H4D: Reflections from Wharton Aerospace Conference

Cultivating the Future of National Security Talent with H4D -- by Jeff Decker, PhD

I recently had the privilege of speaking at the Wharton Aerospace conference in Washington, DC, where we discussed some of the most pressing issues facing national security today: the growing talent gap in the defense industrial base. As the program director for the Hacking for Defense® (H4D) program at Stanford University, and the managing director of the Technology Transfer for Defense program with the Precourt Institute of Energy at Stanford, I was thrilled to be able to join Maria Tranquilli, executive director of the Common Mission Project, and Alexander Gorelik, an associate with Taft Law’s Government Contracts practice in Washington, DC, to discuss and showcase the transformative power of the H4D program in addressing this challenge. H4D –  cultivates the next generation of national security professionals by bridging academia, government and industry. As national security concerns become increasingly complex, the need for innovative talent has never been more urgent.

Building the Future National Security Workforce

The session kicked off with a deep dive into Talent Acquisition and Development, focusing on how the H4D program is uniquely positioned to fill critical workforce gaps in national security. The Department of Defense (DoD) faces a daunting reality: fewer than 6% of graduates pursue careers in public service, and even fewer gravitate toward national security. This shortage makes it increasingly difficult for the government to recruit technical talent essential to addressing modern threats.

Through experiential learning, H4D not only addresses these challenges but actively builds a talent pipeline that is making a measurable impact. More than 50% of H4D graduates have transitioned into the defense industrial base by serving in public service or government-related roles, working with the defense sector in civilian jobs, or creating startups focused on delivering solutions to the federal government (of which the H4D class has created 62 such as Anthro Energy, Capella Space, Lumineye, and Vannevar Labs). 

These statistics aren't just numbers — they represent the potential and real-world impact H4D graduates are having in national and global security. Students in the program collaborate with government agencies, mission sponsors, and industry partners to solve pressing security problems, making them uniquely qualified to contribute to the public good upon graduation.

Solving Real-World National Security Problems

At the Wharton event, we also explored the problem solving process used by the H4D class, which is also detailed in my new book, The Hacking for Defense® Manual, focusing on how students are able to tackle real-world security challenges over the course of an academic term. H4D’s problem-solving process is driven by constant collaboration with the .com, .edu, and .gov worlds, providing students with insights across sectors and fosters real-world skills  that traditional academic coursework lacks.

Student teams work on developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and scaling solutions that can impact both the federal and commercial sectors. Capella Space, which I mentioned previously, is one of the companies that was born out of the H4D program and is an example of a dual-use company that uses synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites in support of military operations as well as for corporate projects such as surveying dams and water system infrastructure, roadways and more. This example of a dual-use company showcases H4D’s capacity to incubate projects that are not only applicable to national security but are also commercially viable.

Another example we showcased is Lumineye, a startup born from an H4D class that developed radar technology to assist first responders. Lumineye’s success in securing Army funding demonstrates the effectiveness of H4D’s approach to nurturing innovation that directly serves government needs while offering broader applications.

The H4D panel at the Wharton Aerospace Conference in Washington, DC, included Maria Tranquilli, executive director of the Common Mission Project, Jeff Decker, program director for the Hacking for Defense® (H4D) program at Stanford University, and the managing director of the Technology Transfer for Defense program with the Precourt Institute of Energy at Stanford, and Alexander Gorelik, an associate with Taft Law’s Government Contracts.

Scaling Innovation: The H4D Manual

A big part of the discussion was on creating scalable frameworks for the defense industry that can deliver consistent results across diverse market verticals. As illustrated in the H4D textbook, The Hacking for Defense Manual, the H4D program offers a comprehensive guide to implementing a lean startup methodology that provides college and university students with the tools to develop viable solutions to overcome the world's most challenging problems.

Dual-Use & Public-Private Partnerships

Overall, the emphasis of public-private partnerships in scaling H4D’s impact is critical. The success of programs like H4D hinges on continued support from  the government, industry and academia. The Common Mission Project brings these sectors together in support of H4D programs nationally impacting  our nation’s ability to problem solve, develop new technologies that fill a need for today, and build the workforce of tomorrow.

Looking ahead, the challenge is clear: we must continue to invest in experiential learning programs like H4D to secure the future of national security and develop the future workforce. By providing students with the skills and real-world experience needed to tackle the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, H4D is not just filling jobs; it is shaping the future of national security innovation.

For those interested in learning more about how we are transforming national security education and talent acquisition, please check out The Hacking for Defense Manual on Amazon and join us in this mission to inspire and empower the next generation of defense innovators.

The Hacking for Defense program has created 70 startups that have generated 660 jobs and raised more than $350 million. To learn more about the H4D course at Stanford University, visit h4d.stanford.edu; to learn more about H4D around the world, visit h4d.us. To read excerpts of the NEW  upcoming H4D textbook, subscribe to the H4D Stanford Substack at stanfordh4d.substack.com