Great Decisions with Thomas Kenney | AI and American National Security

Artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is often claimed as an emerging technology that will disrupt all facets of society.

Join us for a timely discussion of this topic with Lt. Col. Thomas Kenney, outgoing commander of the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) on Camp Pendleton North, San Diego, CA and Fellow at the Belfer Center. This program will feature an expert presentation, live audience Q&A, and time for networking and discussion with other globally-oriented participants.

This program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.

The program will be live-streamed to Zoom from 6:00-7:00 PM. To attend virtually, please register here.

Note: This event does not take place in the Boston Public Library. This event is taking place in the Eichenbaum Colloquium Room on the 1st floor of the Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering (CILSE) at 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston MA.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Kenney is the outgoing commander of the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) on Camp Pendleton North, San Diego, CA. Prior to assuming command, LTC Kenney served as a cyber and information operations officer supporting the Joint Staff at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. As an artificial intelligence subject matter expert, LTC Kenney also stood up and led the AI practice for the 75th Innovation Command prior to joining the Joint Staff.

LTC Kenney’s other assignments include Alpha Company Commander and then Executive Officer with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) at Joint Base Dix- Maguire-Lakehurst, NJ, and as the Delta and then HHC Company Commander with the 443rd Civil Affairs Battalion at Newport Naval Station, RI. He deployed on multiple occasions to both Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa in command, staff, and team leader positions since joining the Civil Affairs Regiment in 2009 and participated in exercises supporting the Europe, Africa, and Indo-Pacific geographic combatant commands. Prior to commissioning as an Engineer officer, LTC Kenney served for nine years as an enlisted non-commissioned officer in operations, aeromedical evacuation, and information warfare roles.

As a civilian, Mr. Kenney is Director of AI and Digital Transformation at Google, a Special Government Employee as a member of the Defense Science Board, an affiliate at the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and holds several board seats with emerging companies. Prior to his current role, Mr. Kenney was a Civilian Senior Executive serving as the Chief Data Officer and Head of AI for U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) in Tampa, FL. His career as a Founder, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Executive Officer for software companies spans over three decades with multiple exits totaling over $2B in valuation.

LTC Kenney is a graduate of the Engineer Basic Officer Leader Course, the Civil Affairs Captain’s Career Course, the Command and General Staff College for Intermediate Level Education, and the Advanced Officer Course for the Information Operations Functional Area. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, his Master of Science in Computer Science and AI from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is currently a Doctor of Engineering candidate with George Washington University.

LTC Kenney resides in the Boston area with his wife and two daughters.

Host or Publisher WorldBoston