Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation

The 2nd Annual Stanford Conference on Technology + National Security was an inspiring and successful event bringing together all facets of the defense technology and national security innovation ecosystem. Over 800 people registered for the conference, with an additional 250 students participating in the career fair, demonstrating the surging interest in defense technology and national security innovation here at Stanford and across the country. Topics ranged from deep discussions on dual-use startups to the R&D ecosystem to the emerging technologies shaping global security. Huge thanks to the incredible speakers, organizers, and attendees for making this event a resounding success!    The conference program included a veritable tour de force of the most important and relevant challenges to our national security via its 14 panels and breakout sessions.   Both the Opening and Closing Keynote Speakers -- Trae Stephens and Admiral (ret) John C. Aquilino -- inspired the conference attendees and provided a call to action for responding to the the pressing threats to the national security of the United States and all countries that share a similar vision of the future.   Special congratulations to The Stanford DEFCON Technology and National Security Student Network leadership team for their Herculean efforts to plan and execute this extraordinary event including Bryce M., Ethan Klein, Helen Phillips, Marcus Zimmerman, Josh Pickering, Faith Zehfuss, and Chris Kay.   The conference could not have happened without the above and beyond efforts of the conference organizing committee members: Philip Balson, Andrew Couillard, Nico Enriquez, Cayden Gu, Barclay J., Elsa Johnson, Alex Lubkin, Ahmad Nasir, Andrew Paulmeno.   Huge thank you for the generous support from the conference sponsors including Office of Naval Research, NavalX, Shield Capital, Engine No. 1, Costanoa Ventures, Allen Control Systems, Lightspeed, Vannevar Labs, SVB, NobleReach™️, Silicon Valley Defense Group, Point72 Ventures, Pavati Solutions, Harpoon Ventures, and Saab.   It was a privilege for the Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation to mentor and support Stanford DEFCON throughout the planning and execution of the conference and to co-host the event at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. We are honored to stay behind them going forward and excited to see the momentum and trajectory of the movement this conference aims to bolster. Jack Faherty, Eric Volmar, Joe Felter.

Can AI reveal insights hidden in vast policy content? At the Stanford Gordian Knot Center, our students are harnessing AI to analyze mountains of complex data and find solutions to policy challenges. See our approach—check out the document for all the details! Steve Blank Joe Felter Eric Volmar Helen Phillips Faith Zehfuss Jack Faherty Edward Henricks

Did you know that a simple ChatGPT-4 query uses more than 10 times the wattage of a Google search? In a recent op-ed in The Washington Post, National Security Innovation Scholar Nico Enriquez outlines the implications of AI-driven change for the U.S. power grid. His analysis brings a fresh perspective as to how the U.S. can both improve AI efficiency and upgrade critical infrastructure to create a more resilient and secure future. Read his op-ed with Daniela Rus below: https://lnkd.in/ef9irzSU

At the Stanford Gordian Knot Center, we are transforming our courses to harness AI to solve real policy problems with speed and urgency. Over the past four years, Joe Felter, Steve Blank, Raj S., and Michael A. Brown have led the Stanford course "Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition," where students learn to solve real national security policy problems. Now in its 5th year, Eric Volmar joins Steve and Joe to transform our teaching approach by integrating AI into every aspect. Why? Because combining entrepreneurial methods with AI tools empowers students to solve complex problems faster and more effectively. The sheer volume of national security content for any given problem—from the broad policy landscape to the technical and budgetary details—is astounding. AI helps us not only synthesize thousands upon thousands of pages but also uncover patterns, predict outcomes, and co-develop novel solutions. In this new approach, students aren’t just allowed to use AI—they're expected to. No need to justify it, just showcase it. The goal is clear: improve learning and maximize policy impact using every tool available. A big shoutout to our course assistants Helen Phillips and Faith Zehfuss who are making big contributions to enable this new approach. We’ll keep you updated as we learn alongside our students this quarter. In the meantime, check out our new approach to trasnforming policy education.

It was an inspiring start to the fall quarter this week as we kicked off one of the Gordian Knot Center's flagship Stanford classes, "Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition"! We are excited to engage with the extraordinary students who volunteered to take this challenging course. We are committed to helping this next generation of leaders better understand complex geopolitical dynamics and channel their imagination, passion and determination to address pressing national security challenges.    A special thank you to former Secretary of Defense, General (ret) Jim Mattis for generously sharing his time and wisdom with the class. His deep experience and profound insights on leadership, strategy and service are a call to action and will inspire all of us long after the course ends.   We look forward to continuing this journey with our students with diverse backgrounds and interests from across campus to explore the critical intersection between emerging technology and national security, address pressing national security challenges and have real impact now and going forward. Eric Volmar Joe Felter Steve Blank Faith Zehfuss Helen Phillips Edward Henricks Jack Faherty

📢 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS AND PANELS ANNOUNCEMENT 📢 The 2nd Annual Stanford Conference on Technology + National Security October 8-9, 2024 Stanford, California, USA We are excited to welcome you back to the campus of Stanford University for the second edition of our Stanford Conference, aligning the best of academia, the U.S. Government, and America’s innovation engine—Silicon Valley—to tackle global challenges at the intersection of emerging technologies and national security. 🎟 Get your tickets now: https://lnkd.in/e6nxjzAG 🌲 Learn more about the conference: https://lnkd.in/eAfgcpAa 📅 National Security Career Fair Afternoon, October 8th, 2024 📍 Encina Hall, Stanford, CA, USA 📅 The Stanford Conference All Day, October 9th, 2024 📍 Hauck Auditorium, Stanford, CA, USA ⚡ Only possible with the support of the Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation ⚡ ...and our mission-focused team: Bryce M., Ethan Klein, Helen Phillips, Marcus Zimmerman, Faith Zehfuss, Sarah Hess, Ahmad Nasir, Alex Lubkin, Andrew Paulmeno, Barclay Jones, Chris Kay, Christopher Gramling, Elsa Johnson, Nico Enriquez, Philip Balson, Cayden Gu and Raina Talwar Bhatia ⚡Huge thanks to Joe Felter, Eric Volmar, and Jack Faherty for the support and engagement! ⚡This would not be possible without support from all of our generous sponsors! Engine No. 1, Costanoa Ventures, Shield Capital, Lightspeed, Vannevar Labs, Point72 Ventures, Pavati Solutions, Harpoon Ventures, and Saab, Inc.

The Defense Tech Underground Podcast continues to bring the top experts in national security innovation to the recording booth! The newest episode is a must listen with Raj S., former F-16 pilot and Director of Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and current Managing Partner at Shield Capital and author of Unit-X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of War. Make sure to like, listen, and follow along for more episodes! Jeff Phaneuf Josh Pickering Helen Phillips Andrew Paulmeno Walter Woo Bryce M. Rhombus Power Inc.

Navigating the Pentagon can be a daunting task, especially for companies trying to bring their innovative technologies to the forefront of national security. The maze of Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and key decision-makers often leaves even the most experienced professionals scratching their heads. That's why we're thrilled to announce that Steve Blank has just created a Directory of Program Executive Offices at the Department of Defense! This new resource is a game-changer for anyone looking to understand the inner workings of defense acquisition. Whether you're a startup aiming to break into the defense sector or an established company looking to expand your reach, this directory will help you identify the right contacts and streamline your efforts. Our goal is to empower innovators to navigate the acquisition process with greater speed and urgency. It’s important to note that this directory is not an official or DoD-sponsored resource–it’s a tool created by an entrepreneur, for entrepreneurs. At the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, we're committed to maintaining and regularly updating this directory to ensure it remains an invaluable tool for the public. This is Version 1.0 and we encourage readers to help make it better and more accurate. If you have updates and corrections, you can send them to [email protected]. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3TzrGgN Stay tuned for more updates and resources from the Gordian Knot Center as we continue to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and national security needs.

The second day of the INDUS-X Summit at Stanford University began with a Senior Leaders Forum focused on enhancing U.S.-India defense and industrial collaboration. The forum opened with welcome remarks from John Chambers, Chairman of USISPF, and Dr. Joe Felter, Director of Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation The forum facilitated an open discussion where industry stakeholders provided feedback on INDUS-X initiatives and proposed new concepts. Insights were shared by Amit Satija, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Defence; Lori Abele, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South & Southeast Asia; and Doug Beck, Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). They provided an assessment of INDUS-X's progress over the past 15 months and discussed future strategies. The session concluded with a call for ongoing dialogue and cooperation, underscoring the critical role of joint innovation and strategic partnerships in bolstering the defense capabilities of both nations. Vikram J. Singh Sameer Lalwani Ajay Kumar

Trae Stephens - "One of the lessons that we learned at Palantir is that it's really, really hard to sell software to the government, they don't know how to value it." Episode IV is out now: "Trae Stephens: In Pursuit of Good Quests" 🎧 Listen to episode 4 wherever you get your podcasts. 💻 Learn more about our mission at www.defensetechpod.org. 📃 Subscribe to the Stanford DEFCON newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iQacx6 🏫 Produced in partnership with the Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation and with the generous sponsorship of Rhombus Power Inc. #podcast #defense #innovation #technology #deftech #nationalsecurity #startup #vc #investing #founder Palantir Technologies Founders Fund Anduril Industries