Dr. Will Roper: The Urgent Need for The Pentagon to Unlock AI’s Potential

Dr. Will Roper is a former U.S. Air Force and Space Force executive; he has spent his career implementing advanced technology—including machine learning and digital engineering, in both the government and private sectors. While he has seen first-hand that the Pentagon has made great strides in procuring advanced technology, Dr. Roper describes the Pentagon not as digitally native but as preferring to say behind the innovation curve. He suggests that the Pentagon needs to invest in digital infrastructure to unlock the most powerful machine learning capabilities on the battlefield. Dr. Roper also lays out a roadmap for applying digital engineering and simulation to build advanced, battle-ready hardware more quickly.

As AI and machine learning advance rapidly, losing the innovation war will have drastic consequences for America's future. Dr. Roper calls for urgent investment in digital technologies to ensure that the United States stays ahead of other superpowers on the battlefield and beyond. Dr. Will Roper is currently a Distinguished Professor at Georgia Tech, focusing on technology that impacts national security. He previously served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, leading over $60 billion of annual technology development and operations for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force.