© 2026 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Why The U.S. Army Made Four Tech Executives Lieutenant Colonels

Shyam Sankar speaks at the Special Competitive Studies Project panel during the AI Expo For National Competitiveness at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.
Tasos Katopodis
/
Getty Images for Agent of Change
Shyam Sankar speaks at the Special Competitive Studies Project panel during the AI Expo For National Competitiveness at Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

It might sound like something you'd read, scoff at, and then scroll past. But it's true.

Meta Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth, Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar, OpenAI Head of Product Kevin Weil, and Thinking Machines Lab advisor Bob McGrew are now lieutenant colonels in the U.S. Army Reserves, as of June 13.

They're part of a military unit called Detachment 201, also known as the the Executive Innovation Corps. Their US Army says their swearing in is the "start of a bigger mission to inspire more tech pros to serve without leaving their careers, showing the next generation how to make a difference in uniform."

What is the Army hoping to innovate? And in what capacity are these tech executives serving in the armed forces?

Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.

Copyright 2025 NPR

Recent cuts to federal funding are challenging our mission to serve central and upstate New York with trusted journalism, vital local coverage, and the diverse programming that informs and connects our communities. This is the moment to join our community of supporters and help keep journalists on the ground, asking hard questions that matter to our region.

Stand with public media and make your gift today—not just for yourself, but for all who depend on WRVO as a trusted resource and civic cornerstone in central and upstate New York.