The following readout was provided by Department of Defense Spokesman Eric Pahon:
Deputy Secretary of Defense, Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks visited the Office of the Secretary of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) on March 11th.
Deputy Secretary Hicks met with SCO Director Jay Dryer and other senior leaders to gain a deeper understanding of SCO programs as they relate to global needs.
During her visit, the Deputy Secretary received briefings on emerging technologies, including autonomy and artificial intelligence, long range fires, and special and enabling capabilities.
The SCO is an organization within the Office of the Secretary of Defense which seeks to identify, analyze, and prototype disruptive applications of new systems; unconventional uses of existing systems; and implementing emerging technologies to create operational strategic effects.
SCO projects are typically initiated by pressing operational challenges which are identified jointly with the combatant commands, services, and other government agencies.
Prior to her departure, Deputy Secretary Hicks recognized several outstanding members of the SCO team for the work they’ve done in keeping the Department of Defense on the cutting edge of technological development—including for Ghost Fleet Overlord—an unmanned surface vessel program that recently transitioned to the Navy as a program of record.