The Vanderbilt School of Engineering is hosting a select group of senior executives from the U.S. Army the week of Sept. 16-20 for a first-of-its-kind educational program focused on leadership and organizational resilience in the era of artificial intelligence.
Participants in the Leadership Education for Growth, Empowerment and Network Development (LEGEND) will hear from a number of high-profile speakers throughout the week, as well as engage in case-study and lecture-based educational programs. These will be led by expert faculty members in data science, machine learning, risk analysis and workplace management in technology environments.
“This inaugural program is custom-designed to give executives the tools they need to lead effectively in a rapidly evolving digital world,” said Joanne Wang, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships and Assistant Dean in the School of Engineering. She is also Associate Professor for the Practice in Engineering Science and Management teaching in this program. “It has been gratifying to work closely with the U.S. Army Senior Executive Service (SES) to develop a technology-focused curriculum that will help leaders address complex current and future challenges.”
Keynote speakers throughout the week include the Honorable Mario Diaz, Deputy Under Secretary of the Army, and Retired General Paul Nakasone, former commander of U.S. Cyber Command, Director of the National Security Agency and chief of the Central Security Service. In June, Nakasone was named the Founding Director of the Vanderbilt Institute of National Security, as well as Distinguished Research Professor of Engineering Science and Management, and Special Advisor to the Chancellor.
“Schools like Vanderbilt have a valuable role to play ensuring that our top military leaders have the knowledge and skills they need to stay ahead of major technology shifts like we’re seeing today,” said Lt. General Charlie Moore, Distinguished Visiting Professor, and one of the LEGEND’s organizers. “I hope this program is the first of many that can help national security professionals remain equipped and engaged.”
Doug Adams, Executive Director for the Institute of National Security and Daniel F. Flowers Distinguished Professor of Engineering, reflected on this opportunity for the university and the Institute to support these senior executives from the U.S. Army: “The extraordinary expertise, experience, and dedication to mission of these leaders of the Senior Executive Service was on display from the very first session of the LEGEND program. We are very grateful for the opportunity to host these seasoned leaders at Vanderbilt University.”
More than 30 senior level executives working with the U.S. Army—a mix of civilian and active-duty leaders—are taking part in the weeklong program. Vanderbilt faculty members have designed custom coursework to address topics like enterprise-wide technology implementations, using AI and data analytics in decision making, and navigating emerging risk threats.
“As the Army evolves in the 21st century, we must train our leaders to become experts in mastering new technologies to win against our competitors, while ensuring that they understand the risk, benefits, and ethical use of the applications,” said Aubrey Butts, Director of Executive Education for the Army Senior Executive Service (SES). Members of the Army Senior Executive Service are part of an elite group of civilian managers and administrators charged with running major portions of the federal government.
“Technology is having a tremendous impact on all aspects of organizations, both public and private,” said Krish Roy, Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor. “The School of Engineering’s mission is to train leaders for an increasingly connected and technology-driven world. To us, national security is shaped by many tremendously complex systems—from the battlefield and advanced quarters to policy and politics; infrastructure sustainability and resources; energy, climate, and social forces—all within a context of risk, reliability and resilience. The LEGEND program exemplifies the customized education solutions that keep leaders abreast of rapid changes in technology and its wide-ranging impact in these areas.”
In addition to Wang, Vanderbilt faculty members who designed and are teaching in the program include Mark Abkowitz, Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Sankaran Mahadevan, John R. Murray Sr. Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering; and Jesse Spencer-Smith, Interim Director and Chief Data Scientist of the Vanderbilt Data Science Institute. Program participants will receive an honorary certificate for completion of the program in a ceremony scheduled for Friday, September 20. For more information about customized educational programs at the School of Engineering, go to vu.edu/vuse-strategic-partners.