Defense Secretary Ash Carter was in Austin, Texas Wednesday for the opening of the Defense Department’s third Defense Innovation Unit-Experimental (DIUx) technology startup location, and in keeping with local tradition, he pledged to keep Austin weird.
.@DIU_x Austin is now open for innovation, bringing new tech to the #DoD fast. https://t.co/oSmjhs1dA0 pic.twitter.com/ZzgKD4Xwr2
— Department of Defense ?? (@DeptofDefense) September 14, 2016
"I know many take pride in keeping Austin weird. Let me assure you, I not only want to keep Austin weird; I’m counting on it" –#SecDef
— Department of Defense ?? (@DeptofDefense) September 14, 2016
On Tuesday, Carter sat for a talk with TechCrunch senior editor Matt Burns at the #TCDisrupt forum and fielded questions about encryption, innovation, Edward Snowden, building trust with Silicon Valley, and drugs.
Why drugs? Apparently there was some concern that in its quest to recruit the best and brightest young engineers, the Defense Department might run across an applicant who had recently attended the Burning Man festival and ingested some “goodies.” Would that person still be eligible?
“It depends on what the goodies are,” Carter replied, adding that flexibility would be required to keep up with changing times and noting that individual states were adopting their own drug laws.
Secretary Ash Carter on drug testing and recognizing changing laws #TCDisrupt https://t.co/T9uZbvlsVd
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) September 13, 2016
If the nation’s current Commander-in-Chief can joke openly about his days in his high school’s “Choom Gang,” then it seems that times certainly have changed.
According to Sec. of Defense Ash Carter, the govt can be flexible in hiring even if you've taken "the goodies" at Burning Man #TCDisrupt
— Annie Gaus (@AnnieGaus) September 13, 2016
https://twitter.com/ndiblasio/status/775757043751800832
US Defense Sec. Ash Carter just spoke out against anti-marijuana discrimination in hiring. Let’s thank him!https://t.co/iM3XcUjwD9 #mmot
— Marijuana Majority (@JoinTheMajority) September 14, 2016
Time for military recruiters set up booths next to the merch table at Phish gigs?
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