First VP for irregular warfare?

PRESS RELEASE: Mark W. Kenny Named Vice President of Irregular Warfare Programs for Northrop Grumman, Dec. 16, 2009

Now, that is interesting and a sign of the times.

You know, I still get these emails from people who've caught the TED talk and wonder out loud to me, "Are there any signs of the system 'getting it'--you know, your vision?" I don't take any offense, because they come from people unfamiliar with the field (and my blog), so they're not tracking all these data points as they flow by. Plus, nothing as big as this industry moves because of any one "vision" (please), but rather as a result of huge signals from the system, augmented, in bits and pieces, with concepts from a sizable universe of thinkers (like me and too many others to name). But my gut reaction is always to laugh a little bit inside (that ticklish feeling in the pit of your stomach), because, deep down, I still remain amazed at how much change has already happened or is in the works, and I'm quite happy and surprised with the speed at which it has arrived. People outside the industry have no idea how big and established and comfortable and certain of itself the military-industrial-complex was prior to 9/11 (in addition to considering me pretty much a flaky nut on the margins), so to witness this evolution in under a decade is really quite stunning. And to have participated in it, in my own small way? That's been priceless.

So good for Northrop Grumman for its continued evolution.

The guy in question has an interesting history: very sub-focused early on and then migrates toward irregular warfare across this decade.

Comments

[David Sutton]

Slowly , slowly the wheel turns...but as long as its turning in the right direction, then I'm happy that its turning at all.

[Ted O'Connor]

Sounds like a smart guy. Sub community was looking for work after the wall came down and the Soviet navy evaporated. He learned new things and stayed in the game. I remember when everyone thought Green Berets were a handfull of nut jobs. That was back in the day...now Special Forces are "in."