Incentivizing Change in the DoD with Lt. Gen. (ret.) Jack Shanahan

This week, retired Lieutenant General Jack Shanahan, the first director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, joins Bonnie Evangelista to discuss the beginnings and momentum of the JAIC. They explore the challenges and hard work that paved the way for opportunities in AI and acquisition within the Department of Defense and the importance of building relationships, taking risks, replicating successes, and the ultimate goal of getting technology into the hands of warfighters. Tune in to hear Jack’s trailblazing journey in the DoD.

TIMESTAMPS:

(3:17) Why Project Maven was the “Big Bang” of AI at scale

(10:31) How the JAIC got started

(18:00) Letting go of what’s been done before

(20:12) How to empower your team to take risks

(24:04) Why incentive structures enable change

(27:21) The wake-up call the DoD needs

(30:01) How to build partnerships with startups

(33:12) Why you should have an obsession with the “customer”

LINKS:

Follow Jack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackntshanahan/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/