The "Future Forces: Building a Diversity of Competitive Tech Talent for Defense" panel at TruCon 2024 examined the critical importance of fostering a diverse and competitive tech talent pool for defense in an era defined by rapid technological advancements and evolving security challenges. Moderated by Brandi Vincent, Pentagon Correspondent for Defense Scoop, the panel highlighted efforts to upskill tech talent within the intelligence community, national security agencies, and academia, emphasizing the use of real-time data trends to stay ahead in the tech domain.

Key Themes:

1. Early Exposure and Intersectional Data: Dr. Stacey Dixon, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, emphasized the significance of early exposure to intelligence and tech careers for high school and college students. Dr. Dixon highlighted the barriers faced by people in particular demographics and urged professionals to engage with students and inspire future generations. “It’s important to find your network…of allies,” she said. “Not everyone has that, and we want everyone to have the same experience, no matter their demographic.”
2. Role of Educational Institutions: Dr. Darryll Pines, President of the University of Maryland, underscored the pivotal role of educational institutions in supporting national security. He emphasized the importance of STEM-related programs in high schools and universities as pathways to the intelligence community and the Department of Defense, and announced that the University of Maryland received a contract with a $500 million ceiling from the Department of Defense to support the University’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security, adding that at the University “starting in the fall of this year, every student — there’s 41,000 — will have to take an artificial intelligence class, because we think it’s so transformative that it’ll affect every domain space.”
3. Supporting Underrepresented Communities: Maynard Holliday, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary for Defense for Critical Technologies at the Department of Defense, highlighted the importance of supporting historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). He addressed funding disparities and emphasized the need for increased investment in HBCUs to foster diversity in STEM fields: “​​When you’re in these environments where you are the ‘only,’ there’s an attraction when you see somebody of color walking around the spaces where normally they are not.” Holliday emphasized that diversity not only enhances innovation but also mitigates biases in technologies like AI that are crucial for national security.
4. Leveraging Diverse Talent: Dr. Jaret C. Riddick, Senior Fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology, emphasized the need to leverage diverse talent pools to maintain competitiveness in the global tech landscape: “For us in the United States, diversity has always been an asset. And now in this new competition with near-peer adversaries targeting this, we have a new reason to think about how we use this diversity as an asset.” He underscored the importance of robust metrics and investments in underdeveloped areas to address vulnerabilities and promote resilience. Dr. Riddick highlighted legislative mechanisms like the CHIPS Act as critical for amplifying diversity efforts and ensuring national security.

The "Future Forces" panel offered valuable insights and actionable recommendations for building a diverse and competitive tech talent pipeline for defense. By removing barriers, leveraging educational institutions, supporting underrepresented communities, and promoting diversity, stakeholders can ensure America's technological edge in the 21st century.

Written by Alexandria Johnson and Chris Aboukhaled