Building the Base

In this episode of Building the Base, Melissa "Mojo" Johnson, Acquisition Executive at US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), offers a candid look into the world of military acquisition, drawing from her extensive experience with the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office and SOCOM. 

Five key takeaways from today's episode:

1. To drive organizational growth effectively, Mojo advocates for horizontal scaling, emphasizing small, high-performing teams with direct communication and a flat chain of command over creating layers of bureaucracy.
2. Acquisition success, according to Mojo, isn't about drowning in complex regulations, but about applying critical thinking - tailoring processes to solve specific problems and maintaining focus on the core mission.
3. Breaking down barriers between commercial and military tech requires a continuous dialogue, Mojo believes, by bringing together venture capitalists, industry partners, and military leaders to understand and apply innovative solutions.
4. When integrating new technologies, Mojo emphasizes understanding the end effect - moving beyond simply applying AI or new tech, and clearly articulating how a solution will enhance operator capabilities and reduce unnecessary burdens.
5. For maintaining resilience in high-stress environments, Mojo recommends building a strong support system, taking time to gain perspective, celebrating successes, and recognizing that no challenge is entirely unprecedented.

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren and Hondo sit down with Eric Lofgren, a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Eric provides an insider's perspective on the need for comprehensive acquisition reform. He discusses his unexpected path to this role, initially joining a defense contractor before becoming deeply interested in the history and economics of the system. Eric emphasizes the FoRGED Act's goal of being a "game changer" by addressing requirements, contracting, budgeting, and cultural factors. He highlights the importance of engaging industry, especially non-traditional companies, to inform policy changes. Eric's insights underscore the complexity of acquisition reform and the call for bold, integrated solutions to modernize defense procurement.

Five key takeaways from today's episode: 

1. Eric is currently working with Chairman Wicker and SASC members to champion the ​FoRGED (Fostering Reform and Government Efficiency in Defense) Act​. Exec Sum here: ​Restoring Freedom’s Forge: American Innovation Unleashed​
2. A dedicated student of history, Eric has logged many hours in the Pentagon Library to learn the historical context of past acquisition models, rather than just iterating on the current system.
3. Eric initially took a job at a defense contractor after graduating, thinking it would just be a two-year stint, but he became attached to the mission and started delving into the history and economics of defense acquisition, which ultimately led him to his current role on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
4. Engaging with industry, especially non-traditional/commercial companies, is crucial to understand challenges and inform policy changes. The professional staff of ​SASC​ welcomes direct outreach.
5. Eric recommends "cutting the red tape" by reviewing and eliminating outdated or unnecessary pilot programs, reporting requirements, and other regulatory burdens that are not providing value to the DoD acquisition process. 

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18). Rep. Ryan represents a diverse district of 800,000 in upstate New York, which includes his alma mater, West Point. An Iraq war veteran, Rep. Ryan transitioned from active duty, to defense tech, to Congress, where he now champions defense innovation and national security issues. In March 2024, Rep. Ryan launched the Defense Modernization Caucus with Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-1) to push for bipartisan action. This episode was recorded at the Reagan National Defense Forum on December 7, 2024.

Five key takeaways from this episode: 

1. Throughout his career, Rep. Ryan has embraced a wide range of challenging roles—from serving on the battlefield, to leading sales teams, to making legislative progress in Congress. 
2. With DIU innovation hubs already established in Austin and Silicon Valley, Rep. Ryan proposes New York City as the next ideal location for a hub, recognizing the city's unique blend of talent and business development opportunities.
3. A self proclaimed “perpetual optimist,” Rep. Ryan credits his attitude and resilience to his interactions with young people, whether it's JROTC cadets, West Point students, or his own young children.
4. The House Defense Modernization Caucus had some early wins in the last NDAA, with the next convening planned for February 2025 in concert with Silicon Valley Defense Group.
5. Rep. Ryan advises defense tech companies to approach lawmakers with clear, actionable requests for quicker support and to focus on storytelling over lengthy presentations. “Help me help you,” he says — be specific about where you're stuck and how Congress can assist.

This episode of Building the Base features an interview with Thomas Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of Domino Data Lab, who has an interesting background in finance and a strong passion for contributing to national security. Hosted by Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts, the conversation dives into Thomas’s transition from a hedge fund to defense tech, and how his background has informed his leadership in AI and data science. Thomas credits his recent swell of patriotism to a desire to build the best possible future for his 17 month old twins. 

Five key takeaways from this episode: 

1. Domino Data Lab's success began in the commercial sector, and has since expanded to defense. In areas like mine detection using unmanned underwater vehicles, their technology has helped reduce model deployment times from 6 months to 2 weeks.
2. Thomas challenges the myth that DoD is slow, saying that some DoD projects can be faster than commercial ones, especially when working with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), citing the successful Project Ammo for the Navy. 
3. “AI primes” bring not just systems integration skills, but also deep knowledge of data science and AI. 
4. While policy is important, the real concern for defense is trust in AI models. Thomas advocates for public-private partnerships to develop sensible regulations based on the impact of AI systems.
5. For entrepreneurs and startups looking to break into defense tech, Thomas advises doing thorough research and preparing for the “valley of death.” Founders should plan for long-term cycles (3+ years), understand the realities of defense procurement, and be prepared to educate investors and boards about the unique challenges.

In this episode of Building the Base, Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus, discusses his journey from his days as a Navy reactor operator to leading a counter-UAS high-power microwave (HPM) system company. Epirus' HPM technology, which uses electromagnetic pulses to disable drones, has been tested successfully by the Army for over 15 months. Lowery emphasizes the importance of directed energy in countering short-range air threats and highlighted the need for policy updates to facilitate faster deployment. He notes the challenges of building a single-use hardware company and the importance of partnerships, particularly with the DoD and international allies. Lowery also stresses the need for authority to operate and the willingness to take risks to address the growing drone threat.

Five key takeaways from this episode:

1. Andy Lowery's career brought him from enlisted Navy nuclear reactor operator to Raytheon Chief Engineer to now CEO of pioneering counter-UAS technology company Epirus.
2. Epirus' high-powered microwave (HPM) systems work to disrupt drone electronics, and have yet to be defeated in a field trial. 
3. There are unique challenges associated with building a hardware-focused, single-use defense company like Epirus, compared to more dual-use or software-driven startups. 
4. Epirus has worked to update export control policies and leverage frameworks like AUKUS to enable faster international collaboration and technology sharing on counter-UAS capabilities.
5. Lowery observes a "spring" of enthusiasm among engineers to work on cutting-edge defense projects, and the development of a dynamic talent pool across companies like Epirus, Anduril, SpaceX, Palantir and more.

This episode of Building the Base features a discussion with Nadia Schadlow, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, and Stephen Rodriguez, an investor in the defense tech space who is leading The Atlantic Council's work on Software-Defined Warfare. Nadia and Stephen have extensive backgrounds in national security: Nadia spent many years at the Defense Department and was the architect of the 2017 National Security Strategy under President Trump, while Stephen has experience spanning the intelligence community, policy world, tech startups, and now The Atlantic Council. Overall, the discussion highlights the value of bringing together diverse perspectives from government, industry, and academia to tackle the complex challenges facing national security today. This episode was recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum on December 7, 2024.

Five Key Takeaways: 

1. The adage "DoD does not have an innovation problem, it has an innovation adoption problem" holds true. Both Nadia and Stephen emphasize the need to accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies across the commercial and defense sectors. Stephen recently contributed to an Atlantic Council report (alongside co-host Hondo) on this topic. 
2. Heed the Four Ms: The idea of Software-Defined Warfare is all about finding practical, near-term ways to enhance the capabilities of the military's existing platforms and systems, rather than just focusing on long-term future tech. Stephen stresses the importance of identifying the right Four Ms - "Money, Mission, Motivation, and Mechanism" - for companies looking to work with the military.
3. Crafting a national security strategy... where to begin? Nadia explains (from experience) that crafting an effective NSS is all about clearly defining the country's key interests, understanding the challenges, and proposing high-level solutions; the departments then have to figure out the operational details.
4. Crisis of Repetition: In her 2024 Breaking Defense op-ed, "America's crisis of repetition is hurting national security," Nadia proposes four steps by which Washington can break the cycle of writing reports that are never fully implemented: 1) aggregate what's been done, 2) assess why past administrations failed to achieve goals, 3) research existing legislative authorities, and 4) assign accountability for leading implementation.
5. Optimization opportunities exist, leveraging AI and DOGE: Nadia suggests that AI could be used to "identify the regulatory environment" and "point out how many duplicative and repeating and inane regulations there are," helping to enact regulatory reform that ultimately speeds up DoD innovation adoption.

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, to discuss the critical role of innovation and competition in modernizing the defense industrial base. Ranking Member Smith reflects on his political journey from growing up in SeaTac, Washington, to his work on defense policy in Congress. He shares insights on how the Pentagon’s traditional process-driven approach often stifles innovation, drawing comparisons to corporate competition in the private sector. This episode was recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum on December 7, 2024. 

Five Key Takeaways:
1. Innovation vs. Process in Defense: Rep. Smith highlights the tension between the Pentagon’s traditional, process-oriented approach and the need for more innovative, problem-solving strategies in defense. He emphasizes that a rigid process can stifle creative solutions, while a focus on problem-solving encourages flexibility and faster, more effective outcomes.

2. The Power of Competition: Rep. Smith stresses that competition, particularly in the defense sector, leads to better products and solutions. He points to private companies like SpaceX and Palantir as examples of how challenging the status quo can drive innovation and force even traditional defense contractors to innovate and adapt.

3. Collaboration Between Tech and Defense: Rep. Smith advocates for greater collaboration between the tech community and the defense sector. He believes that partnerships with Silicon Valley startups and other innovative companies are crucial for advancing U.S. defense capabilities, particularly in areas like AI, space, and cybersecurity.

4. Congress’ Role in Enabling Innovation: While the Pentagon and defense contractors are often slow to embrace change, Rep. Smith calls for Congress to play a key role in enabling innovation. He urges Congress to create an environment where risk-taking and failure are accepted as part of the innovation process, which includes allowing more flexibility in defense spending.

5. The Need for Balance in Manufacturing: On the issue of supply chains and manufacturing, Rep. Smith acknowledges the importance of rebalancing U.S. production capabilities to remove reliance on any one country. He advocates for a balance between domestic manufacturing and partnerships with allies to ensure a resilient and diversified supply chain for defense technologies.

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with the Honorable Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Ms. Shyu discusses her transition from industry to government, highlighting her role in accelerating technological innovation within the Department of Defense (DoD). She outlines her efforts to engage both large defense primes and small startups to drive innovation, particularly through initiatives like the APFIT funding program, which has significantly boosted small companies by helping them scale into production. Ms. Shyu shares her personal journey from an uncertain college graduate with a mathematics degree to a leader in defense, emphasizing the importance of taking risks, embracing challenges, and staying adaptable in one's career. She also speaks to the evolution of the defense industrial base, noting the increasing role of startups and commercial innovation in shaping the future of defense technology. This episode was recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum on December 7, 2024.

Five Key Takeaways: 

1. Collaboration between industry and government is essential for accelerating technological innovation, particularly in defense, through constant engagement and joint problem-solving.
2. Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (​APFIT) Funding helps small businesses bridge the "valley of death" by providing capital to scale their technologies, which leads to faster transitions into production and procurement.
3. The defense industrial base has experienced what Ms. Shyu calls a “sea change” with the rise of startups and venture-funded companies, driving innovation and enabling quicker development of capabilities.
4. ​The Office of Strategic Capital (OSC)​ provides guaranteed loans to small companies, addressing funding gaps and helping them scale their hardware-focused innovations into production. [Note: The OSC application window is open NOW through February 3, 2025.]
5. Women in defense tech are encouraged to take risks, embrace opportunities outside their comfort zones, and continuously learn to advance in their careers.

In this episode of Building The Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Teresa Carlson, founding president of General Catalyst Institute. Drawing from her extensive experience leading public sector teams at AWS and Microsoft, Carlson shares invaluable insights on building successful government-technology partnerships, the evolution of cloud adoption, and the current state of defense tech investment. She discusses her journey from Kentucky to becoming a pivotal figure in government technology transformation, while offering practical advice on everything from procurement strategies to maintaining work-life balance in male-dominated fields.

Five Key Takeaways: 
1. Building successful public sector teams requires prioritizing mission-oriented individuals who are deeply invested in government success rather than just sales performance.
2. Successfully navigating government-technology partnerships demands a comprehensive strategy incorporating direct contracts, reseller networks, and strategic integrator alliances.
3. Global startups continue gravitating toward the U.S. market due to its unmatched speed in technology adoption and more efficient procurement pathways.
4. The emergence of applied AI as a transformative force in government operations promises end-to-end automation of complex processes without human intervention.
5. Defense technology has witnessed a dramatic shift in venture capital interest, evolving from a niche market in 2010 to a highly sought-after investment sector today.

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts speak with Gina Sims, Director of the DoD's SBIR/STTR office, about revolutionizing defense innovation. Sims shares her journey from Air Force acquisition to leading the $3 billion small business innovation program, discussing how she's breaking down barriers for new entrants, streamlining processes, and fostering collaboration between government and industry. The conversation explores successful strategies for connecting small business technology with warfighter needs, the evolution of the SBIR program, and the critical role of human networking in defense innovation.

Key Takeaways:

1. The DoD's SBIR/STTR program provides $3 billion annually in non-dilutive funding for small businesses.

2. SBIR Phase Three offers valuable sole-source contracting authority, allowing acquisition officers to bypass traditional competition. 

3. Success in the SBIR program requires small businesses to clearly connect their technology solutions to specific DoD requirements.

4. The Air Force's "open topic" approach has broadened the defense industrial base by allowing companies to propose innovative commercial technologies that could benefit the DoD in ways not yet identified.

5. Effective program management requires breaking down silos through human networking and collaboration across DoD.