The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers

July 2023

Past Event

The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers

Past Event

Hudson Institute

July 27, 2023

A Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel operates in the Arabian Gulf on November 29, 2022. (Brandon Murphy via DVIDS)

July 2023

Past Event

Speakers:

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The precision warfare revolution, introduced by the United States military in the First Gulf War, provided it with a major competitive advantage for several decades. Today, however, China is rapidly closing the gap—if it has not yet erased it entirely. Simultaneously, the US confronts the prospect of another disruptive shift in war’s character, or “military revolution,” enabled by advances across a wide range of technologies.

Please join Hudson Senior Fellows Timothy A. Walton and Andrew Krepinevich for a discussion of Dr. Krepinevich’s latest book, The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers. The book argues that the US military needs to pursue “disruptive innovation” in a race with other militaries to exploit war’s changing character. Krepinevich cites four historic militaries—each of which pursued disruptive innovation to adapt to and exploit new ways of war—for clues as to the winner’s identity.

January 2026

In-Person Event | Washington Convention Center

Apex Defense Conference 2026

Featured Speakers:

Bryan Clark

Nadia Schadlow

Timothy A. Walton

January 2026

In-Person Event | Washington Convention Center

Apex Defense Conference 2026

Apex Defense, in collaboration with Hudson Institute, will host a dynamic defense technology event that unites warfighters, acquisition professionals, startups, small and medium businesses, investors and industry leaders to tackle operational challenges from the seabed to space.

Featured Speakers:

Bryan Clark

Nadia Schadlow

Timothy A. Walton

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January 2026

In-Person Event | Invite Only

Pax Silica: Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg on the AI Race and Economic Security

Featured Speakers:

Jacob Helberg

Joel Scanlon

January 2026

In-Person Event | Invite Only

Pax Silica: Under Secretary of State Jacob Helberg on the AI Race and Economic Security

Please join Under Secretary Helberg and Hudson Executive Vice President Joel Scanlon for a discussion on the Pax Silicia initiative, America’s strategy to win the global AI race, and the new geopolitical imperatives of economic security and technology.

Featured Speakers:

Jacob Helberg

Joel Scanlon

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February 2026

In-Person Event | Invite Only

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the Future of Trade Policy

Featured Speakers:

Ambassador Jamieson Greer

Peter Rough

February 2026

In-Person Event | Invite Only

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the Future of Trade Policy

Please join Ambassador Greer for a fireside chat with Senior Fellow Peter Rough on the Trump administration’s first year back in office and what’s next for US trade policy.

Featured Speakers:

Ambassador Jamieson Greer

Peter Rough

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February 2026

In-Person Event | Hudson Institute

Assistant Secretary of War Michael Cadenazzi on Rebooting America’s Defense Industrial Base

Featured Speakers:

Michael Cadenazzi

Nadia Schadlow

February 2026

In-Person Event | Hudson Institute

Assistant Secretary of War Michael Cadenazzi on Rebooting America’s Defense Industrial Base

Join Hudson for a conversation with Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi, who leads the DoW’s efforts to develop and maintain the US defense industrial base to secure critical national security supply chains.