Last week I closed out a 36-year career in the @usairforce. Over the past four years I had the privilege and honor of standing up and leading Project Maven and @DoDJAIC. A few thoughts on AI for @DeptofDefense. (1/16)

Like the @AiCommission, I am convinced that AI is critical to national security. It has the ability to have affect every single aspect of @DeptofDefense. From the battlespace to the back office. From undersea to @SpaceForceDoD and @US_CYBERCOM. (2/16)

Yet within the US, despite the best AI R&D in the world @DeptofDefense is playing from a position of disadvantage when it comes to fielding AI-enabled capabilities. We must move faster. (3/16)

I was proud to lead @DoDJAIC, but I readily acknowledged my own technical limitations. We must grow the next generation of AI-smart senior leaders starting today. (4/16)

I worked with incredibly talented people from @usairforce, @USNavy, @USArmy, @USMC, @USCG, @NationalGuard, @DoD_CIO, @WHOSTP, @DIU_x, @NSIN_us, and our allies and partners. Officers, enlisted, civilians, Guard/Reserves, contractors. (5/16)

The @DeptofDefense AI talent base exists. I worked with many AI superstars like @MichaelJKanaan, @jasonmbro, and @1775Dave. But there’s not enough of them. Advancing national security through AI depends on government, industry, and academia working closer together ways. (6/16)

There are a number of commercial AI companies, academic institutions, VCs, and Think Tanks who have been willing and eager to work with @DeptofDefense. Thank-you for helping us! We could not have succeeded without you. (7/16)

Others are much more reluctant to partner with @DeptofDefense on AI for national security. For various reasons. If this is your stance, I understand completely. But I also ask you to reconsider your position. (8/16)

Rather than standing on the outside looking in, ready to criticize @DeptofDefense for AI-related mistakes, I humbly suggest you can help shape the future of @DoDJAIC for the better. (9/16)

While I might not have always agreed with the criticism we received over the past few years, I listened to all of it. (10/16)

I knew we did not have all the right or best answers. I always wanted to hear from those who have been working on AI for their entire careers to help us improve how we approached fielding AI-enabled capabilities @DoDJAIC. (11/16)

Every single voice mattered to me, and to everyone I worked with @DoDJAIC every day. (12/16)

During my time @DoDJAIC we were as serious about AI ethics, policies, T&E/V&V, outreach, protection, and strategy as we were about technology and product. That will never change. (13/16)

But it was an exceedingly difficult task at times when one hand was tied behind our backs. (14/16)

Forging new partnerships with all of those who represent industry, academia, and allies & partners will be instrumental in ensuring @DeptofDefense fields AI-enabled capabilities in safe, responsible, lawful, and ethical ways. (15/16)

I will be eternally appreciative for the opportunities I had during the past 4 years to accelerate AI fielding. I will be even more grateful when I know we are all working closer together towards a common vision for our AI-enabled national security. Thanks for listening. (16/x)