Saudi general joins global advisory board for autonomous defense summit

Brig. Gen. Ahmed Abdullah Alshathry (Retd) has joined the Global Advisory Board of the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit, adding Saudi military and security experience to an 18-member group from 13 countries. The appointment comes as defense leaders debate how to govern autonomous systems with human control and accountability.

Why it matters: - Brig. Gen. Ahmed Abdullah Alshathry’s appointment adds senior Saudi defense experience to a global forum focused on intelligent and autonomous military systems. - The advisory board is being positioned around a debate that is becoming more urgent: how to advance defense technology while keeping human supervision, accountability and governance in place. - The summit says its broader mission is to connect governments, armed forces, policymakers, academia, research institutions and industry across the defense sector.

What happened: - Brig. Gen. Ahmed Abdullah Alshathry (Retd) was selected for the Global Advisory Board of the Intelligent & Autonomous Defence Systems Summit (IADSS). - The board includes 18 military, strategic, academic and technology experts from 13 countries. - The announcement was issued in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 26, 2026.

The details: - Alshathry served 25 years in Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence. - His background spans military operations, security leadership, strategic planning, risk management and training development. - His career included leadership roles in field operations, security management and training. - His work supported operational planning, organizational readiness and military personnel development. - He completed specialized military courses, exercises and training programs in Saudi Arabia, the United States and the United Kingdom. - Alshathry holds a master’s degree in military sciences from the National Defence University. - He also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from King Saud University. - He now works as a security consultant and university lecturer. - IADSS said his military leadership, operational experience, security expertise and strategic insight add value to the advisory board. - The summit said its Global Summit Series will be hosted across multiple countries. - The series is designed to bring together governments, armed forces, policymakers, defense experts, research institutions and industry to discuss emerging defense technologies. - IADSS said it does not seek to establish rules or policies. - Instead, the summit aims to provide an international forum for open dialogue, exchange of perspectives and broader understanding. - The IADSS Global Advisory Board is intended to support that mission with independent military, strategic, academic and technology expertise. - The IADSS Network and Directory are meant to extend engagement year-round and connect defense expertise, institutions, technologies and opportunities.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals a push to frame autonomous defense technology as both an innovation issue and a governance issue. - The release ties the board’s work to international calls for action on autonomous weapon systems from the United Nations Secretary-General and the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. - The emphasis on human control suggests the summit wants to stay in the conversation on responsible defense innovation without becoming a policymaking body.

What's next: - IADSS will continue building its summit series across strategic regions. - The advisory board is expected to support future summit discussions and year-round network activity. - The organization will keep promoting dialogue on autonomous systems, governance and human supervision across the global defense community. - More information is available on the summit website and the organizer’s website.