AFC Chief Announces Three New Modernization Efforts

The Army Futures Command, the Army's modernization division, has announced plans to launch three new efforts geared toward modernizing the force. 

John Michael Murray, commanding general of the AFC and a 2020 Wash100 winner, said one project will be focused on having the military work alongside the technologists who lead the Pentagon's research and development efforts, Defense News reported Thursday.

“It has occurred to me for a long time that when we prepare concepts about how we will fight in the future, they are usually not informed by scientists and what is potentially out there in terms of technology,” Murray said during an event hosted by the Defense Writers Group.

Murray dubbed the effort as "Team Ignite," which he said is just a temporary and informal name.

The new technology innovation method would dramatically change how the military fights and how the Pentagon decides what technologies to invest in, the chief added.

Murray said the two other projects will be focused on developing artificial intelligence technologies, which he described as an emerging key component for the Army and a hotbed for talent development.   

Earlier in May, the Department of Defense's research and engineering office announced it is developing a range of standards and best practices for the agency's AI efforts.

Murray also hinted at a "software factory" project that would help identify service members who have computer skills and further improve them. 

"This is just the beginning, to seed the Army with the types of talent we’re going to need in the future if we’re going to take advantage of data, if we’re going to take advantage of artificial intelligence in the future,” Murray said.