On December 1st, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III established the Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), a Department of Defense organization that will help build an enduring technological advantage by partnering with private capital providers.

OSC will connect companies developing critical technologies vital to national security with capital. Critical technologies such as advanced materials, next-generation biotechnology, and quantum science often require long-term financing to bridge the gap between the laboratory and full-scale production, often referred to as the “Valley of Death” in industry.

In an effort to continue “pulling the string” on the recent OODA Network Member Meeting discussion of domestic political extremism and violence with Brian Jenkins, we took a look at the research product of and community of practice represented by the Accelerationism Research Consortium (ARC).

The United States remains in a heightened threat environment. Lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and/or personal grievances continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland. In the coming months, threat actors could exploit several upcoming events to justify or commit acts of violence, including certifications related to the marking of two years since the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and potential sociopolitical developments connected to ideological beliefs or personal hostility. Targets of potential violence include public gatherings, faith-based institutions, the LGBTQI+ community, schools, racial and religious minorities, government facilities and personnel, U.S. critical infrastructure, the media, and perceived ideological opponents.

The volume of cyber-related information is daunting to say the least. A “cyber professional” can encompass a multitude of functions and disciplines ranging in technicality.  Skills include but are not limited to network security, network architecture, application security, data loss prevention, forensics, vulnerability management, incident response, security auditor, encryption, and threat intelligence, to name a few. When applying a security mindset to cyberspace, it is fairly easy to get lost down a rabbit hole of malware, tools, vulnerabilities, in addition to the actors that develop them, promote and sell them, and use them.  It is unsurprising that cyber security professionals are worn out from a never-ending assault of cyber threats trying to penetrate their organizations’ perimeters. 

The November OODA Network Member Monthly Call was held on Friday, November 18th.  The call was dedicated to opening remarks by OODA Network Member Brian Jenkins and a Q and A session with OODA Network Members on the topic of domestic political extremism, his most recent research on the topic, and lessons learned from Jenkins’ decades-long leadership on and expertise in the history, motivations and incentive structures of foreign political extremist organizations and individuals.  Jenkins also has a new book:  Plagues and Their Aftermath.

The Q and A session with OODA Network Members following Jenkins’ Opening Remarks is captured here.