You can’t make this stuff up: Silicon Valley execs are now donning Army fatigues. Meta’s CTO Andrew “Boz” Bosworth, and a few other tech bigwigs—Kevin Weil from OpenAI, Bob McGrew who’s now with Thinking Machines Lab, and Shyam Sankar from Palantir—have been inducted into the Army Reserve’s Executive Innovation Corps. That’s right, these tech honchos are now Lt. Colonels without setting foot in boot camp. Apparently, the dress blues weren’t ready, so camo had to do. This move is part of a military strategy to get “leaner, smarter, and more lethal,” though it sounds more like a PR stunt to me.
The brain behind this? Brynt Parmeter, the Pentagon’s chief talent management officer. He wants tech experts to help modernize the military, citing an “undeclared state of emergency.” Yet, the whole setup reeks of Silicon Valley’s love-hate affair with the military. Ten years ago, this would’ve been career suicide in the Valley. Now, it’s being dressed up as a patriotic duty. Weil even quipped that it’s a better world where people appreciate the military’s need for tech. Here’s what this really means: Silicon Valley’s just fine with military contracts these days, as long as there’s money in it.
These new officers won’t see combat or even traditional reservist duties. Instead, they get a remote-work deal, a perk not offered to other reservists. They’re supposed to advise on tech and lethal force—without risking life and limb. Convenient, right? One wonders if their contributions couldn’t be made from the cozy confines of their usual offices. Past examples of direct commissioning occurred during world wars, when the stakes were a bit higher than a tech refresh.
Parmeter insists there’s no conflict of interest, despite these officers being employed by companies heavily involved in defense contracts. Just before Bosworth’s commission, Meta announced a deal with Anduril, a defense contractor. OpenAI got a $200 million defense contract around the same time Weil joined up. Palantir, as usual, has its fingers in many pies, including a $759 million Army contract. Coincidence? Hardly.
What will they do? Offer advice on future tech and military strategy. Weil argues it’s more impactful coming from someone in uniform. Sure, wearing the same uniform might get you a closer seat at the table, but let’s not kid ourselves—this is consulting in camo.
The potential for dual loyalty is real. Companies like Meta and OpenAI claim their tech won’t be used for harm. But these new soldiers are tasked with making tech more lethal. Parmeter might call this a wider perspective, but it sounds like a slippery slope to me. And let’s not forget: Oppenheimer’s wider perspective gave us the atom bomb.
These tech execs are now soldiers, though critics call them “cosplaying” servicemen. They should tread lightly. Weil showed humility, but Sankar’s op-ed had a whiff of self-importance. They say they’re called to serve, but their sacrifices pale in comparison to what real soldiers endure. While Weil seems conscious of the responsibility, the whole thing feels like a gilded club for the tech elite.
It’s anyone’s guess how real soldiers will view them—overnight officers who skipped the line. They even need lessons in returning salutes. The truth is, their military service looks more like a side gig than a commitment.
Ultimately, this mashup of Silicon Valley and the Pentagon is a sign of the times. The Valley’s no longer just about disrupting industries; it’s now cozying up to Uncle Sam. And while these tech leaders may be genuine in their intentions, the optics are hard to swallow. It’s a new chapter in the ongoing saga of tech and power—one that should be watched closely by anyone invested in the future of both sectors.
