Raj M. Shah

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Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War by M. Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff is the story of how the authors worked within the cumbersome US government acquisition process to get it to Silicon Valley speed.

Knowing the DoD’s acquisition process from the inside, I found this book to be refreshing, entertaining, and frustratingly funny. The two authors, coming from the private sector, found out the hard way how slow bureaucracy rolls, and they had high-level officials in their corner.

The Pentagon had to find a way to navigate the challenge of incorporating modern technology into warfare, at a speed that won’t make the technology obsolete by the time it’s incorporated. There were many hurdles, bureaucratic, political, cultural, and just the inertia that has permeated for decades.

The solution was Unit X, a way to import Silicon Valley’s swift methodologies into an environment that despised risk. The two authors provide a unique perspective on the challenges of changing the culture of military procurement, allowing the readers to understand the nuances of implementing that change into a complex acquisition ecosystem.

This is not just a “how to” textbook. The authors weave in stories of individuals who played a major role in their journey. Everyone who had to deal with an unfriendly bureaucracy knows the feelings of helplessness and frustration, especially when everything seems to go against logic and common sense. Once you learn to play the game, however, things become less difficult.

I know Unit X by M. Shah and Christopher Kirchhoff had an agenda, but I would have liked to read more about their failures. After all, it’s always nice to read about success, but I feel that we learn much more from failures. A “Lessons Learned” section, at least, would have elevated this book into a must-read for all acquisition professionals.

Nevertheless, the discourse about military procurement is important all by itself. This is especially important as we watch the technologies implemented by armies around the world, impacting the defense of our nation.

The role of public-private partnerships in the future of military capabilities is an important subject when it comes to national defense. The book’s argument that the military must welcome non-traditional, collaborative approaches to innovation so it can leverage new technologies promptly is persuasive and captivating.… (more)