Can the US Keep Its Edge on the Battlefield?
Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks lays out how the United States is trying to stay ahead as new technologies and global threats reshape modern warfare.
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Kevin Wolf / AP
About the Episode
Defense is evolving fast—AI, drones, cyber threats, and autonomous weapons. The United States has led for decades, but China is closing in. Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Kath Hicks breaks down how the Pentagon is adapting, where it’s falling behind, and what’s at stake.
About the Speakers
Distinguished Fellow in Defense and Security
Kathleen Hicks served as the 35th US Deputy Secretary of Defense. Previously, she served as senior vice president and director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Donald Marron Scholar at the Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.
President & Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri joined the Council in 2025 as the president and chief executive officer, after previously serving as director of the US and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London. She brings nearly 30 years of experience working at the intersection of international affairs, research, policy, and public engagement.