Empowering Military Leadership through AI and Data Science Education

Hosting and Educating Senior Military Leaders on AI at the Naval Postgraduate School

At the intersection of national security and emerging technology, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) stands as a hub for advanced military education and innovation. During my time as a Faculty Associate Researcher in the Department of Computer Science, I had the privilege of leading the planning, coordination, and educational design of a specialized symposium focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and data science for senior military leadership.

Leading Data and AI-Enabled Organizations Symposium

The Lead Data and AI Symposium was created to equip Flag Officers and High-Ranking Generals with strategic insight into how AI and machine learning (ML) are shaping modern defense operations. This event served not only as an intensive educational experience but also as a critical platform for fostering dialogue between military leaders and technologists.

As lead organizer, I was responsible for the full lifecycle of the symposium—from designing the agenda and recruiting expert speakers to facilitating sessions and translating highly technical content into strategic takeaways tailored for defense leaders. The goal was to bridge the gap between emerging AI capabilities and their operational relevance, ensuring that attendees could leave with actionable knowledge to guide organizational transformation.

Designing the symposium required collaboration across military, academic, and industry sectors. Our team worked to ensure that the content was accessible yet comprehensive, covering topics such as autonomous systems, data-driven decision-making, algorithmic bias, and trust in AI. By curating a program that balanced technical rigor with strategic framing, we created space for both learning and co-development of future defense applications.

Sessions included keynote briefings from leading AI researchers, panels with senior technologists, and scenario-based learning activities. These interactive elements allowed leaders to directly engage with the material, question experts, and contribute to shaping how these technologies might be responsibly integrated into command structures.

One of the most meaningful outcomes of the symposium was helping military leaders develop greater fluency in AI—an essential step toward building AI-enabled organizations that are both operationally effective and ethically grounded. Participants walked away with a clearer understanding of AI’s potential and risks, frameworks for strategic adoption, and a stronger vision for leading innovation at scale.

This initiative aligns closely with my broader work at NPS, which centers on the application of data science, ML, and AI in defense. In addition to the symposium, I support faculty-led research, assist with campus-wide efforts such as the annual CS Hackathon, and contribute to projects that span technical development and leadership engagement.

Organizing this symposium was a highlight of my time at the Naval Postgraduate School. It reflects the type of work I aim to continue—connecting research, education, and strategy to help national security leaders adapt to a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

If you would like to learn more about this course, please visit the website linked below. You will also find me listed as part of the staff!

Naval Postgraduate School Website: https://nps.edu/web/faculty-rgera/leadai
Archived Website: https://web.archive.org/web/20250320060728/https://nps.edu/web/faculty-rgera/leadai