ADM Archie Clemins Memoriam & New Webinars

Posted on 07/19/2021 by Marvin Langston

Admiral Archie Clemins, a mentor and friend, passed away last March 14, 2020. He was a brilliant operational leader that also left his mark across the U.S. Navy by forcing the installation of modern information technology across the operational forces. During his last active duty position as Commander Pacific Fleet (November 1996 – October 1999), he initiated the IT-21 program to put modern desktop computers, and Microsoft Desktop applications, into all Navy ships. This marked the first time that commercial IT hardware and software were used to support operational Navy missions. His leadership and foresight paved the way for the following Navy, Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) program which further outfitted a 360,000 computer/network infrastructure across the entire Navy, beginning in the year 2000.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions ADM Clemins was not laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery until 16 July of this year. His wife and life-partner Marilyn Clemins created this beautiful Memoriam that I recommend to your attention. ADM Clemins was truly one of our Country’s great leaders, visionaries, and a man that spoke when needed but always acted to do the right thing.

New Webinars

Jim and I have recently added three new webinars that you may find interesting. We have also added AI written transcripts to each of the webinars for those that would prefer reading or skimming the webinars, and we also now have added an audio only podcast for each of the webinars to help make it easier to listen while doing other activities.

Please take a look at these webinars and leave us any comments or suggestions you may have for future webinars topics or guests. Thanks, marv

Webinar #7: Data in Motion

Data in Motion with guest Jason Schick

Data expert Jason Schick discusses how data has evolved from static enterprise data to dynamic data-in-motion, and how open source software tools like Kafka are making it possible to access needed data in near real time to enhance enterprise processes.

Webinar #8: Quantum Computing

Quantum Computing with guest Mark Jackson

Quantum computing expert, Mark Jackson Ph.D, joins us to discuss the latest state of quantum computing and how he see it progressing over the next five plus years. We discuss the technology, opportunities, and cybersecurity aspects.

Webinar #9: AI and DoD Technology Adoption

AI and DoD Technology Adoption with guest Bob Beaton

Our Nation’s Military has always relied upon technology adoption to keep it ahead of peer adversary forces. Today Artificial Intelligence and a host of related and supportive technologies are front and center as our Nation works to remain strong in the face of peer competitors, China and Russia. Expert DoD technologist, Bob Beaton, joins Jim and I to discuss the state of play for AI and related technology adoption.

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Webinar Update

Posted on 06/26/2021 by Marvin Langston

Jim and I have now completed six thirty minute webinars that are posted on this site, YouTube, and Linkedin. Here is a short introduction to these webinars. We find these discussions to be very informative and relevant to the challenges of today. Please let us know your thoughts.

Webinar #6 guest discussion is with DoD acquisition expert, Bill Greenwalt, who discusses his Congressional Staff work that helped make Other Transaction Authority contracting available for all programs of record within DoD and also delivered the Covid-19 vaccine in record time.

Also, please take a look at Bill’s recent Hudson Institute paper — Competing in Time: Ensuring Capability Advantage and Mission Success through Adaptable Resource Allocation. This paper addresses the budget process “elephant in the room” for U.S. Military capability over time.

Webinar #5 guest discussion is with Zero Trust and 5G expert, Junaid Islam, who discusses how the future of 5G presents even greater cybersecurity challenges for the future.

Webinar #4 discussion is with guest blogger Evan Dudik, an expert China analyst, who walks us through his research and views on how China is working to influence global trends and how that relates to U. S. National Security.

Webinar #3 guest discussion is with AI expert Todd Carrico who discusses his views on where AI is today relative to the past. Todd is the developer of a multi-agent AI platform to support Defense logistics.

Webinar #2 guest discussion is with We discuss how China has emerged as a peer competitor to the U.S. particularly in the Pacific region.

Webinar #1 guest discussion is with Ken Tirman who discusses some of the biggest challenges for our Nation and the planet in today’s accelerating technology world.

I have also posted my June 15th San Diego AFCEA luncheon talk on the future of Navy ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship communications when Starlink’s low earth orbit (LEO) internet communication satellite constellation has 12,000 satellites on orbit by 2027.

If you have ideas on topics or guests you would like to hear from please leave a comment or send Jim an email at jim@pietrocini.com or marv@marvlangston.com. You will also find a short bio on each of our guests under the Guest Bio’s pulldown.

Posted in Cybersecurity, DoD Acquisition, DoD IT Acquisition, Global Perspectives, Leadership, National Security, Technology Evolution, The China Challenge, U.S. Navy Capability | Leave a comment

New Webinar Series

Posted on 05/19/2021 by Marvin Langston

Jim Pietrocini and I have started a new webinar series intended to:

  • Explore important topics in technology, global trends, DoD acquisition activities, and research & development related to U.S. National Security.
  • Invite key thinkers and leaders to share their views, ideas, concerns, and interests.
  • Make the podcasts available to a wide audience and encourage questions for guest speakers, and share ideas for future podcasts.

You can find these webinars under the “Webinars” pull down menu on the home page, or on YouTube under “Smart Future Webinar Series,” and they are also available on my LinkedIn homepage. You can also find the backgrounds of our webinar guests under the “Guest Bios” pull down.

We would love to hear your comments, discussion, and suggestions for future webinars. We plan to publish them every week or two.

Posted in Global Perspectives, National Security, Technology Evolution, The China Challenge | 3 Comments

How should the U.S. respond to China’s Taiwan Provocations?

Posted on 03/10/2021 by Evan Dudik

By Evan M. Dudik
edudik@evandudik.com

March 9, 2021

What do you do when a well-armed enemy gives every sign of spoiling for a fight? That’s what China signals by its latest, expanded incursions into Taiwan’s defense zones January 23-24 2021. China’s forces included nuclear-capable bombers, anti-submarine aircraft and fighter escorts. On Monday, March 1, China launched a month-long combined forces exercise in the South China Sea. As public guarantor of Taiwan’s de facto independence, a provocation of Taiwan also provokes the U.S. Continue reading →

Posted in Global Perspectives, National Security, The China Challenge | 2 Comments

How Did We Get Into This Cybersecurity Mess?

Posted on 03/04/2021 by Marvin Langston

Spy satellites quietly move to subscription licensing - Hardware - iTnewsWe all know that information about our adversaries and partner countries is and always has been critical to National Security. Before our interconnected world of the internet, information operations were more about human spying, one person to another. As technology has progressed this information criticality has only become more intense, and today has become the most critical component of modern warfare.

The root of today’s information technology can be traced back to the humble use of the binary numbering system of ones and zeros. Before that, information was locked into the analogue world of sine wave radio frequency communications, decimal numbers, and language specific alphabets. Continue reading →

Posted in Cybersecurity, Technology Evolution | 15 Comments

China’s Grand Strategy: Downloads

Posted on 02/20/2021 by Evan Dudik

In follow up to the series on China’s Grand Strategy, you can download the full PDF version and supplement using the links below:

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China’s Grand Strategy: Part 8

Posted on 01/07/2021 by Evan Dudik

What is the United States to do?
By Evan Dudik

We’ve established in this series that China is a behemoth to be reckoned with.   

If you believe, as I do, that China’s drive for hegemony represents a steadily less speculative and ever-clearer danger to the United States, the West and the world, it’s worthwhile to analyze how best the US should respond.

Continue reading →

Posted in Global Perspectives, National Security, The China Challenge | 1 Comment

China’s Grand Strategy: Part 7

Posted on 01/07/2021 by Evan Dudik

China’s Grand Strategy
By Evan Dudik

Previously, we outlined in detail areas where China is jockeying for influence across the globe. We’re now positioned to distill the country’s Grand Strategy.

Continue reading →

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China’s Grand Strategy: Part 6

Posted on 01/07/2021 by Evan Dudik

Belt and Road Initiative, Why?
By Evan Dudik — edudik@evandudik.com

In the Panama Canal and elsewhere, China sees opportunities to leverage strategic investments.

Fast forward to recent years. In 2015 an anonymous source leaked the heretofore secret Panama Papers. The Papers documented shell companies—over 200,000 of them—shielding world power players including Vladimir Putin from scrutiny of their wealth, control of companies and taxes. One result is that Panama no longer became a favorite venue for global bankers. The leakage of Papers continues to this day (writing in mid-2019). Banking is  so important to the Panamanian economy, it has looked elsewhere to replace its international banking industry. China steps in:

Continue reading →

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China’s Grand Strategy: Part 5

Posted on 01/07/2021 by Evan Dudik

Belt and Road Initiative – What?
By Evan Dudik — edudik@evandudik.com

It isn’t just through military and economic growth at sea, in space and online that China is building its grand strategy. Through massive infrastructure projects such as building ports and bridges in small countries like Djibouti and once-powerful ones such as Italy, China is challenging the U.S. sphere of influence.

Continue reading →

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