The Agile CEO Breaking Calcified Bureaucracy with Daniel P. Driscoll, Secretary of the U.S. Army | The Agile CEO by Scrum Inc.
Sep 16, 2025
In a riveting conversation, Daniel P. Driscoll, the youngest Secretary of the Army, shares insights from his ambitious initiative to modernize the military. He discusses the urgency for transformation in response to evolving warfare and technology. Driscoll highlights how Agile principles dismantle outdated structures, advocating for fast, feedback-driven teams. He details challenges in reallocating funds and overcoming entrenched incentives that hinder change. With a focus on agile leadership and immediate actions for soldiers, this discussion offers a fascinating look at reforming a colossal institution.
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War Has Entered A New Technological Inflection
- Technology and cheap scalable tools like drones have changed how wars are fought and invalidate many legacy tactics.
- The Army must adapt urgently because threats can now come from any direction and non-state actors can deploy powerful tools.
Military Lags Commercial Tech
- The U.S. is behind commercial tech and must close the gap to compete with pacing threats like China.
- Bureaucratic IT and slow systems illustrate how far the military lags the private sector.
Political Window Demands Rapid Action
- Political support gives a narrow window to act quickly and reallocate resources.
- Driscoll frames urgency as months or quarters, not years or decades.
