Cadets Urged to Think Outside the Technology Box

Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder addresses cadets in Gillis Theater. -- VMI Photo by Kevin Remington.

LEXINGTON, Va., Feb. 18, 2013 – Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder invited cadets to “stand up and make a difference” by contributing to the futuristic yet realistic world of unmanned military technologies in a speech given at VMI earlier today.

Klunder’s talk, entitled “Enabling Our Autonomous Future,” was part of the H.B. Johnson Jr. ’26 Distinguished Lecture Series.

Klunder, who is chief of naval research at the Office of Naval Research in Arlington, Va., began his remarks by eschewing the podium for closer contact with his cadet audience.

Walking up the aisles of Gillis Theater, Klunder warmed to his topic as he enthusiastically shared with the cadets the questions he once asked midshipmen when he was commandant at the U.S. Naval Academy – “What is going to happen today? If you’re called upon, are you going to show leadership? Are you going to stand up and show honor? Are you going to stand up and make a difference?”

Now, Klunder explained, he asks those same questions of the researchers and scientists he supervises at the Office of Naval Research, an arm of the Department of Defense which conducts science and technology research to benefit the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

The 1982 U.S. Naval Academy graduate noted that those efforts to make a difference are desperately needed in a world in which IEDs – improvised explosive devices – and WMDs – weapons of mass destruction – have become part of the layman’s vocabulary. “The bad guys are getting pretty good at their stuff and I hope you know that,” he remarked.

Weapons that deliver the maximum punch for the lowest cost, and with the least risk of human life, are the wave of a future that is already here, said Klunder.

As examples, Klunder showed a montage of images from modern-day weaponry, ranging from Jeeps and Humvees operated by robots to unmanned submarines used for mine sweeping to unmanned helicopters, and even a drone which is scheduled to launch from an aircraft carrier for the first time in May.

Those technologies, the rear admiral noted, stem from innovative thinking.  “When we put soldiers, sailors, airmen out there in the field, we’ve got to make sure they’re prepared. We’ve got to make sure they’ve got the best technology they can, the most affordable technology they can use and it’s got to work really well,” Klunder said.

As an example of outside the box thinking, Klunder spoke of planes currently under development that can operate without access to a global positioning system.

“I don’t want you coloring inside the lines all the time,” continued Klunder, who has flown 45 different types of aircraft and attained 21 world flying-records. His awards include the 1988 Hawkeye of the Year, the 1991 Test Pilot of the Year and the 2002 George C. Marshall Statesman Award.

Klunder concluded his remarks with an appeal to cadets to come and join the Office of Naval Research’s initiative to “color outside the lines” in support of the nation’s military.

“I need great innovative thinkers like you. I need young people that want to make a difference. If you are interested, I’ve got places with internships doing really cool stuff,” he commented.

“If you can save one life – one Marine, one airman, one soldier – you have made a difference.”

–VMI–