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October 24, 2022: Jarret C. Riddick, US Department of Defense, 4:00 pm in 100 McBryde Hall "DOD Operational Trust in Mission Autonomy (OPTIMA) Initiative"

  • 4:00 p.m.
  • 100 McBryde Hall 
  • Jarret C. Riddick, US Department of Defense
  • Faculty Host: Dr. Craig Woolsey

Abstract: BLUF: Operational Trust in Mission Autonomy (OPTIMA) is an initiative to deliver trusted Autonomy as a product to serve as a battlefield asset in complex, contested missions on the multi-domain battlefield, and enable deployment of effective human-machine teams. The Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) recently stated in an interview with Defense One, “... we have to drive towards affordable, attritable, survivable unmanned platforms. To do that, it's... critical to have trusted AI ML and trusted autonomy...” The authoritative Defense Science Board Summer Study on Autonomy released in 2016 promoted “trustworthiness and trust calibration under defined conditions” in human-machine teaming, noting the need for, “establishing trustworthiness and providing adequate capabilities so that inevitable variations in operational trustworthiness can be assessed and dealt with at run time is essential.” The OPTIMA initiative will galvanize efforts across the Department of Defense (DOD), interagency, academia, industry, and international partners to deliver trusted Autonomy, not only for operators and commanders, but also for designers, testers, planners, programmers, policymakers, lawmakers, and the American public. The purpose of the OPTIMA Initiative is to enhance the Warfighter’s ability to effectively team with disruptive Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) technology to enable mutli-domain dominance. The OPTIMA initiative will inform and shape imperative requirements for the Warfighter by delivering “trusted Autonomy” as a product that serves as a battlefield asset. The OPTIMA Initiative will establish goals for existing, emerging, and new capabilities by clearly identifying gaps in knowledge required to achieve a meaningful end-state for the role of trusted Autonomy on the battlefield. Outcomes of the OPTIMA initiative will deliver persistent agile battlefield advantage across the DoD Warfighting enterprise wherever intelligent autonomous systems are employed in human-machine teams.

Bio: Dr. Jaret C. Riddick serves as the Principal Director (PD) for Autonomy in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Pentagon, in Washington, DC. As the Senior Defense Official responsible for unifying and advancing DOD strategy in research and capabilities for Robotic and Autonomous Systems, Dr. Riddick reports directly to the Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Modernization. His roles and responsibilities include establishing a DOD-wide, mission-focused Roadmap; assessing the range of activities in Autonomy within DOD, OGAs, industry, academia, and internationally; leading independent technical; and conducting engagement and outreach across the DOD community. Prior to joining the Office of the Under Secretary, Dr. Riddick spent nearly twenty years as a research engineer and technical leader at the Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory (ARL), headquartered in Adelphi, MD. In his most recent leadership role with ARL, he served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives, leading Laboratory efforts focused on enterprise-level coordination for the Army’s Project Convergence; establishing the ARL Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and implementation of the ARL Technical Business Strategy. Prior to becoming Director of Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Riddick served as Director of the Vehicle Technology Directorate (VTD) of ARL, at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), MD. During his tenure as VTD Director, he led VTD in the establishment of the Robotics Research Collaboration Campus at Graces Quarters, ARL’s 200-acre robotics research proving ground. He also led the ARL-wide effort to establish the DEVCOM Foundational Research competencies which provide ARL and DEVCOM executive leadership the basis for alignment and management of resources, people, and infrastructure at the enterprise level. Prior to serving as VTD Director, he performed a detail assignment as Staff Specialist in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (OUSD(AT&L)), directly supporting the Deputy Director for Land Warfare and Munitions. Dr. Riddick also served a detail assignment to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology, where he was the Deputy Director of the Air Systems Portfolio. Riddick holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University; a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in mechanics of materials from North Carolina A&T State University; and a Ph.D. degree in Engineering Mechanics from Virginia Tech. In 2017, he was awarded the Office of Secretary of Defense Award of Excellence and the Department of the Army Commander’s Award for Civilian Service.