When Biology Meets the Battlefield: An Interview with Diane DiEuliis

An interview with Diane DiEuliis explores the growing intersection of biotechnology and national security, focusing on its applications for warfighters and geopolitical competition. Near-term advancements will likely provide incremental physical boosts to soldiers, while the next decade will be defined by a global bioeconomic race to produce high-value commodities. The Department of Defense is working to better engage with the private biotech sector to develop defense-specific applications like bio-cement and bio-manufactured munitions. Recent legislation recognizes biotechnology as a strategic capability, mandating a defense-wide strategy and a "bioliterate" workforce to maintain a U.S. competitive advantage.