Building the National Security Innovation Base
How Hacking for Defense, Students, and Defense & Intelligence Problems Build the Next Generation of Innovators
At the start of this semester, Congressman Rob Whittman (R-Va., 1st District), vice ranking member, House Armed Services Committee (HASC), and ranking member, Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee, visited the Defense Innovation Unit and met with team members from the Hacking for Defense course and program at Stanford University.
The meeting showcased three areas that Hacking for Defense at Stanford University touches:
The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and its role supported by Hacking for Defense classes nationally, presented by Pavan Gill and Katie Penry with NSIN.
Stanford University’s H4D course and its impact – using examples of Hacking for Defense student teams-turned-startups, Saif and Anthro Energy, now experiencing success within the Defense Department. Saif offers a body recognition software platform that is more accurate than facial recognition. Anthro Energy provides flexible, safe and rugged next generation lithium ion batteries.
A discussion of wider Stanford University efforts in national security, energy research at the Precourt Institute for Energy, the Gordian Knot Center, and Office of Naval Research programs.
Congressman Rob Whittman (R-Va., 1st District), vice ranking member, House Armed Services Committee (HASC), and ranking member, Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee commented on his visit, “I had the pleasure of speaking with Stanford University’s Hacking for Defense program. Jeff Decker and Steve Blank have been incredible leaders for this program through encouraging young, talented, students to get involved in national security issues. The process by which H4D integrates students into real national security problems that our defense and intelligence communities are currently facing, prepares them for their future careers and ensures the future security environment of our nation. Congress must continue to encourage and enable this kind of work done through H4D and The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) across American universities to further set up our future national security leaders and our country for success.”
The Hacking for Defense team showcased its history with being the first U.S. university to create and implement the Hacking for Defense program. The H4D program was founded by Steve Blank, Joe Felter, and Pete Newell in 2016 and is now taught at more than 65 universities worldwide and has had more than 2,000 students through the program, all working towards solving defense and intelligence problems. The Stanford University program and course has worked with 48 teams from across the Defense and Intelligence communities and students have conducted more than 7,000 interviews with Defense Department stakeholders, which has incubated 15 companies now working in the Defense Market. These companies that have come out of the Stanford H4D program have raised more than $90 million in venture capital and are founded by the next generation of American business leaders.
The H4D team showcased to the Congressman how an interdisciplinary team, often composed of graduate students from various majors, such as engineering, physics, MBA’s, mathematicians, and those studying international affairs, come together to solve defense and intelligence problems. Students begin tackling problems sponsored by the defense and intelligence communities by understanding the root causes of those problems. They do so by interviewing around 150 people from academia, government, and industry involved with the problem and potential solutions. During their H4D journey, students often discover that the original problem isn’t really one that needs to be solved. Instead, they learn about root causes of the problem and apply the Lean Startup methodology to create a solution to benefit the men and women serving our country.
All participants in the meeting showed excitement for the H4D course and the extending H4D program that transitions academic technologies from the lab to the marketplace and commercial products to defense capabilities. To learn more or get involved, visit hackingfordefense.stanford.edu.