Unpacking Smart Cities: Ancient Wisdom Meets Digital Innovation with Jacob Clayton from SAGINT

In this insightful episode of the Smart Cities Council Podcast, Fanni Melles, PhD, welcomes Jacob Clayton, CEO of SAGINT, to discuss the evolution of smart cities through a unique lens of ancient wisdom and modern technology.

Jacob Clayton is an accomplished senior executive and U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Lieutenant Colonel with 18 years of service. As CEO of SAGINT, he directs the development of Digital Asset Infrastructure for Smart Cities, emphasizing regulatory development, value chain mapping, and tokenization. He previously managed operations for Camp Leatherneck, a $3B USMC smart city in Afghanistan, supporting over 50,000 coalition forces and aiding nation-building efforts. He also advanced electric drive tactical vehicles for the USMC through the Reckless Project. Additionally, he ensured security and compliance for the U.S. State Department across 22 embassies and consulates in the Indo-Pacific. A co-inventor with MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Clayton holds advanced degrees from USC (Technology Design) and Marine Corps University (Strategy), with expertise in process optimization, crisis management, and intelligence systems.

Key Takeaways

0:00 - Introduction: Five Principles of a Successful City

0:50 - Welcome to the Smart Cities Council Podcast!

1:40 - Introducing Jacob Clayton and His Journey with SAGINT

3:20 - What Does "Smart City" Mean to Jacob?

4:00 - The Greek Polis: A Model for Intelligent Cities

6:40 - Why Greek Cities Over Egyptian Ones?

9:50 - Digital Asset Infrastructure: What It Means for Smart Cities

12:20 - Tokenizing Assets: From Water to Regulations

15:20 - Can a City Be Smart If It Relies on External Resources?

18:30 - Jacob’s Journey to SAGINT and the Digital Asset Space

23:50 - Why SAGINT? The Meaning Behind the Name

25:40 - Urban Evolution: Beyond a Final Destination

29:20 - Closing Thoughts: A Call to Collaborate

Learn More About Jacob Clayton and SAGINT:

• Jacob Clayton on LinkedIn
• SAGINT website
• SAGINT on LinkedIn
• @SagintInc as SAGINT on X

Connect with Us:

FOLLOW US ON:

• ⁠⁠⁠SCC website⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠SCC⁠⁠⁠⁠ on LinkedIn
• ⁠⁠⁠SCC⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram
• ⁠⁠⁠SCC⁠⁠⁠ on X

Give us a shout:

Have questions or comments? Email us on our website ⁠⁠⁠https://www.smartcitiescouncil.com/contact⁠⁠⁠ or tweet us @SmartCitiesCouncil with the hashtag #SCCPodcast.

Closing Comments:

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the Smart Cities Council Podcast! If you enjoyed the insights into the future of smart cities, there’s plenty more where that came from. Subscribe now to stay updated on new episodes featuring exclusive conversations with our members shaping smarter cities. Don’t miss out—join us on this journey and keep exploring the world of smart cities!