CNAS Announces Members of Defense Technology Task Force

Washington, May 23, 2024—The Center for a New American Security is pleased to announce the members of its Defense Tech Task Force. They will be joined by the previously announced distinguished chairs of the task force: Robert Work, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense; Ellen Lord, former U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; and Michael Brown, former Director of the Defense Innovation Unit.

By bringing together experts from across the broad defense landscape, including from government, industry, academia, and the investment community, the task force will explore the changes needed for the Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition system to realize the value within the innovation ecosystem. The task force will also examine how new entrants can best communicate their value at different levels, and what lessons from the broader national security enterprise can be applied to DoD efforts in this arena.

“The diversity of expertise and opinion this prodigious group brings to bear will transform the defense innovation ecosystem,” said Andrew Metrick, Executive Director of the Task Force. “I'm thrilled to work with such a variety of adept professionals to provide actionable solutions.”

Full membership of the CNAS Defense Tech Task Force is listed below:

Chairs

Michael Brown
Former Director, Defense Innovation Unit
Member, Board of Advisors, Center for a New American Security

The Honorable Ellen Lord
Former Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
Member, Board of Advisors, Center for a New American Security

The Honorable Robert O. Work
Former Deputy Secretary of Defense
Senior Counselor for Defense & Distinguished Senior Fellow for Defense and National Security, Center for a New American Security

Executive Director

Andrew Metrick, Fellow, Defense Program, Center for a New American Security

Members

Michael Beckley, Founder & CTO, Appian Corporation
Nick Beim, Partner, Venrock
A.J. Bertone, Managing Partner, In-Q-Tel
Lt Gen William Bender, USAF (Ret.), Senior Vice President, Leidos
Samantha Clark, Senior Counselor, Palantir Technologies
The Hon. Michèle Flournoy, WestExec Advisors and Center for a New American Security
Joe Laurenti, Founder and CEO, Ursa Major
Rep. Elaine Luria, USN (Ret.), Former U.S. Representative, VA-02
Brian MacCarthy, Managing Partner, Booz Allen Ventures
Josh Marcuse, Former Executive Director, Defense Innovation Board
The Hon. Katharina McFarland, Co-Chair, Army Science Board
Zach Mears, Senior Vice President, Anduril
Dawn Meyerricks, Senior Visiting Fellow, MITRE
Chris Moran, VP/GM, Lockheed Martin Ventures
Leigh Palmer, Vice President, Google Public Sector​​​​​​​
The Hon. Alan Shaffer, Director, Washington Operations, MIT Lincoln Laboratory ​​​​​​​
Lt Gen Jack Shanahan, USAF (Ret.), Former Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Center for a New American Security ​​​​​​​
Abdul Subhani, Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army​​​​​​​
Jacqueline Tame, Playground Global & PsiQuantum
Dan Tadross, Head of Federal Delivery, Scale AI​​​​​​​
MG John Uberti, Army (Ret.), Corporate Military Affairs – Army, RTX
Randy Walden, Former Director, Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office
Carrie Wibben, President, Exiger

Research Team

Philip Sheers, Research Assistant, Defense, Center for a New American Security
Molly Campbell, Program Administrator, Defense, Center for a New American Security

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Alexa Whaley at awhaley@cnas.org.