NWC Issues in National Security Lecture Series, Lecture 14 “Robots that Fly, Swim and Crawl”
Channel: U.S. Naval War College
Date: 2023-05-03

This lecture took place on May 2, 2023.
Professor John Jackson will discuss the past, present and future uses of robotic and unmanned systems, both in the military services and in private use. His fast-paced and fact-filled presentation will discuss the systems involved, the operational challenges they address, and the legal and ethical ramifications of their use. Known by many as the “Duke of Drones”, he will draw from his popular book “One Nation, Under Drones” to address everything you always wanted to know about drones… but were afraid to ask!
 
John E. Jackson is a professor in the Naval War College’s College of Distance Education.  He teaches in the area of National Security Affairs, and also serves as Program Manager for the Chief of Naval Operations Professional Reading Program. A long-time proponent of emerging technology, he has co-moderated one of the College’s most popular elective courses entitled “Unmanned Systems and Conflict in the 21st Century” since the 2009 academic year.  In March 2010, he was called to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Security regarding this course and the attitude of military officers toward evolving technology.  In October 2017, he was appointed as the E.A. Sperry Chair of Robotics and Unmanned Systems. He retired from active duty in the U.S. Navy at the rank of captain after 27 years of service in the logistics and graduate education fields. He has been listed in Marquis “Who’s Who in America” since 1997.
 
In December 2018, his book “One Nation, Under Drones” was published by the U.S. Naval Institute. In 2022, a Chinese language version was published by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense.  He has lectured on unmanned systems at venues ranging from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL); the American University Washington College of Law; and the New York Yacht Club.

The views presented by the faculty or other guest speakers do not reflect official positions of the Naval War College, DON or DOD.