The CGSC Foundation’s Simons Center hosted an Arter-Rowland National Security Forum luncheon event on Sept 4, 2025, at the Carriage Club in Kansas City. The event featured a presentation entitled “Artificial Intelligence – Providing the U.S. an edge ‘left of boom’,” by Brian Weaver, founder and CEO of national security focused artificial intelligence (AI) research and development company Torch.AI.
ARNSF program leader Bob Ulin kicked off the Forum welcoming the ARNSF members and their guests. After lunch, he introduced Weaver.
In his presentation, Weaver shared a bit of his own personal background the how Torch.AI has operated and grown in the artificial intelligence sector. He explained how applying his company’s software in various industries over time has given them an edge in how to approach new problems and potential solutions. One of the key points he made was that AI isn’t some magical solution, and that it really isn’t sentient or thinking as the public hype would have one believe, but rather predictive and statistical. The most important aspect he stressed was that AI was capable of processing information much more quickly than humans, which can help military leaders make decisions much faster in the current operational environment. This ability is why he contends, and many others share his opinion, that the next fight won’t be won with firepower, but with decision speed.
Another interesting point Weaver made was that Kansas City is a “secret weapon.” He said KC companies such as Garmin and Cerner are leaders in their lanes of the tech industry while other companies in the area have hundreds of creative thinkers, engineers and financial experts. Weaver contends that most of the people in the space in which he operates don’t understand how these KC companies are quietly giving the U.S. an edge.
Last, during his presentation and when asked during the question and answer session, Weaver stressed that while competition in AI from China and Russia is strong, America’s innovation engine, backed with greater supercomputing power, funding, the number of AI unicorns (companies valued $1 billion or more), and the number and quality of the AI foundational models in the U.S., is a tremendous advantage.
After the presentation and a question and answer period, Ulin presented Weaver with a Foundation/Simons Center coffee mug in appreciation for his time with the Forum. Ulin also provided information about future ARNSF gatherings.
For more photos see the CGSC Foundation Flickr album
Brian Weaver, serves as chairman and CEO of Torch.AI, a company he founded in 2017. He has more than 20 years of experience leading mission driven, high growth, technology focused companies. Weaver is also the current president and chairman of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Kansas City chapter. He has a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmentalized Information (TS/SCI) clearance with the U.S. Department of Defense. Weaver has also served as a CGSC Foundation trustee since September 2024 and is a current member of the Arter-Rowland National Security Forum.
Torch.AI helps leading organizations rapidly and more effectively operationalize artificial intelligence in high risk environments via a proprietary and patented enterprise data management and analytic software solution. Torch.AI is a National Security focused AI-software company. Prior to Torch.AI, Weaver launched or acquired several companies all focused on technology enabled services and data connectivity. His past companies have been recognized as a Small Business of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and multiple Inc. 500 award winners. He has been featured in Forbes magazine for concepts around data encapsulation using blockchain technologies. He received the Defense Innovation Award at the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit in 2017. He was named as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 Heartland Award Finalist. Weaver has also served as a CGSC Foundation trustee since September 2024 and is a member of the Foundation’s Arter-Rowland National Security Forum.
In May 2025, Weaver delivered the commencement speech at his alma mater, Northwest Missouri State University, where he earned a degree in communications and philosophy. He has raced numerous Ironman competitions at an elite amateur level in the U.S. and Europe, ranking as high as No. 1 in the world for the class. He lives in Kansas City with his wife of 25 years and two teenage daughters. He maintains a secondary residence in Arlington, Virginia.
The Arter-Rowland National Security Forum is an exclusive professional information sharing and networking event exclusively for members of the forum and select invitees of the CGSC Foundation and its Simons Center .
Members of the Forum and their guests meet periodically at guest speaker events in downtown Kansas City. National and regional guest speakers representing all elements of national power (Diplomatic, Informational, Military and Economic) highlight the meetings. The Forum is nonpartisan, but elected government officials may present from time to time.
The Forum is named after Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert Arter, Founding Chairman of the CGSC Foundation, and Mr. Landon Rowland, the Foundation’s first major donor who was well-known in Kansas City for his keen interest in national security issues and his leadership in business and philanthropy.
ARNSF events are only open to ARNSF members and their guests. If you are not a member but are interested in joining, contact Bob Ulin at rulin@cgscf.org.
The 2025 Arter-Rowland National Security Forum is sponsored by:
