Students will work in teams of two and take on the role of start-up employees “pitching” an emerging military technology at a Pentagon-sponsored pitch day. Students will identify a specific technology, software program, or weapon system and try to convince the Department of Defense why they should acquire the product. (Note: the product can be something that’s currently in development, something that’s already used by other states, or something more speculative.) Students will write a bulletized “pitch” that explains why the government should buy their product.
The pitch should:
- Tell the government buyers what the technology is.
- Explain why the government should buy it (e.g., how will it make military operations safer, more efficient, more lethal, etc.?).
- Identify what technologies it might replace.
The “pitch” should be uploaded by session 6. During sessions 6 and 7, each team will have exactly 3 minutes to make their pitch in front of the class. The pitch (written document and presentation) counts for 5% of the final grade. This is intended to be a fun assignment that allows students to get to know their classmates, think about the future security environment, and identify how technology can affect international security.
