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In 2020, Justin Lynch wrote “Yet Another About Information Technology and the Character of War,” where he argued that the character of war changes over time and the United States should write the future character of war rather than allow it to be written by somebody else.Image: Imperial War MuseumIn your 2020 article, “Yet Another About Information Technology and the Character of War,” you argue that the United States should seek to shape the next character of war rather than merely predict it. Over the past five years, what concrete steps has the United States taken to write the future story of war, rather than simply read it?The United States military has invested heavily in modernization over the last several years. It has created programs to build autonomy and AI-enabled decision-making, to purchase drones at scale, and to improve software acquisition.With that said, the United States military is not leading the development of new forms of warfare in a way that will confer a clear qualitative edge. One of the most significant missed opportunities has been the Department of Defense’s lack of systematic, in-person observations of frontline innovation in Ukraine. Without direct exposure to how weapons production, electronic warfare, and tactical adaptation unfold in a highly competitive environment, it is difficult to develop a granular understanding of what actually works. It is even more difficult to translate observations into well-informed doctrine and procurement choices. The lessons that are captured often take months or years to percolate through the Department. The decision not to send observers to reduce risk is understandable, but the military may fall an entire generation behind the cutting edge of tactics and technology as a result.In short, while the military’s efforts deserve recognition, it still needs to focus on being an early adopter and skipping generations of development