Modern Warfare & 100 Combat Missions w/ Cryptologist JL Hancock (#68)

I have always been fascinated by how and why someone enlists in military service, and even more so by hearing the details of logistics and interpersonal dynamics in missions and training. There are an uncountable number of books and movies on the topic, but getting one-on-one time with someone as experienced as my guest is a first for me and it did not disappoint.  J.L. Hancock is the Former lead innovator for the U.S. Special Operations community, now turned thrilling fiction author of The Hawk Enigma.  It was in 2002, when JL enlisted in the Navy and spent twenty years as a cryptologist. During his military service, Jim toiled in the dark corners of the government intelligence communities, learned two Asian languages, and eventually conducted over one hundred combat operations with special operations forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Philippines.  Over the last six years of his career, JL worked as the senior enlisted advisor on future concepts and innovation for the Navy special operations community. He became a well-known subject matter expert in unmanned systems, 5G, and artificial intelligence.

Today we will dive into all things military intelligence, how robotics might end us all, the growing problem with political misinformation and how JL came up with the plot for his book. 

Takeaways

• The catalyst for J.L. Hancock's decision to enlist in the military was the 9/11 attacks.
• As a linguist and cryptologist, J.L. worked closely with special operations units and conducted over 100 combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Philippines.
• J.L. emphasizes the importance of adaptability and trust in his role as a linguist, as well as the challenges of working with different personalities. He shares a mission example that highlights the stress of relying on technology and the need for quick thinking and problem-solving.
• In his role as an innovator, J.L. focused on seeking out emerging technologies and navigating the military's acquisition process. Funding for projects in the military often comes from combatant commands and is allocated by Congress.
• Artificially intelligent drones have the potential to mitigate risk in combat and civilian scenarios.
• Misinformation and the impact of social media on shaping ideologies are major concerns.
• AI and robotics have exciting potential but need to be used ethically and with consideration for human intuition and adaptability.

KNOW MORE KNOW LESS PODCAST

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Listen here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/know-more-know-less/id1652659219

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2fxCXp5AlfajmcTgvSWSGl?si=87be920940534299

For full episodes and clips: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4wkMATGEXMTU4Xrw-YZTA