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Key Takeaways

• AI readiness is a leadership responsibility because artificial intelligence can influence military strategy, operational decisions, organizational structures, and national security.
• AI can help military organizations process large volumes of information and identify patterns, but human judgment remains essential when making consequential decisions.
• Military leaders must understand AI capabilities, limitations, cybersecurity risks, and data integrity to evaluate new technologies effectively.
• Integrating AI into defense organizations requires changes to workforce development, training, logistics, procurement, and organizational planning.
• Responsible military AI adoption requires clear accountability, appropriate human oversight, and consideration of legal, ethical, and institutional standards.

Jamie Hickman is a decorated U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and researcher based in New York City whose career spans two decades of military leadership and higher education. As an Army officer, she most recently served as executive officer for the U.S. Army Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, Alabama, advising the MDA Executive Director on strategic priorities and operations. Earlier roles included executive officer positions within Army Logistics at the Pentagon and command of the 115th Brigade Support Battalion at Fort Cavazos, Texas.

Hickman holds an Ed.D. in adult learning and leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a master’s degree in defense and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College. She has taught at the University of Maryland, West Point, and Central Texas College, and since 2025 has served as a research consultant at the University of Chicago, informing how military leaders approach emerging technology such as artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how governments, militaries, and organizations approach security, decision-making, and operations. For military leaders, understanding AI is no longer limited to knowing how a particular technology works. It means recognizing how AI can influence strategy, reshape traditional assumptions, and create new opportunities and risks across the defense landscape. In short, AI is a leadership issue as much as it is a technology issue.

One of the most important reasons military leaders need to understand AI is its potential to accelerate decision-making. Modern military operations generate enormous amounts of information from satellites, sensors, communications systems, intelligence platforms, and other sources. AI can help process and organize this information more quickly, allowing leaders to identify patterns and potential developments that might otherwise go undetected.

However, faster analysis does not automatically mean better decisions. Military leaders must understand the limitations of AI-generated assessments and ensure that human judgment remains central to consequential decisions.

AI is also changing how many military functions are performed. Autonomous and semi-autonomous systems may increasingly support surveillance, logistics, communications, cybersecurity, and other functions. These capabilities could allow military organizations to operate more efficiently while reducing the burden on personnel.

At the same time, greater reliance on automated systems raises questions about reliability and the appropriate level of human oversight.

Another strategic consideration is the speed at which AI capabilities are developing. Military organizations cannot assume that today’s technological advantages will remain permanent. Potential adversaries are also investing in AI and exploring ways to apply it to intelligence gathering, cyber operations, logistics, information warfare, and other areas.

Leaders must therefore treat any advantage as temporary, continually reassessing their own capabilities and building organizations that can adapt as quickly as the technology evolves.

AI also introduces significant cybersecurity concerns. Systems that rely on algorithms and large amounts of data can become targets for manipulation, disruption, or exploitation. Poor-quality data can produce unreliable outputs, while adversaries may attempt to deceive AI systems or interfere with the information on which they depend.

Military leaders therefore need enough understanding of AI to ask meaningful questions about system security, data integrity, testing, and resilience.

The effects of AI extend beyond operations to the institution itself. Defense organizations must consider how artificial intelligence could affect supply chains, workforce requirements, training, acquisition, budgeting, and organizational structures. AI may eliminate or reduce certain repetitive tasks while creating demand for professionals with new technical and analytical skills.

Leaders who understand these changes can help their organizations prepare personnel for evolving responsibilities rather than waiting until technological disruption has already occurred.

These changes also carry ethical and legal weight. Military applications of AI raise difficult questions about accountability, privacy, autonomy, and the use of force. Leaders must consider not only whether a system is technically capable of performing a task but also whether its use is consistent with laws, policies, professional standards, and institutional values.

Establishing appropriate safeguards requires leadership that can bring together technical expertise, operational knowledge, legal considerations, and ethical judgment.

For military leaders, developing AI literacy does not mean becoming an artificial intelligence engineer. It means understanding enough about the technology to evaluate its capabilities, limitations, risks, and strategic consequences. Leaders should be able to communicate with technical specialists, challenge assumptions, recognize unrealistic expectations, and determine how AI fits within broader operational objectives.

Ultimately, the strategic impact of AI will depend on how effectively military organizations integrate new capabilities while maintaining sound judgment, clear responsibility, and resilience. Military leaders who develop a practical understanding of AI will be better prepared to navigate an environment in which technological innovation increasingly shapes national security.

FAQs

Why is AI readiness important for military leaders?

Artificial intelligence is changing military operations, intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, logistics, and strategic decision-making. Leaders who understand its capabilities and limitations are better equipped to evaluate new technologies and prepare their organizations for emerging challenges.

Do military leaders need technical expertise in artificial intelligence?

Military leaders do not need to become AI engineers, but they should develop enough AI literacy to understand how systems work and where they may fail. This knowledge helps them communicate with technical specialists, evaluate risks, and connect technology investments to operational objectives.

How can AI improve military decision-making?

AI can process large volumes of information from sensors, satellites, communications systems, and intelligence platforms to identify patterns and support faster analysis. However, its outputs require careful evaluation because inaccurate data or system limitations can produce unreliable assessments.

What are the main risks of using AI in military operations?

Key risks include cybersecurity threats, manipulated data, unreliable outputs, excessive automation, and insufficient human oversight. Military applications also raise legal and ethical questions involving accountability, privacy, autonomy, and the use of force.

How can military organizations prepare their workforce for AI adoption?

Organizations can invest in AI literacy, technical training, workforce development, and collaboration between operational and technology specialists. They should also review how AI may change existing responsibilities, staffing requirements, acquisition processes, and organizational structures.

About Jamie Hickman

Jamie Hickman is a decorated U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel based in New York City with more than two decades of military leadership experience, including service with the Army Missile Defense Agency and Army Logistics at the Pentagon. She holds an Ed.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a master’s degree from the U.S. Naval War College. Hickman has taught at the University of Maryland, West Point, and Central Texas College, and currently serves as a research consultant at the University of Chicago.