West Point Grads Propose New U.S. Military Academy for Cyber, Space, and Robotics

Two West Point graduates believe that  the U.S. military needs a new academy focused on cyber warfare, space operations, and robotics. 

Michael LaValle and DeVan Shannon, both former Army officers, suggest the establishment of a comprehensive military academy akin to West Point, aimed at equipping future officers for the swiftly changing dynamics of contemporary warfare. Their vision, known as the “Frontier Academy,” is set to be located near Silicon Valley at the Presidio in San Francisco. This site historically functioned as an Army post and, interestingly, served as the fictional home of Starfleet Academy in Star Trek.

Elon Musk expressed his thoughts on the concept, describing it as “cool” and proposing “Starfleet Academy” as a more fitting name.

LaValle and Shannon contend that the existing U.S. military academies are sluggish in their adaptation and fail to incorporate innovations from the private sector completely. They propose that an academy close to tech giants such as SpaceX and Google would enable students to participate in military reserves while engaging in the private sector, thereby establishing an essential connection between military and civilian technological progress.

The proposal emphasizes insights from Ukraine and Israel, showcasing how young leaders in cyber and robotics assume significant military responsibilities at younger ages. In contrast, the U.S. does not have a clear framework for cultivating young, tech-savvy military leaders.

Although the Air Force, Navy, and Army academies have incorporated cyber and space programs, LaValle and Shannon argue that establishing a dedicated academy is essential to leverage technological innovation for the future of warfare fully.

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