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Applied Innovation for National Security: Theory & Practice

Virtual & UT Campus | $8,500-$12,500

  • Build a National Security Innovation Base

    The current pace of innovation threatens national security. According to the Department of Defense, maturation and integration of critical emerging technologies is vital to maintaining the United States' national security. The national security enterprise faces three significant obstacles to success. Learn about these obstacles and a model for addressing them, the Materiel Innovation Pipeline.

Upcoming Sessions

There are no sessions of this course scheduled at this time. Please join our 'interest list' below to express your interest in the course, and stay informed on scheduling and updates.

What You'll Learn

3 Obstacles to Success in the National Security Enterprise

The national security enterprise faces three significant obstacles to success:

  1. We have no way of knowing what specific systems or capabilities to develop, because we cannot predict how, when, where, or who we will fight.
  2. Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians do not understand these emerging technologies or how they will impact the conduct of warfare.
  3. The Defense Acquisition System lacks the agility to quickly develop and integrate emerging technology.

 

The Materiel Innovation Pipeline

Learn a method called the Materiel Innovation Pipeline.

  • Learn to apply the model in various materiel innovation and technology scenarios: hardware, software, stand-alone solutions, integrated solutions, etc.
  • Identify weaknesses and unproven components of the model
  • Conduct research and deliver findings on your identified topic (capstone)

 

How to Apply Materiel Innovation in Real-Life Scenarios

  • Identify a Capstone topic that addresses a deficiency in the Defense Innovation System and advances the field of materiel innovation
  • Research the Capstone topic and validate your thesis through SME-moderated, cross-functional peer seminar groups
  • Write a publishable issue paper presenting your research findings, and present those findings to the cohort

 

Attending this Course

  • Participants

    Professionals in the materiel enterprise looking for knowledge, tools, and references to build the National Security Innovation Base.
  • Course

    Learn and apply the Materiel Innovation Pipeline in various technology scenarios.
  • Capstone

    Identify, research, and validate a proposal to advance the field of materiel innovation.

Core Concepts

Gain the knowledge, tools, and references you will need to build the National Security Innovation Base.

National security innovation is a process not a product

Simply stated, if we cannot predict the next major conflict, and given the rapid pace of technology change, how can the Defense Acquisition System possibly equip a force today for an unknown tomorrow? The answer is that it cannot, so rather than a product, the Defense Innovation System must necessarily deliver a process that is repeatable, scalable and sustainable.

20,000 solution providers are better than 20

A small number of Defense Industrial Base companies capture the vast majority of all DoD spending. At the same time, venture capital investments are exploding year-over-year, and specifically, investments in emerging technologies considered critical to national security. Venture backed technology startups are the core of the innovation base.

 

Do not try to turn technology startups into defense industry companies

The flywheel of innovation depends on a continued flow of venture capital. Venture capital depends on returns – those Startups successfully converting innovation into products that capture market share. If we divert startups too far from their commercial product roadmap and go-to-market plan, we risk their growth. Do it too many times, and we risk the dual-use investor thesis altogether.

 

The Defense Acquisition System and the Defense Innovation System can work together, and they must work together

This statement is more theory than model, making Applied Innovation for National Security something of an applied research practicum. The Defense Innovation System has proven the ability to attract and qualify Startups, develop, and validate use cases, and build and prove prototypes. This pipeline of materiel innovation must connect to the Defense Acquisition System in order for us to integrate, scale, and deploy those solutions in a repeatable, scalable, and sustainable way.

 

Course Schedule

View course dates and details on the two attendance options.

Instructors

  • Kevin Landtroop
    Headshot of TEE faculty member Kevin Landtroop.
    Kevin Landtroop

    Dual-use Technology Expert

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  • Joseph Kopser
    Headshot of TEE faculty member Joseph Kosper
    Joseph Kopser

    Special Advisor for Military Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin

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  • Reimbursement Options

    Learn more about course credits and options for course reimbursement. Get tips on the best way to approach your manager and download a customizable template to facilitate making the ask.
  • Course Location

    In person courses take place at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center and adjoining Rowling Hall on the UT campus in Austin. These world-class facilities provide a comfortable and convenient learning environment, with direct access to the 40 acres of campus and within walking distance of downtown Austin. Live online and on-demand course options are available for many courses.

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