Winning the National Security AI Competition: A Practical Guide for Government and Industry Leaders

In introducing the National Security Commission on AI’s final report, Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, and Robert Work, former Deputy Secretary of Defense, wrote: “The human talent deficit is the government’s most conspicuous AI deficit and the single greatest inhibitor to buying, building, and fielding AI-enabled technologies for national security purposes.” Drawing upon three decades of leading hundreds of advanced analytics and AI programs and projects in government and industry, Chris Whitlock and Frank Strickland address in this book the primary variable in the talent deficit, i.e., large numbers of qualified AI leaders.

The book quickly moves from a case for action to leadership principles and practices for effectively integrating AI into programs and driving results in AI projects. The chapters convey 37 axioms – enduring truths for developing and deploying AI – and over 100 leader practices set among 50 cases and examples, 40 of which focus on AI in national security. Emphasizing its impact and practical nature, LTG (ret.) Ken Tovo, former commander of U.S. Army special forces, characterized the book as “the Ranger Handbook for AI implementation!”

Whether you are a senior or mid-level leader who lacks hands-on experience with AI, or an AI practitioner who lacks leadership experience, this book will equip you to lead AI programs, projects, people, and technology. As the Honorable Robert Work wrote in the foreword: “This book is not the last word on leading AI in the national security enterprise, but I believe it is an essential starting point.”

You will:

• Review axioms or enduring truths at work in six dimensions of AI: program, budget, project, data science, people, and technology
• Apply best practices—such as decision frameworks, processes, checklists—for leading work in each of the six dimensions.
• See how the axioms and best practices are contextualized to national security missions.

About the Author

Chris Whitlock is the co-founder of aiLeaders LLC, a firm dedicated to equipping national security leaders to win the global AI competition. He spent the majority of his 40-year career providing advanced analytics, AI, and management consulting services primarily to national security clients in the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and Department of State. Chris helped pioneer the rapid prototyping and integration of advanced algorithms with software applications starting in the early 1990s. In the past 10 years Chris' work has emphasized machine learning and artificial intelligence applications. He led a large market offering in Deloitte Consulting focused on Mission Analytics and AI in addition to leading large programs for cabinet level departments and agencies.

Chris co-founded an analytics company, Edge Consulting, personally leading the development of algorithmic approaches to quantify the value of intelligence. After an acquisition by IBM, he served as a Partner in IBM. Chris also was a leader in Booz Allen Hamilton, emphasizing analytics and strategic change. Prior to consulting, Chris served as a military analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency and an Army infantry officer.

Frank Strickland is the co-founder of aiLeaders LLC, a firm dedicated to equipping national security leaders to win the global AI competition. During 22 years of government service, Frank helped lead innovations including: evaluating and transitioning to production the nation’s first long endurance unmanned aerial system; delivering intelligence to the tactical edge using narrow and wide-brand technologies; and agile prototyping of big data analytics. The Director of Central Intelligence awarded Frank the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement in recognition of these accomplishments. Frank was also the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) Legislative Director, and a member of CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service, where he received the NRO’s Medals of Distinguished and Superior Service.

In the private sector Frank co-founded Edge Consulting and helped lead Edge's growth resulting in an acquisition by IBM. As a partner in IBM and subsequently Deloitte, Frank led large practices providing AI and analytics solutions and services to national security clients including innovations in massive scale property graphs and agent-based simulation. Frank began his career as a U.S. Marine.