Building the Base

In this episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, currently performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities, to share insights on modernizing defense technology acquisition. Drawing from his experience as a fighter pilot and DARPA innovator, Browning discusses programs like RAIDER, APFIT, and Replicator, explaining how these initiatives are bridging capability gaps and accelerating the delivery of new technologies to warfighters while fostering closer collaboration between industry, operators, and acquisition teams.

5 Key Takeaways:
1. The "valley of death" in defense technology is primarily an information challenge rather than a fiscal one, requiring better communication of needs and capabilities across stakeholders.

2. Success in defense innovation requires understanding that the true customer includes not just end users, but also the requirements writers and acquisition professionals who enable procurement.

3. The DoD is creating new frameworks like the Technology Modernization Transition Review (TMTR) to better align requirements, acquisition, and capability development across services.

4. Effective transition of new technologies requires "relentless engagement" and creating a compelling body of evidence to justify rapid acquisition and deployment.

5. The future of defense acquisition relies on breaking down silos between technologists, operators, and acquirers while maintaining open architectures that enable integration of new capabilities.

 Quotes:
"Transition is a full contact sport if you really do want to take a new capability and get it into the field rapidly. It takes relentless engagement." 

"Very few of the bureaucratic rules are stupid. They may be interpreted badly right now, but all of them were created over the bumps and bruises of time."

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Tracy Frost, Director of Technology Industrial Innovation Base, and Dr. Kate Sixt, Principal Director for Biotechnology at the Department of Defense. The conversation explores the revolutionary intersection of biotechnology and national security, diving into how the DoD is leveraging bio-manufacturing to strengthen domestic supply chains and innovate defense capabilities. From converting waste products into valuable materials to creating new pathways for manufacturing critical components, the discussion reveals how public-private partnerships are reshaping America's industrial base.

5 Key Takeaways:

1.  BioTechnology in defense has evolved beyond traditional military medicine to include manufacturing materials, chemicals, and specialized fuels using biological processes

2. The DoD is actively building public-private partnerships to bridge the gap between research and manufacturing, particularly through initiatives like BioMADE.

3. Bio-manufacturing offers environmental advantages over traditional chemical manufacturing, primarily through water-based rather than petroleum-based processes

4. Supply chain security is being strengthened through domestic bio-manufacturing capabilities, especially for industrial chemicals at lower tiers of the supply chain. 

5. The field offers diverse career opportunities across education levels, from technical certificates to PhDs, with particular demand in supply chain modeling and precision engineering

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome back Jason Rathje, Director of the Department of Defense's Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), as the first-ever repeat guest. Jason shares his personal journey from an early passion for technology and innovation to leading OSC’s groundbreaking efforts. He highlights the progress made since his last appearance, including a major announcement of $984 million in available credit to bolster U.S. industrial capacity and national security, further bridging private capital with defense technology to maintain America's competitive edge.

Five Key Takeaways:

1. OSC’s Impact: OSC has introduced a scalable financial approach, using federal credit programs to drive investment in critical technology.
2. New Funding Model: A loan and loan guarantee program, that allows private sector partners to access affordable, long-term credit.
3. First Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA): Nearly $1 billion for loan distribution to modernize, procure, and refurbish manufacturing equipment.
4. Strategic Competition: By offering longer loan terms, OSC supports companies that are vital to national security, counteracting the market's reluctance to invest in high-risk, low-return areas such as hardware technology.
5. Future Opportunities: OSC’s approach will continue to evolve, with more financial products being launched based on industry feedback.

Memorable Quotes:

• Jason Rathje: "Raising twins is maybe the hardest thing we’ve ever done... it’s certainly right up there with starting a brand-new organization in the Pentagon."
• Jason Rathje: "This is a seismic shift in how the Department of Defense engages with our industrial base... We are offering something scalable, unlike direct government spending."

DoD Minseries : Maintaining The Edge Research and Engineering; Part 1 of 4

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (DoD R&E). Broadcasting live from the Pentagon, this conversation launches a new miniseries focused on the groundbreaking work of DoD R&E. Bess shares her unique journey to the Pentagon, insights into the office's major initiatives—including biomanufacturing, microelectronics, and strategic capital—and the innovative programs shaping the future of defense. She also provides a behind-the-scenes look at what the DoD is doing to accelerate development, iterate faster, and strengthen the country’s technological capabilities.

Key Takeaways:

1. Biomanufacturing Innovation: Over $1 billion allocated to revolutionize biomanufacturing and integrate biotechnology into defense.

2. Microelectronics Focus: $2 billion investment to advance microelectronics R&D, critical for defense strategies.

3. Strategic Capital: New financial tools like loans and guarantees to drive innovation in non-traditional sectors.

4. Faster Tech Deployment: DoD is accelerating tech development by partnering with both traditional and non-traditional contractors.

5. Bess Dopkeen's Journey: Bess shares her 19-year career path from contractor to Senior Advisor at the Pentagon.

In this episode of Building The Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Evan Smith, co-founder and CEO of Altana AI. Together, they explore how emerging technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence, are revolutionizing global supply chains and advancing national security. Evan shares his perspective on how AI can bridge critical gaps in supply chain visibility, ensure operational resilience, and provide competitive advantages for businesses and governments. This episode covers technology, defense, or logistics, and provides valuable insights into the future of AI-driven supply chains and their implications for security and commerce.

Key Topics Discussed : 

1. AI for Global Supply Chain Resilience
2. Importance of Public-Private Partnerships
3. Building Trust with AI
4. AI's Role in National Security
5. The Future of Supply Chain Technology

In this episode of "Building the Base," Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with VADM (Ret) Mike Moran, a distinguished leader in military acquisition and naval aviation. Admiral Moran shares his journey from an operational career in the Navy to leading transformative acquisition processes, offering an inside look at the challenges and opportunities within the defense sector. The conversation highlights the critical importance of innovation, culture, and leadership in delivering capabilities that meet the urgent needs of our nation's defense. Admiral Moran's stories of overcoming bureaucracy and accelerating technology deployment are a masterclass in effective leadership and problem-solving.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of Leadership in Acquisition.  

2. Innovation and Rapid Deployment

3. Cultural and Bureaucratic Challenges

4. The Role of  Program Executive Officers (PEO) in Military Success.

5. Balancing Risk and Reward

In this episode of Building the Base, our hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Guerts dive in with Justin Fanelli CTO of the United States Navy. The conversation revolved around the defense industry, digital transformation in government, and the importance of professional curiosity and humility in private-public partnerships. Some of the major takeaways included the need for accelerated innovation, prioritizing mission outcomes, removing friction in the defense industrial base, and adopting a portfolio-based approach to digital transformation in government. 

Justin emphases the importance of overcoming cultural and policy barriers, effective risk management, and balancing technological advancements with policy and human considerations.

Key Takeaways

·      Navy CTO's background and mission-focused work.

·      Military service highlighting the importance of teamwork, discipline, and exposure to a big world.

·      CTO role in government, including divestment and friction removal.

·      Barriers to innovation in government, with a focus on policy and cultural changes.

·      Risk management in public-private partnerships, emphasizing professional curiosity and humility.

·      importance of considering both actual risks and generalized context for better decision-making.

·      Tech and policy in government

·      Using agile methods in government, with a focus on transparency and decentralized coordination.

In this episode of "Building the Base," hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur Dmitri Alperovitch. Dmitri shares his journey from immigrating to the United States from Russia to co-founding CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company. He discusses the insights from his new book, "World on the Brink," which addresses the geopolitical threats posed by China and strategies for the U.S. to maintain its global leadership. The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the critical role of the private sector in national security, and the need for a robust and adaptable defense industrial base.

Key Takeaways

1. Cybersecurity and National Security Interconnection: Dmitri emphasizes the inseparable link between cybersecurity and national security

2. Immigrant Perspective on American Opportunity: Dmitri's immigrant journey underscores his appreciation for the opportunities in the U.S. 

3. Challenges with Dual-Use Technologies: complexities of developing technologies that serve both commercial and government sectors

4. Importance of Mass and Affordability in Defense: Dmitri critiques the current defense procurement strategy, advocating for more cost-effective and mass-produced solutions to ensure military readiness.

5. Role of the Private Sector in Cyber Defense: Highlighting CrowdStrike's success, Dmitri illustrates how private companies can significantly enhance national cyber defense capabilities.

In this episode of Building The Base, Hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts dive in with Arun Gupta venture Capitalist, CEO of the Noble Reach Foundation and Author of "Venture Meets Mission".  They Discuss the growing trend of mission-driven entrepreneurship and the need for collaboration between government agencies and entrepreneurs to create positive social impact. 

Arun emphasized the importance of understanding government networks and problems and highlighted the benefits of having "dual-citizens" in government. We hear a candid discussion about the challenges faced by government agencies in fostering innovation and suggestions on how to embraces positive intent and promote collaboration between government and entrepreneurs.

Major Takeaways

•       Merging entrepreneurship, government, and technology to solve societal problems.
•       Shaping the next generation of tech talent for mission-oriented work.
•       Bridging public service and entrepreneurship.
•       Humanizing government and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
•       Scaling AI in government with optimism and collaboration.
•       Private capital in national security sector with insights on potential losers and future growth.
•       How to foster collaboration between government and entrepreneurs to solve big problems.

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Paul Breitenbach, co-founder of Priceline and founder of R4, a company focused on AI technology. Paul shares his journey from being a musician in New Jersey to a successful tech entrepreneur, highlighting his unconventional path into computer science. He emphasizes the importance of team culture and strategy in driving success, drawing parallels between the internet era and the current AI revolution. Paul discusses R4's transition from commercial to government contracts, particularly in the defense sector, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. 

The conversation delves into the evolution of AI technology, from body shop toolkits to decision intelligence, and its impact on various industries. Paul also addresses common misconceptions about AI, emphasizing problem definition over data accumulation and the role of human expertise in conjunction with AI technology.

Key Takeaways

1. Problem Definition Over Technology Focus: Paul stresses the importance of clearly defining problems and desired outcomes when implementing AI solutions, advocating for a user-centric approach rather than getting bogged down by technical details.

2. Team Culture and Collaboration:  Drawing from his experience at Priceline, Paul underscores the significance of team culture in achieving success, emphasizing the value of collaboration and diversity in driving innovation.

3. AI's Evolution and Impact: Paul traces the evolution of AI technology from its early stages to its current phase of decision intelligence, highlighting its potential to revolutionize industries by enabling predictive capabilities and informed decision-making.

4. Talent Acquisition and Unconventional Sources: Contrary to common assumptions, Paul believes that talent can be found in unconventional places and advocates for tapping into overlooked programs and individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets.

5. Defense Community's Potential: Paul expresses confidence in the capabilities of the defense community, noting their adaptability and resourcefulness in leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.