Securing the Future: The Role of AI in Bridging Technology and Defense Amid Global Challenges

In the past year, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has dramatically increased its spending on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. These investments reveal just how much of a critical factor AI plays in achieving military dominance in the modern era. As national governments race to build and sustain a technological edge, each must consider their ability to collaborate with private tech sectors and grapple with the ethical dilemmas utilizing AI for military operations.

On September 4, 6:00pm (In-person); 6:15pm PT (online)// September 5, 10:15 am JT (Online), the SVJP Benkyokai featured a discussion with Kyle Nakamoto, Senior Lead AI Engineer at Booz Allen Hamilton and Derek Kenmotsu, Head of Partnerships, AI/ML at the Defense Innovation Unit. They tackled the use of AI by the U.S. Department of Defense, the need for Silicon Valley partnerships, and the potential for U.S.-Japan defense tech collaborations. Together we explored global security challenges, ethical considerations, and the role of cutting-edge technology in modern military operations.

SPEAKER:

Kyle Nakamoto is a Senior Lead Scientist in the Booz Allen Hamilton Army Market, supporting a portfolio of client engagements and strategic investments in all markets Booz Allen serves. His team customizes AI capabilities to drive performance improvement in program management, engineering design management, and supply chain processes. Kyle has over 15 years of AI and Neural system design and deployment experience in many sectors, including automotive, medical, government, and defense. Having deployed AI systems into global manufacturing and supply chain systems, Kyle brings in-depth knowledge of global applications of AI and the cultural solutions required to drive AI utilization into organizations. He has been awarded multiple grants for his Neuroscience and Cognitive Publications, including a fellowship at the United Kingdom Medical Research Council. Kyle received his Ph.D. in Cognitive Science from the University of California at Irvine and worked as a Research Assistant Professor at the Northeast Ohio Medical University.

MODERATOR:

Derek Kenmotsu is a business leader at the intersection of technology and government. As Head of Partnerships for AI/ML at the Defense Innovation Unit, he helps the U.S. military adopt cutting-edge commercial technologies and advises allied nations. Prior to this, Derek founded an education company in Vietnam that provided corporate training solutions to enterprise clients. At Apple, Derek led cross-functional teams working on the advancement of iPhone hardware. In addition to his corporate experience, Derek serves as a U.S. Army Green Beret with a focus on the Indo-Pacific region, bringing a unique perspective to his leadership roles. He also co-founded the U.S.-Japan Council’s Advanced Leadership Collective, a community dedicated to fostering U.S.-Japan relations. Derek holds an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where he served as class president, and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the United States Military Academy at West Point.