The Pentagon is finally discovering what our nation knew some 85 years ago.
If you want to create the cutting edge weapons that you need in the quality and quantities required to protect our nation, you need to turn to some very smart people in the business world.
Recent media reports reveal that America's military is now recruiting executives in the technology sector for the purpose of making them "weekend warriors."
It has been done before, and with war-winning results. If only the Biden White House had opened a history book four years ago.
During World War II, among the citizens who donned Army uniforms was William "Big Bill" Knudsen. A former General Motors executive, he was commissioned as a lieutenant general and proudly wore the uniform throughout the conflict. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt placed him in charge of America's armaments production program, with instructions to convert our peacetime industrial base into one that would outproduce our combined enemies on virtually every essential weapon. After his appointment, he turned around and created a team of proven industrial leaders to assist him in meeting the demands of our fighting forces.
His achievements were in stark contrast to America's industrial response to its entry into World War I. While providing millions of men for the front lines, much of our equipment, from tanks to airplanes, had to be provided by France and Britain. When our inventory of fighting equipment finally made it to Europe, the war was almost over.
Knudsen was not alone in this effort during World War II. The radio pioneer David Sarnoff was made a reserve brigadier general of the Signal Corps and, as the head of RCA, was involved in what was called "the War of the Wizards" as America sought to introduce technology that would confound the enemy and defeat their advances.
Now, some 85 years later, the Defense Department is reportedly asking chief technology officers at various companies to become tech reservists or part-time military officers. It is a reflection of the stark reality that the traditional battlefield is becoming unrecognizable as mysterious drones operate with impunity over sensitive American military bases, and our enemies are deploying battalions of cyber warriors to attack our computer networks, orbiting satellites and crucial infrastructure.
Sadly, the Biden Administration has been woefully late to the game in recognizing the threat and organizing a response. If someone in the White House had taken the time to know our nation's history, they would have discovered that the private sector has always been democracy's "ace in the hole," creating the tools that will preserve, protect and defend our nation. Let us hope that today's recruitment drive is not occurring too late.
Lawrence Kadish serves on the Board of Governors of Gatestone Institute.
