By: David Fouse
The White House’s new M-25-34 / NSTM-2 memorandum makes one thing crystal clear: AI, quantum computing, security, and space technologies are the backbone of America’s technology national strategy.
And here’s the reality every executive should note: policy and the public conversation will be shaped, with or without you.
What the White House just prioritized:
- Ensuring American Leadership in Critical and Emerging Technologies (AI, quantum, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing)
- Unleashing American Energy Dominance
- Strengthening National Security
- Advancing and Safeguarding American Health and Biotechnology
- Preserving America’s Space Dominance
The question is whether you will shape how these priorities play out or sit on the sidelines while others do it for you.
Why Strategic Public Affairs Can’t Wait
For National Security: Policymakers need to understand how your innovations keep America safe. If you don’t tell that story, someone else will.
For Economic Growth: New technologies can fuel job creation and transform communities, but only if the public sees the connection from the lab to local employment.
For Public Trust: Public anxiety around AI, quantum, and space militarization won’t disappear on its own. Silence leaves a vacuum for critics to fill.
For Global Competitive Advantage: Rivals like China, Russia, and India actively promote their technological advancements. The U.S. story must be told just as boldly across the globe.
Here’s the hard truth: the best technology doesn’t always win. The companies that succeed are the ones that claim the narrative, clearly communicate their value to policymakers, and earn the public’s confidence.
At Pinkston, we’ve spent decades helping leaders in emerging industries navigate crises and seize opportunities before they make headlines. We are in a fast-changing season in America, and a “wait and see” strategy is now a liability. My advice to every executive during this technological sea change is this: go on offense and proactively shape your story. The cost of inaction will be far greater than the investment in being heard.
