URGENT UPDATE: At a recent Breitbart News Policy event, Onebrief COO Adam Lackey revealed how innovative technologies are transforming military decision-making processes. Speaking alongside Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow, Lackey underscored the importance of effective planning for credible military deterrence.
Lackey stated, “If you’re not capable of inflicting violence on your adversary, you have no credible deterrence,” highlighting the need for adaptive and continuous planning in today’s complex military landscape. This urgency is amplified when operations lead to “actual kinetic events,” which can escalate chaos.
Onebrief has established itself as a vital player, providing a collaborative planning platform utilized across various military branches, from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command under Admiral Paparo to components of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Lackey emphasized the company’s expanding footprint within the military, asserting, “We’re just continuing to fight… to have the right… to be represented inside of our commands.”
As a military veteran, Lackey expressed frustration with outdated defense acquisition systems, sharing his experience: “I got so much garbage handed to me going out the door. ‘Hey, take this with you to war.’ It was mass-produced, and it’s not what you need.” This sentiment echoes a demand for “cutting-edge technologies that are the right technologies for the commanders,” which he insists must be driven by coherent policy.
Lackey pointed to ongoing efforts within the current administration to eliminate acquisition bottlenecks and streamline processes at the Pentagon. He noted reforms like rewriting the FAR and increasing purchases of commercial products. However, he cautioned, “You replace old bad bureaucracy with new, slow bureaucracy,” indicating that challenges persist.
Furthermore, compliance requirements, particularly in cybersecurity, present significant hurdles for smaller, innovative firms. “Now you’ve got to deal with all these cyber compliance requirements, which are very burdensome today,” Lackey warned. He called on Department of Defense partners like DIU and DARPA to empower groundbreaking ideas regardless of their origin, ensuring they reach the warfighter.
During the discussion, Marlow characterized companies like Onebrief as “venture-backed non-traditionals,” capable of outpacing the “very bloated” Department of War. Lackey highlighted the pitfalls of legacy acquisition failures, revealing, “You can look at many a program inside the DOD, where they’ve upfronted $80 million… and it was built on a contract that was vaporware.”
He argued that true value lies in companies that absorb their own R&D costs, demonstrating their product’s effectiveness to the government. “We are selling to the government what they need, and the government sees the value in that product,” he stated, emphasizing that this model ultimately stretches taxpayer dollars further.
As the landscape of military technology rapidly evolves, the insights shared by Lackey at this event demonstrate the critical intersection of innovation and military readiness. The implications of these developments will be felt across the defense sector and beyond, indicating a pivotal moment for military operations.
Stay tuned for more updates on how these technologies continue to shape military strategy and operations.
