Ep. 58 Future of National Security Workforce

Alex Wagner, the former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower & Reserve Affairs, joins Mike Shanley to discuss the Future of the National Security Workforce and how it's being shaped by rapidly evolving trends. The conversation covers the role of technology in defense, diversity and inclusion within the Department of Defense (DoD), how Silicon Valley is connecting with the DoD to drive innovation, and what these changes mean for the defense industry.

RESOURCES:
GovDiscovery AI Federal Capture Support: https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/
Opinion: "Actually there's not much DEI in the DOD" https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/01/29/hegseth-dei-defense-department-military/

BIOGRAPHY:
Alex Wagner served as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower & Reserve Affairs from 2022 to 2025. Nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he was responsible for the entire human capital enterprise of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, including recruiting and retention, talent management, compensation, health care and dependent care, discipline, oversight of the U.S. Air Force Academy and Air Force ROTC detachments, and reserve component affairs impacting nearly 700,000 Airmen, Guardians, and civilians.

Previously, as Vice President at the Aerospace Industries Association, Alex led talent and workforce policy efforts on behalf of America's most prominent aerospace and defense companies.

During the Obama administration, he served as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Army, spearheading creation of the Army Rapid Capabilities Office and the Army Digital Service. Over the course of several prior appointments in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he shaped the development and implementation of DoD policies on nuclear and conventional weapons, including emerging autonomy in weapons systems.

He earned a J.D. from Georgetown Law, an A.B. from Brown University, and is currently an adjunct professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

LEARN MORE:
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