Kathleen Hicks: US Needs Broad National Security Innovation

Kathleen Hicks, deputy secretary of defense, said that the United States needs to foster a broad national security innovation base to ensure it stays on top of adversaries.

Speaking at the 2024 National Security Innovation Base Summit held on Wednesday, Hicks said that initiatives to innovate must include players of all sizes, including sub-tier suppliers and small businesses. She added that the effort should also consider disruption, a key trend affecting every industry, including defense-tech startups and scale-ups.

The deputy secretary also discussed the Biden administration’s defense investments, including $10.3 billion in microelectronics from the CHIPS and Science Act, $12.9 billion for industrial base infrastructure and facilities, and $24.7 billion for multiyear procurement of key munitions, the Department of Defense said.

Hicks, a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker, earlier emphasized that China and other adversaries cannot copy U.S. innovation due to American values.

The Department of Defense has been investing in technologies to ensure mission success. In November, Hicks said the department’s Replicator program is looking into using autonomous systems to help with the mission of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.