Technology, Innovation and Great Power Competition,TIGPC, Gordian knot Center, DIME-FIL, department of defense, dod, hacking for defense, intlpol 340, joe felter, ms&e296, raj shah, stanford, Steve blank, AI, ML, AI/ML, china, unmanned, autonomy, ONR, Lorin Selby, Maynard Holliday, Bradley Garber,

1. Technology, Innovation, and Great
Power Competition
INTLPOL 340; MS&E 296
Steve Blank, Joe Felter, Raj Shah
Lecture #6: Unmanned Platforms &
Autonomy
26 October 2021

2. Agenda
• Logistics
• Guest speakers and panel
• Mid-term memo review
• Group Project and Problem

3. Logistics
• Reminder: November 2 class rescheduled. Now
Monday, November 1 at 5:30 - 8:30 PM (normal time)
• New room assignment will come out
• Individual Assignments due midnight Nov 2nd
• Extended 1 day

4. Unmanned Systems

5. ● Navy’s Chief Engineer
(2016-2020)
● Commander Naval
Surface Warfare Centers
(2014-2016)
● BS UVirginia, MS MIT
Rear Admiral Lorin Selby
Chief of Naval Research

6. Director of Defense Research &
Engineering for Modernization
Principal Director for Autonomy
● Defense Science Board and Ex-DIUE
● Autonomy & Drones at RAND Corporation
(2017-2020)
● BS CMU, MS Stanford
● Director of Strategic Initiatives @ ARL
● Deputy Director, Aviation Portfolio @ ASAALT
● PhD Virginia Polytechnic, MS North Carolina
State
Maynard Holliday Jaret C. Riddick, PhD

7. Chief of Naval Research
Director of Defense Research &
Engineering for Modernization
Principal Director for Autonomy
● Navy’s Chief Engineer
(2016-2020)
● Commander Naval Surface
Warfare Centers (2014-
2016)
● BS UVirginia, MS MIT
Rear Admiral Lorin Selby Maynard Holliday Jaret C. Riddick, PhD
● Member Defense Science
Board and Ex-DIUE
● Autonomy & Drones at
RAND Corporation (2017-
2020)
● BS CMU, MS Stanford
● Director of Strategic
Initiatives @ ARL
● Deputy Director, Aviation
Portfolio @ ASAALT
● PhD Virginia
Polytechnique, MS North
Carolina State

8. Unmanned Systems

9. Technical Director (Code 03)
Director; Ocean, Atmosphere, &
Space Research Division
Office of Naval Research
OPNAV N9IB, Executive Director
U.S. Navy Unmanned Task Force
Deputy Director/Principal
Civilian Assistant to the Vice
Chief of Naval Operations
● ONR Portfolio Manager for
Autonomy (2018-2021)
● ONR Team Lead Mine
Warfare and Ocean
Engineering (2015-2018)
● Ph.D. , MSE Georgia Tech,
MBA MIT
Dr. Jason Stack, SES Mr. Michael Stewart, SES Mr. Bradley Garber
● Deputy Director
Integrated Warfare,
Department of the Navy
● CAPT USN (Ret.)
● MBA Harvard, MA NWC,
BS USNA
● Fmr. OPNAV N31;
Commanding Officer HSL-
46; Branch Chief, Joint Ops
War Plans Division, Joint
Staff
● CAPT USN (Ret.)
● MS NDU, BS USNA
Chief Engineer, Anduril
Industries
Dr. Shane Arnott
● Program Director,
Autonomous
Systems, Boeing
(2019-2021)
● Ph.D. University of
Queensland, BSc
La Trobe
University

10. Technology, Innovation, and Great
Power Competition
INTLPOL 340; MS&E 296
Steve Blank, Joe Felter, Raj Shah
Thank You Notes

11. Group Projects

12. Group Project
• Problem Statement Review and Feedback
• 5 minutes per group
• Blunt and direct feedback
• “Socratic method with a stick” - Steve Blank
• We give feedback this way because it will help you move faster;
indirect feedback takes too long for the course

13. The gap between U.S. and Chinese military capabilities is
rapidly closing and poses a threat to U.S. military
dominance in the Indo-Pacific Region. In order to
maintain our capability gap, the DoD needs to reevaluate
and improve its funding strategies and partnerships with
mid-stage private companies that have potential for
dual-use technologies, which will play a vital role in
catalyzing U.S. military innovation.
Team 1: Team AVCI

14. Team 2: Team Conflicted Capital
Chinese adversarial venture capital investments in US dual-use
startups continue to threaten US military capabilities across critical
technologies. Despite the passing of FIRRMA in 2018 and updates
to CFIUS in 2020, American regulations controlling foreign
investment are still largely voluntary. As the Chinese State
increasingly comprehends how to circumvent US regulations, it
becomes imperative to address the challenge from the other side –
the private sector. Current venture capitalist and startup founder
sentiments indicate that American startups would shun known
sources of Chinese funding. The problem amounts to exposing
undisclosed Chinese State connections to venture capital funding.

15. Team 3: Project Aurora
Hong Kong presents a unique opportunity to support activists currently
attempting to maintain democratic institutions inside the PRC. The US can
amplify its soft power by supporting these activists through facilitating
free information access and secure communications channels outside the
control of the CCP security apparatus. The US should pursue opportunities
to support pro-democracy activists, particularly when they use protests,
unsanctioned expression, or other mobilization activities to advocate for
self-determination. The US government should support this through cyber
and commerce policies that support companies who resist CCP
restrictions; discrete security and technical support for activists; and the
establishment of immigration policies that facilitate Hong Kong residents’
living and working in America, free from PRC interference.

16. In order to maximize the impact of the estimated $1
billion USD allocated in the CHIPS act to stimulate
semiconductor education and innovation, and produce
talented hardware expertise in the U.S., Congress needs
to surmount differing consensus among academia,
industry, and venture capital. The policy makers crafting
this bill need to be aware of the various positions
interested in this allocation, and informed of the risks
and rewards associated with each investment strategy.
Team 4: Team ShortCircuit

17. To enhance the command and control capabilities of
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and
protect friendly forces, team Drone identifies low cost,
survivable Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-
sUAS) solutions aimed at dynamically detecting, tracking,
and engaging emerging aerial, swarm based platforms
likely to be used by the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
during the initial phase of an amphibious landing on
Taiwan.
Team 5: Team Drones

18. Given the prospect of a cross-strait conflict with China,
the US Space Force must proactively partner with the
private sector to develop a resilient asset network and
increase the wartime readiness of its space assets.
Team 6: Apollo

19. The CCP’s increasingly common use of coercive
diplomacy tactics such as trade sanctions and investment
restrictions, combined with America’s limited response
in support of our targeted allies in the South Pacific,
poses a threat to our strategic position in the region. The
U.S. requires a collective response counterstrategy in
tandem with Australia to eliminate the leverage China
can achieve toward disrupting the alliance.
Team 7: Catena

20. Questions?
We are here to support!

21. Reach out to teaching team with questions!
Midterm Memo - Key Reminders
• Due Wednesday @ 12:01 PST (extended 1 day)
• No more than 2,000 words
• Follow the prompt PDF as uploaded on Canvas
• TA’s will hold open OH on Friday for any questions

22. Next Week
• Class 7 Topic: Space
• Updated readings will be
on Canvas shortly
• TA Team will post Week 7
Reading Reflection prompt
once readings are updated
• Next class is on November
1 at 5:30 PM
• Room location will be
announced later this week
• Updated problem statements
and interview trackers due
Mondays @ 11:59 PM PST

23. Technology, Innovation, and Great
Power Competition
INTLPOL 340; MS&E 296
Steve Blank, Joe Felter, Raj Shah
Lecture #6: Unmanned Platforms &
Autonomy
26 October 2021