OPINION:
After a rewarding career as a Marine infantryman and later as a Navy explosive ordnance disposal officer, I devoted my post-military career to serving America’s veterans still struggling. These men and women were willing to give the last full measure of devotion to their country during our two decades fighting the global war on terrorism. This mission has shown me what our nation needs to enhance its military readiness to fight and win the next war (not the last war) and how essential our warfighters are to achieving success.
That’s why I’m grateful to finally have leaders who understand the role warfighters play in securing America’s strength and safety.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard, completing active-duty deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan and Iraq. As a former junior officer, he has a deeper understanding than many generals of what it takes to equip our warfighters. Our warfighters need innovative and robust tools to defeat potential adversaries on the modern battlefield.
This battlefield is changing faster than at any other point in history. Today, small drones are no longer just an “extra tool” in the arsenal; they are the eyes, ears and, in some cases, the striking arm of militaries. Whether in the Pacific, Eastern Europe or the Middle East, we are in a race to ensure American forces have the most advanced, reliable and secure drone technology in the world.
Falling behind is not an option.
President Trump and Mr. Hegseth are treating that reality with the seriousness it deserves. Recently, they have pushed for faster acquisition timelines so cutting-edge drone systems can get from the lab to the field in months, not years. Most important, we’re making it happen here at home, with domestic manufacturing and parts made in the United States.
To win that race, we must trust and rely on the people who know the industry best: our veterans who are innovating with the best technology in the private sector. Especially in the defense sector, veterans aren’t just employees who clock in; they have lived the stakes of our work. They felt the pressure of mission timelines. They saw what happens when the right tools aren’t there in time. They bring that sense of urgency and accountability to the projects they touch.
One company that understands this is Vector, a veteran-owned startup that hires elite former warfighters. Vector knows that investing in veterans means investing in America’s security at home and abroad, and it takes the lessons learned from their time overseas to innovate.
The defense contracting establishment doesn’t always welcome that kind of innovation. Some see cutting-edge, veteran-owned startups as a threat. For example, a publicly traded company, Red Cat Holdings, has used the legal system against Vector, a much smaller company. This ultimately weakens the mission by preventing our warfighters from using the best technology.
American small businesses represent the best of America, and they need our support — or, at the very least, the freedom to truly innovate. Yet according to recent data from the Small Business Administration, veteran-owned small businesses are more likely to experience financial challenges than non-veteran-owned businesses. Every day, I witness the dedication and ingenuity of veterans in America. In the private sector, they think about the service members with whom they served, pondering ways to live up to the depth of their sacrifices. I serve veterans because it is a modest way to repay the sacrifices of so many who came before.
Together, with Mr. Trump and Mr. Hegseth leading the way, we will prepare our military for anything and ensure every American is kept safe.
• Tom Sauer is a former Marine and a Claremont Institute Lincoln Fellow.
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