Defense, Emerging Technology, and Strategy
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Faculty Director
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Staff
Programming Highlights
Stephanie Nguyen (MPP 2019), the Chief Technology Officer of the Federal Trade Commission, joined the DETS Program in February 2024. Notably, Nguyen detailed the ongoing challenge of crafting policy solutions to regulate private sector development of AI while still ensuring that U.S. firms remain globally competitive and innovative.
"Our visit from National Security Fellow Alum General Saltzman highlighted the significance of the Belfer Center's commitment to developing current and future military leaders. Specifically, the CSO tied his ability to consider different and diverse perspectives to his time as a former Fellow.
The CSO's engagement with students was very enlightening for many, as he intellectually challenged the common misconceptions and traditional paradigms that many hold on the access and international utility of Space."
– Lt Col Etan Funches, NSF '24
DETS hosted Director Easterly along with essential CISA staff members, several of whom are alumni of the Belfer Center or Harvard Kennedy School.
Director Easterly provided comprehensive insights into CISA's dynamic approach to advising private and governmental organizations on evolving cybersecurity concerns. A top priority for CISA is securing the upcoming election; Director Easterly underscored that at the core of CISA’s strategy is a commitment to amplifying the perspectives of state and local election officials.
“Our discussion with Admiral Grady covered a wide range of technological advancements and respective policy implications. For what concerns AI, we focused on three promising developments: liquid neural networks enhancing model capabilities, AI agents facilitating model interactions, and alignment strategies at the human level.
Admiral Grady's insights were particularly interesting, stressing the importance of preparedness, both at the human and technological level, to current and future technologies.”
- Diletta Milana, MPA 2024
The DETS Program hosted Mircea Geoană, Deputy Secretary General of NATO, for a conversation on national security and transatlantic defense. In a discussion moderated by Eric Rosenbach and Elif Memet MPP/MBA ‘26, Deputy Secretary Geoană discussed countering emerging threats and strengthening alliances.
Our Vision
The first tenet of the DETS program focuses on defense policy issues, ranging from the future of European security architectures to strategies for developing plans and capabilities to defend Taiwan.
The program also focuses on new technologies that have emerged as pivotal to the future of international security. Advances in space, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, digital currencies, and synthetic biology bring complex risks. The need for a new generation of technology-savvy policy, strategy, and leadership in these areas is evident.
Finally, the program seeks to improve public sector strategy execution of security initiatives in the international arena. Too often, well-conceived strategies –particularly those related to technology– fail because of poor implementation. The program seeks to bolster the research into and practice of successful public sector strategy execution.
Focus Areas
The three focus areas of the program each come with their own unique set of issues and questions:
Recent Publications
The Defense, Emerging Technology, and Strategy (DETS) program has a dual mission to (1) advance policy-relevant knowledge and strategy on the most important challenges at the intersection of security and emerging technology; and (2) prepare future leaders
Program Activities
Senior Fellows
Senior Fellows draw on their rich experiences in government to act as advisors and contributors to the research and strategic focus of the DETS program.
