Solve Real Problems in Real Time
Addressing America's National Security Needs
Interdisciplinary teams of select William & Mary students work with the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community sponsors to create solutions in weeks
What We Are Doing
We are in our 6th iteration of I4D. Below are the challenges our Tribe Teams is Tackling.
How can the USAF supply forward bases under attack?
USAF Air Combat Command
Faced with the massive proliferation of long-range precision weapons, forward air bases on the periphery of adversaries are increasingly vulnerable, putting at risk the US strategy to deter aggression and protect our friends and allies. Our Team is exploring both new concepts of operations enabled by evolving commercial and military technology, buttressed by novel policy changes and initiatives taking advantage of these breakthroughs.
How'll You Learn
Lean Startup
Flipped Classroom
Unlike a traditional classroom where the instructor presents lecture material, our lectures are online. Watching the assigned lectures is part of your weekly homework. The information in them is essential for you to complete your weekly interviews and present the insights the teaching team will expect in your presentation for that week. We expect you to watch the assigned lectures for the upcoming week before class and we will use time in class to discuss questions about the lecture material and to provide supplemental material. You need to come prepared with questions or comments about the material for in-class discussion. We will cold-call students to answer questions about the online lecture material.
Experiential Learning
You will be spending a significant amount of time in between each of the lectures outside the class talking to customers. Each week your team will conduct a minimum of 10 customer interviews focused on a specific part of the business model canvas. This class is a simulation of what startups and entrepreneurship are like in the real world: chaos, uncertainty, impossible deadlines in insufficient time, conflicting input, etc.
Inverted Lecture Hall
Sitting in the back of the classroom are experienced instructors and professionals who have seasoned military and business experience in the field.  We won’t be lecturing in the traditional sense, but commenting and critiquing on each team’s progress. While the comments may be specific for each team, the insights are almost always applicable to all teams. Pay attention.
Peer to Peer Culture
While other teams are presenting the results of their weekly experiments, the rest of the class is expected to attentively listen, engage, and react to what they see and hear. Sharing insights, experiences, and contacts with each other is a key way that this unique laboratory achieves results.
Class Culture
The Startup environment is different from the university culture you may be familiar with. At times it can feel brusque and impersonal, but in reality, is focused and oriented to create immediate action in time- and cash-constrained environments. We push, challenge, and question you in the hope you will quickly learn. We will be direct, open, and tough just like the real world. This approach may seem harsh or abrupt, but it is all part of our wanting you to learn to challenge yourselves quickly and objectively and to appreciate that as entrepreneurs you need to learn and evolve faster than you ever imagined possible. This class pushes many people past their comfort zone.
You will be receiving critiques in front of your peers weekly. The pace and the uncertainty pick up as the class proceeds. As part of the process, we also expect you to question us, challenge our point of view if you disagree, and engage in a real dialogue with the teaching team.
See what your classmates thought was unique about Innovation for Defense
Should I apply?
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Have a question? Ask us
Register for Innovation for Defense through PATH as with other classes; however, to complete registration, this class requires the Instructor's permission. Contact the Instructor, Major General (retired) Mark Matthews, at mtmatthews@wm.edu or with the form to the right. Instructor Permission is obtained after submitting a resume, transcript, and short note of interest.