CARLISLE, Pennsylvania — The Department of War is undergoing a massive transformation based largely on the evolution of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, but it’s looking to the next generation to fill the void in the industrial base that will facilitate and sustain it.

There are jobs the department needs to fill in droves that require higher education, such as engineers, computer scientists, and robotics professionals, while there are also tremendous needs in trade opportunities, such as welders, machinists, electricians, and more, that are already in short supply. The technological advances ranging from AI to robotics will facilitate improvements in the manufacturing process, but there will still be touch labor.