The SandboxAQ team is saddened by the news that former U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Ashton B. Carter passed away Oct. 24. Secretary Carter was a mentor, friend, and advisor to our team.
For more than 35 years, Secretary Carter applied his global expertise in technology and innovation to help create a better world for all. He did so under U.S. Presidents of both political parties as well as in the private sector.
Secretary Carter was awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Department’s highest honor, on five separate occasions. He also received the Defense Intelligence Medal for his contributions to intelligence as well as the Joint Distinguished Service Medal from the Chairman and Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Secretary Carter and are honored by the time he shared with us as Senior Advisor,” said SandboxAQ CEO Jack Hidary. “Secretary Carter dedicated his life to service and was an exemplary leader. Let us draw inspiration from his commitment to education, innovation, and global security. The entire SandboxAQ team extends our heartfelt condolences to Secretary Carter’s family.”
Outside of his government service, Secretary Carter was director of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs, where he supported faculty recruitment and helped expand the technology and public policy curricula. He also created the Technology and Public Purpose project, which works to ensure emerging technologies are developed and managed to serve the overall public good.
Secretary Carter held a bachelor’s degree in physics and medieval history from Yale University and was awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship for his Ph.D. in theoretical physics from the University of Oxford. He was author or co-author of 11 books and more than 100 articles on physics, technology, national security, and management.
