Episode 14 - Dr. Daniel Ragsdale: Artificial Intelligence, National Security, and Our Future
Dr. Daniel Ragsdale: Artificial Intelligence, National Security, and Our Future
In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, we sit down with Dr. Daniel "Rags" Ragsdale to discuss how cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and national defense intersect in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
A retired U.S. Army Officer with over 40 years of service to our country, Dr. Ragsdale has held leadership roles across some of the nation’s most critical institutions, including the White House, DARPA, West Point, and more!
In this episode, Dr. Ragsdale shares:
The dual-use nature of technology and how this applies to human impacts
Leadership strategies for a tech-connected world (including some great lessons from Stoicism and Saturday Night Live!)
How adversarial manipulation is evolving and what it means for our national security
Insights from working with AI from the 1980s to today's cutting-edge developments
Strategies we can take to prepare for widespread applications of emerging technologies
How decades of military service shaped his approach to cyber leadership
Critical elements for cyberworkforce development…plus so much more!
Dr. Ragsdale provides an incredibly informed perspective on AI, including the history, the impacts, challenges, and opportunities. I especially appreciated his reminder not to feel threatened by AI, but rather to “feel the ability to be super-enabled” by it. His career journey has seen AI through many forms, and his real-world insights on this trending tech topic are incredibly grounding, practical, and enlightening.
With unmatched experience and a people-first approach to technology, Dr. Ragsdale brings clarity to one of today’s most urgent and complex conversations. Whether you work in defense, tech, policy, or you're just curious about our future, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Catch the podcast episode on the following streaming channels:
YouTube - click here to listen
Spotify - click here to listen
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About the Guest:
Dr. Daniel "Rags" Ragsdale blends decades of military service, technical expertise, and strategic foresight to help safeguard our nation in the digital age. A retired U.S. Army Colonel with deployments to Grenada, Iraq, and Afghanistan, he has logged over 41 years of Federal service—bringing his people-focused leadership and technical experience to some of the most critical institutions in national defense, including the White House, the Pentagon, West Point, and DARPA.
Formerly with the Office of the National Cyber Director, he now serves as Principal and Founder at Full Spectrum Cyber Solutions, advising government and industry leaders on building resilient, secure, and forward-looking cyber strategies in the age of AI. He serves on multiple boards, including Sandia National Laboratories, the Technology Advancement Center, the AI Cyber League, and the Military Cyber Professionals Association. A frequent public speaker, Dr. Ragsdale remains a prolific author and advocate for Veterans and their families.