Keynote Speaker
Dr James Patton Rogers
Title: Executive Director, Cornell Tech Policy Institute
Talk Title: What is the 'Drone Revolution'?
Abstract: Have drones actually revolutionized war? It sounds like a simple question, but it hides a much bigger debate. Drones are now everywhere, from Ukraine to the Middle East, and even above our own towns and cities. They are often described as game-changing weapons that can decide wars, yet to others drones are just another tool, useful but not revolutionary. This talk explores the history and evolution of the 'drone revolution' debate, detailing how drones have changed our understandings of modern warfare and how they will continue to influence our national security considerations for years to come.
Bio: James Patton Rogers is the Executive Director of the Cornell Tech Policy Institute, the home of national security and tech policy research at Cornell University. An expert on international security policy, geopolitics, and disruptive technologies, he is regarded as “one of the world’s leading experts on drone warfare”, advising the United Nations, NATO, and nation states on the threats posed by the global proliferation of high-tech weapons systems. His latest book is Drones: What Everyone Needs to Know, published by Oxford University Press (w/ Kreps, S, 2025).