The adoption of digital command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance( C4ISR) systems revolutionized operational efficiency, enabling real-time data-sharing and rapid decision-making on the battlefield. This transformation from analog to digital radically reshaped military strategies, improving agility and effectiveness.
Transformational thinkers are visionaries, skilled at seeing beyond current practices to imagine a spectrum of potential futures. Their insights are grounded not in surface symptoms but in understanding underlying causes, enabling strategic foresight rather than tactical reaction. A Harvard Business Review study confirms that leaders who engage in strategic foresight are 33 % more likely to identify future opportunities and risks accurately( Harvard Business Review, 2019).
Honing this ability isn’ t innate— it’ s cultivated through exposure to diverse contexts, disciplined reflection, and a willingness to question assumptions.
Throughout my 36-year career in the U. S. Marine Corps, I have witnessed firsthand how technological innovation reshapes military operations and strategic capabilities. As Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center( JAIC), I led the U. S. Department of Defense’ s efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into joint warfighting and departmental processes, fundamentally transforming decision-making and operational readiness. Initiatives such as the AI and Data Acceleration( ADA) program exemplified transformative thinking by rapidly deploying AI tools across combatant commands, dramatically enhancing real-time strategic responsiveness and operational efficiency.
The transformative power of technology is evident not only in military applications but also in broader societal advancements. Consider the invention of the transistor— it wasn’ t merely an innovation; it fundamentally changed electronics, computing, and communications. Similarly, Henry Ford revolutionized manufacturing by transforming production processes, a model subsequently adopted globally across countless industries. Likewise, Bill Gates transformed computing from exclusive to ubiquitous, democratizing access to information globally. According to Moore’ s Law, computing power doubles approximately every two years, reinforcing the exponential nature of technological progress and the expectation that technology will continue to transform business as we know it( Intel, 2020).
18 Bold ideas to power progress