
Remarks and Discussion
An official Department of Defense transcript of Under Secretary Kratsios’ remarks can be found here.
Participants
Michael J.K. Kratsios is the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. He is the Department’s Chief Technology Officer and is responsible for the research, development, and prototyping activities across the DoD enterprise, and is mandated with ensuring technological superiority for the Department of Defense. He oversees the activities of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Innovation Unit, the DoD Laboratory enterprise, and the Under Secretariat staff focused on developing advanced technology and capability for the U.S. military. Michael is also the Chief Technology Officer of the United States. He advises President Donald J. Trump on a broad range of technology policy issues and drives United States technology priorities and strategic initiatives. He has led the development and execution of the Administration’s National technology policy agenda since 2017. Under his leadership, the White House launched important National initiatives and strategic plans for artificial intelligence, quantum computing, 5G and broadband communications, autonomous vehicles, commercial drones, STEM education, and advanced manufacturing. Michael is responsible for architecting the American AI Initiative, standing up the National Quantum Coordination Office, and launching of the COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium.
Jason Matheny is Founding Director of Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET). Previously he was Assistant Director of National Intelligence, and Director of IARPA, responsible for the development of breakthrough technologies for the U.S. intelligence community. Before IARPA, he worked at Oxford University, the World Bank, the Applied Physics Laboratory, the Center for Biosecurity, and Princeton University, and was the co-founder of two biotechnology companies. Jason is a member of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the National Academies’ Intelligence Community Studies Board; is a recipient of the Intelligence Community’s Award for Individual Achievement in Science and Technology, the National Intelligence Superior Service Medal, and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers; and was named one of Foreign Policy’s “Top 50 Global Thinkers.” He has served on various White House committees related to artificial intelligence, biosecurity, high-performance computing, and quantum information science. He co-led the National AI R&D Strategic Plan released by the White House in 2016 and was a member of the White House Select Committee on AI, created in 2018.
Media Coverage
New Pentagon Tech Chief Emphasizes Commercial Technologies, Working With Startups, Inside Defense, August 13, 2020
New Pentagon Tech Chief to Focus on Improving Project Coordination, Defense News, August 13, 2020
A Plan to Turn Military Bases Into ‘Sandboxes’ for 5G, Wired, August 13, 2020
Pentagon’s New Research Chief Outlines Priorities, Calls for International Engagement, MeriTalk, August 14, 2020
Peter Thiel’s Former Chief of Staff Now Has a $60 Billion Pentagon Budget, OneZero, August 14, 2020