In the fight: Scaling AI/ML in defense with Colin Carroll
Dec 7, 2022
auto_awesome
Colin Carroll, Director of Government Relations at Applied Intuition and former Chief Operating Officer at the JAIC, discusses the challenges of scaling AI/ML in defense. Topics include Project Maven, urgency in defense acquisition, structure of AI/ML programs, DoD's data ownership, brittle AI/ML models, competition with GOTS software, and building a defense team at a tech company.
The Department of Defense should prioritize scaling up production of munitions rather than focusing on tech projects that are not working at scale yet.
There is a lack of understanding and collaboration between the Department of Defense and commercial industry, particularly in software development processes.
Reforming the acquisition process should incentivize traditional defense companies to invest in developing hardware with a software mindset, leveraging commercial software and capabilities in an enterprise approach.
Deep dives
The Need for Rapid Procurement of Munitions at Scale
Bill LaPlant emphasizes the importance of focusing on production and getting munitions into production at scale, rather than getting caught up in tech bro AI and quantum projects that are not working at scale yet. He highlights the urgency of having munitions ready for conflict and the need to work with companies that can deliver at scale immediately.
The Disconnect Between the Department of Defense and Commercial Industry
There is a lack of understanding within the Department of Defense about the scale and value that can be achieved through platforms developed by commercial companies. The department is more familiar with procuring hardware rather than understanding the software development process. There is a need for greater collaboration and understanding between the department and commercial industry to bridge this gap.
Reforming the Acquisition Process
Reforming the acquisition process should focus on incentivizing larger traditional defense companies to invest their own resources into developing hardware with a software mindset. This could be achieved through changes in laws and regulations to encourage independent research and development. The current system of multiple projects working on the same problem inefficiently should be replaced with an enterprise approach that leverages commercial software and capabilities.
The Importance of Building Enterprise Capabilities
To address the challenges and gaps within the Department of Defense, there is a need to build enterprise capabilities that are designed to fill existing requirements. This requires top-down leadership and a shift in mindset that prioritizes scalable solutions and efficient procurement processes. By centralizing efforts and investing in enterprise platforms, the department can better leverage the expertise and resources of commercial companies to meet its needs.
Importance of Technical Program Managers in Workforce Management
To effectively deliver capability in the Department of Defense, it is crucial to have technical program managers or project managers with a background in the specific areas they are working on, such as logistics, targeting, intelligence, and acquisition. These individuals should also have industry experience to ensure a thorough understanding of industry practices and standards. By hiring such individuals and involving them in writing requirements and RFPs, the department can leverage their expertise to work with industry partners who specialize in building the actual capability.
The Challenges of Integrated Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JAD-C2)
The current buzzword in the defense industry is JAD-C2, which refers to joint all-domain command and control. This concept aims to integrate command and control capabilities across different domains and services. However, the challenge lies in determining who leads and oversees the implementation of JAD-C2. Different agencies and branches of the military seem to have varying opinions on who should take charge. While progress is being made in some areas to incentivize service acquisition executives to deliver joint capabilities, there is still uncertainty at the joint level. Congress is considering the establishment of a joint program office, but the path forward is yet to be defined.
I was pleased to have Colin Carroll join me on the Acquisition Talk podcast to discuss the acquisition of machine learning in the Department of Defense. He is the Director of Government Relations at Applied Intuition, a company that enables autonomous vehicles through simulation development and validation. Before that, Colin had a number of positions including Chief Operating Officer at the JAIC, mission Integration Lead for Project Maven, and 10 years of active service in the Marine Corps.
2:30 -Project Maven started with Bob Work and 10 slides
6:30 - Everyone in the Pentagon's in the fight
10:30 - There's not yet an urgency like in 2009 with MRAP
12:30 - How JAIC operations differed from Project Maven
15:00 - DoD autonomy programs often have zero data
17:00 - How to structure AI/ML programs in DoD
19:00 - The Joint Common Foundations is no more
24:40 - Most DoD's data is owned by industry
27:00 - DoD is buying brittle AI/ML models
29:00 - Competing with GOTS software
31:00 - Separating HW acquisition from SW
37:00 - DoD's $2B AI/ML spending estimate likely high
42:00 - We don't win by reforming SBIR
59:20 - The buzzword of JADC2
1:05:16 - The idea behind Title 10 failed
1:09:50 - Force Design 2030 and the future fight
1:20:10 - How to build a defense team at a tech company
This podcast was produced by Eric Lofgren. You can follow me on Twitter @AcqTalk and find more information at https://AcquisitionTalk.com
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
