Posted on Dec 4, 2024
America's Next Moonshot: Building a Talent Innovation Base for National Security
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At a time when headlines are focused on tech competition with China, America has the opportunity to unleash its greatest strategic advantage – its innovative talent.
The next presidential administration has a historic opportunity to revolutionize how we attract, develop, and deploy America's best minds in service of our nation. The foundation is already in place:
Innovative entities in our government, such as the Defense Innovation Unit, have the authority and standing to integrate more of our nation into solving our most critical defense problems. And our private sector continues to attract the world's most creative minds.
Now it's time to connect these strengths through bold action.
First, establish an Office of National Talent Strategy within the Executive Office of the President. This is not just another bureaucratic initiative – it would be America's talent accelerator – designed to slash hiring times from over 90 days to 9 days, streamline security clearances, and create pathways between the private sector and government service. Imagine a system in which our brightest minds can seamlessly transition between innovative startups to solving our nation’s most pressing national security challenges.
Second, launch a National Security Innovation Corps – call it a modern-day Manhattan Project for talent. The Innovation Corps would offer competitive salaries, rapid advancement opportunities, and the chance to work on projects that genuinely impact national security. Think of it as a Y Combinator for national defense – but with the full backing of the federal government.
The costs for these initiatives are modest compared to the returns. Such an investment would be less than what we spend on a single military aircraft but could transform the very nature of warfare itself through innovative solutions.
China's civ-mil fusion approach and intellectual property theft reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how innovation truly works. Real breakthroughs come not from forced collaboration or stolen ideas but developing talent and innovative platforms and then fully enabling the pursuit of ambitious goals with the resources and freedom they need to succeed. This is where America excels, and it is why a comprehensive talent strategy is needed in this competition with China.
The next administration can implement this vision within its first year in office:
• Month 1-3: Establish the Office of National Talent Strategy.
• Month 4-6: Launch programs for rapid hiring and talent exchanges.
• Month 6-12: Roll out the new pay scales for tech talent.
This is not just about filling government positions; it is about creating a new model for national service in the digital age. Imagine a future where the best computer scientists see national security as their most exciting career option, where entrepreneurs view government service as a natural part of their journey, and where technical experts can freely move between sectors while working on our nation's most critical challenges.
The technology race with China is not just about semiconductors and artificial intelligence; it is about creating an environment where talent and innovation naturally flourish. With the right policies and investments, we can ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs happen right here in the United States – driven by American innovation and powered by American talent.
This is America's next great moonshot.
Dr. Alex Gallo is a US Army Veteran and author of “Vetspective,” a RallyPoint series that
discusses national security, foreign policy, politics, and society and highlights the analysis of
thought-leaders, policy analysts, and scholars. Alex is a Senior Vice President with NobleReach
Foundation. He also serves as a fellow with George Mason University’s National Security
Institute and an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University.
Follow him on Twitter at @AlexGalloUSA.
The next presidential administration has a historic opportunity to revolutionize how we attract, develop, and deploy America's best minds in service of our nation. The foundation is already in place:
Innovative entities in our government, such as the Defense Innovation Unit, have the authority and standing to integrate more of our nation into solving our most critical defense problems. And our private sector continues to attract the world's most creative minds.
Now it's time to connect these strengths through bold action.
First, establish an Office of National Talent Strategy within the Executive Office of the President. This is not just another bureaucratic initiative – it would be America's talent accelerator – designed to slash hiring times from over 90 days to 9 days, streamline security clearances, and create pathways between the private sector and government service. Imagine a system in which our brightest minds can seamlessly transition between innovative startups to solving our nation’s most pressing national security challenges.
Second, launch a National Security Innovation Corps – call it a modern-day Manhattan Project for talent. The Innovation Corps would offer competitive salaries, rapid advancement opportunities, and the chance to work on projects that genuinely impact national security. Think of it as a Y Combinator for national defense – but with the full backing of the federal government.
The costs for these initiatives are modest compared to the returns. Such an investment would be less than what we spend on a single military aircraft but could transform the very nature of warfare itself through innovative solutions.
China's civ-mil fusion approach and intellectual property theft reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of how innovation truly works. Real breakthroughs come not from forced collaboration or stolen ideas but developing talent and innovative platforms and then fully enabling the pursuit of ambitious goals with the resources and freedom they need to succeed. This is where America excels, and it is why a comprehensive talent strategy is needed in this competition with China.
The next administration can implement this vision within its first year in office:
• Month 1-3: Establish the Office of National Talent Strategy.
• Month 4-6: Launch programs for rapid hiring and talent exchanges.
• Month 6-12: Roll out the new pay scales for tech talent.
This is not just about filling government positions; it is about creating a new model for national service in the digital age. Imagine a future where the best computer scientists see national security as their most exciting career option, where entrepreneurs view government service as a natural part of their journey, and where technical experts can freely move between sectors while working on our nation's most critical challenges.
The technology race with China is not just about semiconductors and artificial intelligence; it is about creating an environment where talent and innovation naturally flourish. With the right policies and investments, we can ensure that the next generation of breakthroughs happen right here in the United States – driven by American innovation and powered by American talent.
This is America's next great moonshot.
Dr. Alex Gallo is a US Army Veteran and author of “Vetspective,” a RallyPoint series that
discusses national security, foreign policy, politics, and society and highlights the analysis of
thought-leaders, policy analysts, and scholars. Alex is a Senior Vice President with NobleReach
Foundation. He also serves as a fellow with George Mason University’s National Security
Institute and an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University.
Follow him on Twitter at @AlexGalloUSA.
Edited 3 mo ago
Posted 3 mo ago
Responses: 6
So NASA prepares for another Lunar Mission, while Space X prepares to go to Mars. Seems like someone missed the boat.
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I don't think creating a new office in government is how you streamline gov hiring. I agree that change is needed but I don't see this new WH Admin creating that office when the functions you list are already done or can e be done by existing infrastructure within OPM and the respective agencies hiring with the Gov. Creating new offices/agencies seems to go against what DOGE is trying to do by trimming/reducing. The goal is to improve and sharpen what we have while reducing surface area while also reducing overall cost in the process.
Regarding pay there are different pay bands beyond GS. Before we create a new pay band verify there already isn't one that applies. Another option would just pay a higher GS grade for a specific position. At the end of the day let's review what we have before creating more. Pay should reflect talent and ability and that is most likely possible with the current system.
Regarding pay there are different pay bands beyond GS. Before we create a new pay band verify there already isn't one that applies. Another option would just pay a higher GS grade for a specific position. At the end of the day let's review what we have before creating more. Pay should reflect talent and ability and that is most likely possible with the current system.
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I'm not sure we need another government agency to implement this vision. I support DOGE because it will pay for itself as it trims the fat from the federal government. The problem is not that we don't have enough government... it's that we have too much government! Instead of adding another layer of government for this initiative, why not remove all the job killing regulation that stifles innovation, and give incentives for business to invest in R&D. Right now our business climate is like a driver with one foot on the gas and the other pushing just as hard on the brakes. If you lift your foot off the brakes, things will naturally progress.
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