Alphabet chairman and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has been tapped by the U.S. Department of Defense to head up a new “Innovation Advisory Board.” According to the Defense Department, the board’s purpose will be to help the Department adapt and adjust its culture and processes in innovative ways.
From the Department of Defense:
The board’s mandate is to provide department leaders independent advice on innovative and adaptive means to address future organizational and cultural challenges, including the use of technology alternatives, streamlined project management processes and approaches – all with the goal of identifying quick solutions to DoD problems.
While Schmidt has been picked to chair the board, other members have yet to be named. When all is said and done, the Defense Department says that the board will be made up of up to 12 individuals “who have successfully led large private and public organizations, and excelled at identifying and adopting new technology concepts.” Members will be selected by Schmidt and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.
The creation of the board comes amid increasing tensions between the government and the tech sector over Apple’s current dispute with the FBI over assisting in unlocking an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and a number of other tech industry executives, have come out in support of Apple’s stance in that ongoing case.
Source: Department of Defense; Via: Re/Code
