Welcome to “HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

 The threat isn’t arriving someday; it’s already overhead. We pull back the curtain on how cartels are adapting small UAS tactics, what we’re seeing at the border in real time, and why chasing point solutions is a losing game. Instead of a brittle “counter-drone” wall, we’re building an air domain awareness fabric that starts with detect, track, and identify, then applies the right mitigation for the place and moment.

  Featuring:

• Matt Becker, Vice President and Division Manager, Leidos 
• Erik Sorensen, Assistant Chief, Defense Capability Group/C-UAS Operations Coordinator, U.S. Border Patrol
• James “JT” Thom, Executive Director, Domain Awareness Security Operations, Air and Marine Operations, CBP 
• David Aguilar, Former CBP Acting and Deputy Commissioner and former Chief of Border Patrol (moderator)

 This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium

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