President Obama, together with Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and members of the Armed Forces, rolled out a new military strategy in a much-publicized event at the Pentagon last week. What’s interesting is that the strategy calls for an increased investment on technological innovation, including in areas of cybersecurity and intelligence systems.

As the President penned in his written introduction to the strategy:

As we end today’s wars and reshape our Armed Forces, we will ensure that our military is agile, flexible, and ready for the full range of contingencies. In particular, we will continue to invest in the capabilities critical to future success, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; counterterrorism; countering weapons of mass destruction; operating in anti-access environments; and prevailing in all domains, including cyber.

The Joint Force “will have cutting edge capabilities” that exploit “our technological, joint, and networked advantage,” Secretary Panetta added.

Among the “selective additional investment” areas (after the jump):

Operate Effectively in Cyberspace and Space. Modern armed forces cannot conduct high-tempo, effective operations without reliable information and communication networks and assured access to cyberspace and space. Today space systems and their supporting infrastructure face a range of threats that may degrade, disrupt, or destroy assets. Accordingly, DoD will continue to work with domestic and international allies and partners and invest in advanced capabilities to defend its networks, operational capability, and resiliency in cyberspace and space.

And among the “principles [that] will guide our force and program development”:

Finally, in adjusting our strategy and attendant force size, the Department will make every effort to maintain an adequate industrial base and our investment in science and technology. We will also encourage innovation in concepts of operation. Over the past ten years, the United States and its coalition allies and partners have learned hard lessons and applied new operational approaches in the counter terrorism, counterinsurgency, and security force assistance arenas, most often operating in uncontested sea and air environments. Accordingly, similar work needs to be done to ensure the United States, its allies, and partners are capable of operating in A2/AD, cyber, and other contested operating environments. To that end, the Department will both encourage a culture of change and be prudent with its “seed corn,” balancing reductions necessitated by resource pressures with the imperative to sustain key streams of innovation that may provide significant long-term payoffs.

To learn more, check out the 8-page strategic guidance.

(Contributed by Erwin Gianchandani, CCC Director)