'AI Is Not a Technology' and Other Thoughts.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: Editor's Notes

TAMPA, Florida--Most defense industry conferences deliver what is promised: business intelligence on present or future government requirements that can lead to contracts.

And the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference organized by the National Defense Industrial Association in May did a better job of delivering the goods than most trade shows.

There were numerous in-depth briefings conducted by the program executive offices spelling out all the unclassified technologies they were developing along with upcoming opportunities.

In fact, the PEOs had more than one session. So, if an executive missed one while attending another, he or she could catch it later in the conference.

But every once in a while at these conferences, a speaker will deliver a presentation that isn't about business but more about ideas.

Such was the case on the final day of the show when Thomas Kenney, Special Operations Command chief data officer, spoke to a roomful of attendees and delivered a series of ideas rather than contract opportunities.

We have seen many executives like Kenney over the years serving in various posts. They have done quite well for themselves in the private sector as entrepreneurs or investors and when asked to serve, they do so out of patriotism or the hope that they can change from the inside an organization not known for embracing business innovation.

They are certainly not motivated by the salary but can probably afford to take the pay cut.

According to Kenney's official bio, "His primary duty is to accelerate digital capabilities for the entire Special Operations Forces enterprise through collaborative efforts with industry, academia, DoD and other government agencies."

Before joining SOCOM, Kenney was a "serial entrepreneur" with his feet firmly planted in both worlds, serving two decades as an Army Reserve and National Guard officer.

SOCOM Commander Army Gen. Richard Clarke personally recruited him to come work at the command to help it achieve its "Al-enabled future," Kenney said in his speech.

His talk on the final day was well attended, but still only a fraction of the 17,000 registered attendees were there.

So, for those who missed the talk, here is a series of somewhat random direct quotes to ruminate over.

... We certainly have plenty of data at SOCOM. The Department of Defense certainly has plenty of data. But what are we using that data for? It is a hard question to answer when we don't even necessarily know where all the AI...