As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies are accelerating decision-making and data analysis at the mission edge, military tech experts on Wednesday stressed the importance of training individuals in AI and ML in order to outpace adversaries.
At the Red Hat Government Symposium in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 15, Cyril “Mark” Taylor, the chief technical officer of communications systems for the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), said that workforce training is critical as the modern battlefield continues to evolve at a rapid pace.
“We’re potentially looking at a world stage upon which the adversaries have just as much tech, if not more tech than us, they have just as much technical understanding,” Taylor said. “Because the battlespace is not necessarily kinetic of a gun and a man … now it’s going to be a hack that takes down your infrastructure.”
“So, what are some of the things that we’re doing that we see that we need to be prepared for that future battle space? It’s starting with the people, making sure that we’re finding the right people that have those right skills,” he said.
Taylor said that those skills include expertise not only in AI and ML, but also in cloud, data, and DevSecOps (Development, Security, and Operations) practices.
Additionally, he said that those skills “require humans that understand Bash,” which is a type of shell and command language used in Unix/Linux operating systems. With that one skill set, Taylor said employees will know how to configure AI and ML and successfully apply it to other technologies.
“Technology is usually the easy piece, it’s the people piece, the process piece that surrounds it that’s very, very challenging,” added John Seel, who heads the Weapons Control and Integration Department at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division.
“Our processes will have to change because we need additional AI and ML-type systems, and we have to train people to intelligently and adequately query those systems in ways that we get good responses to,” Seel added.
As the battlefield continues to evolve, Taylor emphasized that the United States needs to “start doing planning and preparing our battlefield for the battle space,” which includes training the U.S. tech workforce.
“We’re looking at an adversary that might have more education, and we’re looking at people who can use the same technology that we use on scale,” he warned. “So, it’s [about] identifying the right people.”
