Defense Secretary Ash Carter was at the RSA Conference in San Francisco this week to tout the Defense Department's new initiatives meant to spur innovation within the department through collaboration with the private sector.

During a fireside chat with Ted Schlein, a general partner at Kleiner Perkins, Caufield & Byers, titled, "A Conversation on Collaboration Between Silicon Valley and the Department of Defense," Carter cited the department's new Defense Digital Service, the brand-new Defense Innovation Advisory Board and a satellite office that recently opened in Silicon Valley.

All these are intended to bridge the divide between DoD and the private sector and help the former innovate more like the latter.

"Reach out to us," Carter said. "Whether you're looking at our problems and offering us a solution; whether you're offering your own commitment for a year, six months. We have lots of avenues for you to connect with us and we're trying to create more every day."

Defense Digital Service

The Defense Digital Service — modeled off the U.S. Digital Service and similar teams on the civilian side — is a great way for individuals to test the waters of working at DoD without having to jump all the way in, Carter said.

The DDS is designed to be a way for private sector cyber and IT experts to do tours of duty with the DoD for one or two years at a time.

"Come in, work with us … no strings attached," Carter said, adding that he would have loved an opportunity like this when he was starting out in the private sector. "You don't have to become part of the government. Come in, try it out, work on an important problem for a year or two, see how you like it."

After the tour is up, those people can leave to do something new or sign up for public service and continue their work.

"That's an example of a people bridge between the innovative sector and the government," he said.

Defense Innovation Advisory Board

Earlier in the day, news broke that DoD would be establishing an advisory board of tech experts to help advise the secretary and the department.

"This is going to be some people who are the best technical minds who come in and spend some time telling me how we can be more innovative," Carter said.

That effort will be led by Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Alphabet (formerly known as Google), who will also be tasked with filling out the board's ranks. Carter said he plans to give Schmidt "substantial latitude" in those appointments.

Once the board is fleshed out, the members will travel to bases and installations around the world to get a sense of how the DoD works and the inherent challenges to innovation.

Then, the board will "tell me how we can do better," Carter said.

Silicon Valley Office

Carter said the DoD bureau stationed in Silicon Valley is just getting off the ground but he hopes it will be a place where private sector experts can come meet the department one-on-one and find out where they can work together.

"It's a place to connect," he explained. "I've given it a very open charter: Just make connections. Make money connections — that is, help people understand the places in the department where they can secure funding for ideas they think are relevant for defense — where they can get to know the programs I've described — like if they want to take a tour of duty — it's a place where our people can be and connect with all of you."

Carter said DoD is still experimenting with the best structure for this office but encouraged anyone with an interest to visit.

Ultimately, the branch will be successful so long as it fosters conversations between the sectors.

"Our job is to protect you and we'd love your help," he told the crowd.

About Aaron Boyd

Aaron Boyd is an awarding-winning journalist currently serving as editor of Federal Times — a Washington, D.C. institution covering federal workforce and contracting for more than 50 years — and Fifth Domain — a news and information hub focused on cybersecurity and cyberwar from a civilian, military and international perspective.

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