FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Accelerating Military Technology

Original title: ACCELERATING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO MEET EMERGING THREATS

January 1, 2020

defense technology military research national security defense acquisition innovation

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing addresses the Department of Defense's strategy to maintain technological superiority against global competitors by streamlining the process of turning research into usable military equipment.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Defense

The agency is tasked with implementing new approaches to bridge the gap between research and operational fielding.

U.S. Warfighters

These personnel are the intended end-users of the new technologies discussed in the hearing.

Defense Contractors and Research Labs

These entities are involved in the development and transition of technologies into the military supply chain.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2020.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities held a hearing to discuss how the Department of Defense can more quickly move new technologies from research labs to the battlefield. The discussion focused on overcoming bureaucratic and structural barriers, often called the ',' that prevent new innovations from reaching military personnel.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on April 18, 2018, in the Russell Senate Office Building.
The subcommittee focused on the 'valley of death,' defined as the gap between the research/engineering community and the acquisition community.
Key technologies identified for development include artificial intelligence, robotics, hypersonics, biotechnology, and directed energy.
The National Defense Strategy identifies rapid technological advancement as a defining factor in the character of modern warfare.
Michael D. Griffin serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the Department of Defense.
The subcommittee is examining barriers to technology transfer, including funding, legal, regulatory, and cultural obstacles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 'valley of death' in military technology?

It refers to the difficulty of transitioning a new technology from the research and engineering phase into the phase where it is actually fielded as an operational system.

What is the role of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering?

The position acts as the Chief Technology Officer for the Department of Defense, tasked with sustaining and expanding U.S. technological superiority.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on Acquisition Reform

The hearing highlights a shift in focus from pure research to the structural challenges of transitioning technology into operational use.

Department of Defense Michael D. Griffin

Connected Entities

organizationStrategic Capabilities Office“DOD organization focused on rapid technology fielding”Map →

organizationDepartment of Defense“The federal department responsible for military research and acquisition”Map →

personMartin Heinrich“Senator and member of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities”Map →

personMichael D. Griffin“Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering”Map →

organizationDARPA“Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency”Map →

personJoni Ernst“Senator and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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