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Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War Hardcover – July 9, 2024
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A vast and largely unseen transformation of how war is fought as profound as the invention of gunpowder or advent of the nuclear age is occurring. Flying cars that can land like helicopters, artificial intelligence-powered drones that can fly into buildings and map their interiors, microsatellites that can see through clouds and monitor rogue missile sites—all these and more are becoming part of America’s DIU-fast-tracked arsenal.
Until recently, the Pentagon was known for its uncomfortable relationship with Silicon Valley and for slow-moving processes that acted as a brake on innovation. Unit X was specifically designed as a bridge to Valley technologists that would accelerate bringing state of the art software and hardware to the battle space. Given authority to cut through red tape and function almost as a venture capital firm, Shah, Kirchhoff, and others in the Unit who came after were tasked particularly with meeting immediate military needs with technology from Valley startups rather than from so-called “primes”—behemoth companies like Lockheed, Raytheon, and Boeing.
Taking us inside AI labs, drone workshops, and battle command centers—and, also, overseas to Ukraine’s frontlines—Shah and Kirchhoff paint a fascinating picture of what it takes to stay dominant in a fast-changing and often precarious geopolitical landscape.
In an era when America’s chief rival, China, has ordered that all commercial firms within its borders make their research and technology available for military exploitation, strengthening the relationship between Washington and Silicon Valley was always advisable. Today, it is an urgent necessity.
- Print length336 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherScribner
- Publication dateJuly 9, 2024
- Dimensions6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101668031388
- ISBN-13978-1668031384
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
—Walter Isaacson, author of the New York Times bestselling biographies Steve Jobs and Elon Musk
“This book offers a window into how dinosaurs learn to innovate. With rich experience and vivid storytelling, Raj Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff show how it’s possible to coax creativity out of bureaucracies and fight for change in institutions designed to sustain the status quo.”
—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again, and host of the podcast Re:Thinking
“Riveting. Essential reading for understanding how technology will change the future of warfare—and the risks America faces if China's military innovates faster than ours.”
—Chris Miller, New York Times bestselling author of Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology
“Rouses more curiosity about what happens next than anything I might have binge-watched. Unit X is terrifying but also hopeful.”
—Reid Hoffman, cofounder of both LinkedIn and Inflection AI and coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Startup of You
“Unit X pulls no punches. Fortunately, it also shows what's possible once you get out of the old-think box. While this is the story of the Pentagon's epiphany, it can apply just as well to businesses mired in habit and in need of resuscitation. And it's a fun read, too.”
—Vint Cerf, Winner of the A.M. Turing Award and cofounder of the Internet
“An illuminating, behind-the-scenes examination of the numerous, critical, and sometimes competing efforts inside the Pentagon to change the way it does business. An exceedingly important book!”
—General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Director of the CIA; and author of the New York Times bestseller, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine
“An unnerving tour de force. Unit X always feels high stakes, the ongoing tug of war it chronicles central to whether the nation prevails in the contests to come.”
—Admiral James Stavridis, (US Navy, Ret.); 16th Supreme Allied Commander of NATO; and author of 2054: A Novel
“Compelling. Those who put themselves in harm’s way to preserve freedom should consider Chris Kirchhoff and Raj Shah American heroes.”
—Rear Admiral Hugh Wyman Howard III, former Commander of DEVGRU (SEAL Team Six) and Naval Special Warfare
“Engaging and important. This is the story of a trailblazing Pentagon unit designed to harness American intellect, spur innovation, and maximize entrepreneurship so that peace will be preserved and the free world defended.”
—Lieut. General H.R. McMaster, U.S. Army (Ret.), former National Security Adviser, and New York Times bestselling author of Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World
“Extraordinary. A gripping, firsthand account of the authors’ role in building and leading the innovation unit within the Department of Defense that is helping to get America ready for the future of warfare."
—Christian Brose, Chief Strategy Officer of Anduril Industries, Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and author of The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare
About the Author
Christopher Kirchhoff, an expert in emerging technology, helped create the Defense Innovation Unit, which he continues to advise. During the Obama administration, he was the director of strategic planning for the National Security Council and senior civilian adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Chris obtained an AB degree from Harvard College and a PhD in social and political sciences from Cambridge University.
Product details
- Publisher : Scribner (July 9, 2024)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1668031388
- ISBN-13 : 978-1668031384
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.3 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #14,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Christopher Kirchhoff, an expert in emerging technology, helped create the Defense Innovation Unit, which he continues to advise for. During the Obama administration, he was the director of strategic planning for the National Security Council and senior civilian adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Chris obtained an AB degree from Harvard College and a PhD in social and political sciences from Cambridge University.
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Shah and Kirchhoff present a compelling case for why Unit X was necessary — the DoD’s challenge, given the Department’s bureaucratic hurdles, cultural clashes, and institutional inertia, to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change and the increasing complexity of global threats. They highlight how the DIU sought to import Silicon Valley’s agile and iterative development methodologies into the rigid and risk-averse environment of military procurement.
One of the book’s major strengths is its insider perspective. Shah, a former director of the DIU, and Kirchhoff, a senior advisor with a background in national security, provide unique and privileged insights into the Pentagon’s internal dynamics. Their firsthand experiences lend credibility and depth to their analysis, allowing readers to understand the nuanced challenges of implementing change in such a vast and complex organization.
The book also utilizes personal stories of individuals who played pivotal roles in the DIU’s journey to humanize the broader institutional struggles, making the technical and bureaucratic aspects more relatable and emotionally engaging. For instance, the authors recount DIU leaders’ efforts to navigate political landmines and secure buy-in from skeptical military officials.
However, “Unit X” is not without its shortcomings. While the book provides a thorough account of the DIU’s formation and early successes, it occasionally veers into overly technical jargon, with phrases such as ‘agile and iterative development methodologies,’ that might be challenging for readers without a background in defense or technology. (For context, these methodologies refer to the flexible and continuous approach to software development commonly used in Silicon Valley, which was a key part of the DIU’s strategy.) This reliance on heavily technical language could alienate a broader audience who might otherwise be interested in the subject matter.
Further, the book’s heavy focus on the successes of the DIU can, at times, prevent a critical examination of its limitations and failures. While Shah and Kirchhoff acknowledge some setbacks, such as the challenges in gaining acceptance from the traditional military establishment, they gloss over the initiative’s more contentious or less successful aspects, such as specific projects that did not meet their objectives or instances where the DIU’s approach was not well-received. A more balanced critique, including a deeper exploration of the DIU’s shortcomings and lessons learned, would have provided a richer, more nuanced narrative.
Despite these drawbacks, “Unit X” significantly contributes to the military innovation and defense reform discourse by providing a crucial resource for understanding how current geopolitical tensions and the accelerating pace of technological change are impacting defense considerations within the DoD. As nations worldwide grapple with integrating emerging technologies into their defense strategies, the DIU’s experiences offer valuable lessons on fostering innovation within large, bureaucratic institutions.
The authors raise important questions about the future of military procurement and the role of private-sector partnerships in national defense. They argue convincingly that for the U.S. to maintain its strategic edge, it must continue to embrace non-traditional approaches to innovation and leverage the strengths of its vibrant tech industry. This should involve more collaboration with tech companies, more flexible procurement processes, and a greater focus on rapid prototyping and experimentation.
“Unit X” is a captivating and insightful exploration of the Defense Innovation Unit’s journey. By documenting the DIU’s achievements and challenges, Shah and Kirchhoff provide a potential roadmap for future efforts to modernize and innovate within the defense sector.
1. At first, a scary campfire story about why you shouldn’t join government
2. Ultimately an inspiring account of actually how a person (well two) can actually make huge change. Bravo
3. A very thoughtful set of takes on how new tech is changing warfare
4. As someone who reads a lot about Ukraine, tech, Silicon Valley, and conflict, a series of genuinely fresh ideas most pages
5. A gripping read
Slightly hyperbolic in the last chapter but books are easy to start and difficult to end
Easily the best book related to conflict or public service I’ve read in some time