Kathleen Hicks

Kathleen Hicks, the United States Deputy Secretary of Defense with extensive experience in defense policy, discusses vital military innovations and the deep ties between defense and technology. She highlights how the DoD is adapting to modern warfare through ethical AI practices and collaboration with the tech sector. The conversation touches on strategies for enhancing military readiness, the importance of reforming defense acquisition processes, and lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict, all while emphasizing a vision for responsible technological integration.

Kathleen Hicks, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense and currently a senior fellow at Harvard and Johns Hopkins, discusses the challenges within America’s defense industrial base. She highlights the shift from government-led efforts to commercial R&D and the rising influence of tech firms. Hicks addresses critical workforce shortages, the fragility of supply chains, and the implications of military readiness in a competitive global landscape. The conversation also explores innovative approaches to munitions production and the necessity of adapting to modern warfare dynamics.