Leadership Lessons from 28 Years in the Army: Driving AI Adoption in Defense

AI is transforming defense, from predictive maintenance to decision support, but adoption lags due to resistance, lack of understanding, and cultural hurdles. As a retired Command Sergeant Major who's led AI-enabled transformations, I share battle-tested lessons from combat and command that apply directly to AI change management in 2025.

Lead by Example – Executives must demonstrate AI use to build trust.

Communicate Relentlessly – Address fears head-on (job loss, errors) with transparency.

Build Coalitions Early – Engage end-users and stakeholders from day one.

Create Quick Wins – Pilot small AI projects for visible successes.

Foster Resilience & Ownership – Use P.E.O.P.L.E. values to instill "this is our change."

Sustain with Reinforcement – Metrics, training, and recognition keep momentum.

In DoD programs, these approaches have driven 95%+ adoption despite complexity. As 2025 DoD strategies emphasize AI acceleration, proactive change leadership is non-negotiable.

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