Posted on Dec 4, 2024
America's Next Moonshot: Building a Talent Innovation Base for National Security
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At a time when headlines are focused on tech competition with China, America has the opportunity to unleash its greatest strategic advantage – its innovative talent.
The next presidential administration has a historic opportunity to revolutionize how we attract, develop, and deploy America's best minds in service of our nation. The foundation is already in place:
Innovative entities in our government, such as the Defense Innovation Unit, have the authority and standing to integrate more of our nation into solving our most critical defense problems. And our private sector continues to attract the world's most creative minds.
Now it's time to connect these strengths through bold action.
First, establish an Office of National Talent Strategy within the Executive Office of the President. This is not just another bureaucratic initiative – it would be America's talent accelerator – designed to slash hiring times from over 90 days to 9 days, streamline security clearances, and create pathways between the private sector and government service. Imagine a system in which our brightest minds can seamlessly transition between innovative startups to solving our nation’s most pressing national security challenges.
Second, launch a National Security Innovation Corps – call it a modern-day Manhattan Project for talent. The Innovation Corps would offer competitive salaries, rapid advancement opportunities, and the chance to work on projects that genuinely impact national security. Think of it as a Y Combinator for national defense – but with the full backing of the federal government.
The costs for these initiatives are modest compared to the returns. Such an investment would be less than what we spend on a single military aircraft but could transform the very nature of warfare itself through innovative solutions.
China's civ-mil fusion approach and intellectual property theft reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how innovation truly works. Real breakthroughs come not from forced collaboration or stolen ideas but developing talent and innovative platforms and then fully enabling the pursuit of ambitious goals with the resources and freedom they need to succeed. This is where America excels, and it is why a comprehensive talent strategy is needed in this competition with China.
The next administration can implement this vision within its first year in office:
• Month 1-3: Establish the Office of National Talent Strategy.
• Month 4-6: Launch programs for rapid hiring and talent exchanges.
• Month 6-12: Roll out the new pay scales for tech talent.
This is not just about filling government positions; it is about creating a new model for national service in the digital age. Imagine a future where the best computer scientists see national security as their most exciting career option, where entrepreneurs view government service as a natural part of their journey, and where technical experts can freely move between sectors while working on our nation's most critical challenges.
The technology race with China is not just about semiconductors and artificial intelligence; it is about creating an environment where talent and innovation naturally flourish. With the right policies and investments, we can ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs happen right here in the United States – driven by American innovation and powered by American talent.
This is America's next great moonshot.
Dr. Alex Gallo is a US Army Veteran and author of “Vetspective,” a RallyPoint series that
discusses national security, foreign policy, politics, and society and highlights the analysis of
thought-leaders, policy analysts, and scholars. Alex is a Senior Vice President with NobleReach
Foundation. He also serves as a fellow with George Mason University’s National Security
Institute and an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University.
Follow him on Twitter at @AlexGalloUSA.
The next presidential administration has a historic opportunity to revolutionize how we attract, develop, and deploy America's best minds in service of our nation. The foundation is already in place:
Innovative entities in our government, such as the Defense Innovation Unit, have the authority and standing to integrate more of our nation into solving our most critical defense problems. And our private sector continues to attract the world's most creative minds.
Now it's time to connect these strengths through bold action.
First, establish an Office of National Talent Strategy within the Executive Office of the President. This is not just another bureaucratic initiative – it would be America's talent accelerator – designed to slash hiring times from over 90 days to 9 days, streamline security clearances, and create pathways between the private sector and government service. Imagine a system in which our brightest minds can seamlessly transition between innovative startups to solving our nation’s most pressing national security challenges.
Second, launch a National Security Innovation Corps – call it a modern-day Manhattan Project for talent. The Innovation Corps would offer competitive salaries, rapid advancement opportunities, and the chance to work on projects that genuinely impact national security. Think of it as a Y Combinator for national defense – but with the full backing of the federal government.
The costs for these initiatives are modest compared to the returns. Such an investment would be less than what we spend on a single military aircraft but could transform the very nature of warfare itself through innovative solutions.
China's civ-mil fusion approach and intellectual property theft reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how innovation truly works. Real breakthroughs come not from forced collaboration or stolen ideas but developing talent and innovative platforms and then fully enabling the pursuit of ambitious goals with the resources and freedom they need to succeed. This is where America excels, and it is why a comprehensive talent strategy is needed in this competition with China.
The next administration can implement this vision within its first year in office:
• Month 1-3: Establish the Office of National Talent Strategy.
• Month 4-6: Launch programs for rapid hiring and talent exchanges.
• Month 6-12: Roll out the new pay scales for tech talent.
This is not just about filling government positions; it is about creating a new model for national service in the digital age. Imagine a future where the best computer scientists see national security as their most exciting career option, where entrepreneurs view government service as a natural part of their journey, and where technical experts can freely move between sectors while working on our nation's most critical challenges.
The technology race with China is not just about semiconductors and artificial intelligence; it is about creating an environment where talent and innovation naturally flourish. With the right policies and investments, we can ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs happen right here in the United States – driven by American innovation and powered by American talent.
This is America's next great moonshot.
Dr. Alex Gallo is a US Army Veteran and author of “Vetspective,” a RallyPoint series that
discusses national security, foreign policy, politics, and society and highlights the analysis of
thought-leaders, policy analysts, and scholars. Alex is a Senior Vice President with NobleReach
Foundation. He also serves as a fellow with George Mason University’s National Security
Institute and an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University.
Follow him on Twitter at @AlexGalloUSA.
Edited 2 mo ago
Posted 2 mo ago
Responses: 8
SGT James Murphy
PVT (Join to see) - Nothing against the Space Force but I'm pretty sure that the Army Scouts could have handled it.
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So NASA prepares for another Lunar Mission, while Space X prepares to go to Mars. Seems like someone missed the boat.
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