Peace through strength in STEM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joann P. DiGennaro cofounded the Center for Excellence in Education with the late Adm. Hyman G. Rickover. The nonprofit nurtures careers of excellence and leadership in STEM for academically talented high school and college students. Her book, “Rickover: Underway, My Way,” is scheduled to be published in May.

“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.”

— Adm. Hyman G. Rickover

When Adm. Hyman G. Rickover founded the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) with me in 1983, he recognized the need for such an institution based on more than six decades of experience in the U.S. Navy. He understood that if Americans want to enjoy the fruits of peace and freedom, they must focus on educating the youth.

This emphasis on training and education has been a bedrock of America’s military strength since the nation’s founding 250 years ago. It’s what led to the establishment of the military academies and the creation of the U.S. Army War College. A prepared military relies on educated leaders and personnel.

During his speech at the laying of the Army War College’s cornerstone in 1903, Secretary of War Elihu Root said, “Not to promote war, but to preserve peace by intelligent and adequate preparation to repel aggression, this institution is founded.” These words are still featured prominently at this august school in Carlisle, Pa.

In 2005, I was deeply honored to be appointed by President George W. Bush as chair of the Army War College Board of Visitors and I served until 2009. This experience gave me a much broader understanding of the enormous complexities surrounding the common phrase “peace through strength.” It also enhanced my thinking on the morality and ethics of war and left me with tremendous respect for the leaders who are faced with profound life-and-death decisions.

For centuries, concepts of defense and warfare revolved around heavy fortifications and brute strength. Civilizations with impenetrable walls and fierce warriors were safer and more victorious in battle. Over time, advances in weaponry and munitions provided a distinct advantage to those with knowledge and ingenuity. In recent decades, military breakthroughs have advanced at an astonishing speed.

When Adm. Rickover and his team developed the first nuclear-powered submarine in the 1950s, it represented a revolutionary milestone in defense that few would have imagined possible. Rickover accomplished this remarkable feat by adhering to core principles that continue to guide the organization he cofounded. The admiral’s relentless focus on personal responsibility, uncompromising standards, and rigorous training should serve as the lodestar for any endeavor.

The U.S. must continue to follow these values and put in the hard work necessary to prepare the military for the global challenges it will face in the coming years. Recent conflicts have shown the importance of establishing technological superiority related to drones, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Also, humanoid robots (“AI soldiers”) are being developed for future use in battles. This means that American schools should commit to excellence in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education if the U.S. is to maintain its military strength.

Aside from the matter of how far technology can take these weapons, military leaders must also wrestle with questions of when or if they should be used. How much autonomy should robotic soldiers be allowed? In what situations can drones ethically be deployed? These questions require not only intelligence, but morality and wisdom.

Lessons can be learned from previous battles, but the real focus remains on meeting new realities now and in the future. For example, drones purchased for thousands of dollars can now destroy advanced infrastructure worth millions. In the future, AI data centers may become prime targets of military attacks. Leaders must be prepared for possibilities that may not even exist today. This takes creativity in addition to technical knowledge.

An investment in STEM education pays clear dividends in national defense, but it also propels the U.S. forward economically. While Adm. Rickover is properly recognized as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” he doesn’t receive enough credit for the crucial role he played in developing nuclear power for commercial purposes and the U.S. premier program for talented STEM scholars who are presently leaders in academia and business.

Tomorrow’s battlefields will be shaped in large part by today’s classrooms. And the safety of Americans at home and service members abroad will increasingly rely on technology developed not only by large defense contractors, but also by small start-ups.

Each of us has a responsibility to help lay the groundwork for the success of generations to come. As Adm. Rickover once said, “We must live for the future of the human race, and not for our own comfort or success.”