As our national security establishment looks to startups to create expensive new hardware capabilities like hypersonics and autonomous drones, it’s worth looking at the mindsets that drive risk taking in the private sector. The military mind is slow to change, but lessons from decades of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists could inform how our people can be leveraged to make the best use of whatever tech emerges on the battlefield.

Biography:

Ben is a former F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot and founder of both the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum and the United States Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations Rapid Innovation Cell. He was also one of the first reserve military officers within the Defense Innovation Unit, Experimental. While at Stanford University, Ben also participated in the first Hacking 4 Defense course. He is now at a leading management consultant firm advising numerous defense-related organizations.