CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE

The debate rages on — and it's coming to a head. Does the U.S. military need an independent cyber force? Or should the services retain their own cyber organizations with specialization in the domains in which they operate? Josh Stiefel, vice president of government relations for Second Front Systems and a former professional staffer for the House Armed Services Committe, is one of the prominent voices advocating for studying the prospect of an independent cyber force, recently helping launch the Commission on U.S. Cyber Force Generation at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Stiefel joins CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to dig into the debate and share what's ahead.

Can venture capital unlock the Pentagon’s innovation problem? Alex Harstrick of J2 Ventures, an Army reservist and former leader of the Defense Innovation Unit's National Security Innovation Capital team, joins CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to explore how startup speed and private-sector risk-taking could reshape defense. We dig into where VC is making a real impact, where it struggles against DOD bureaucracy, and what it will take for government and investors to actually work together to deliver the next wave of national security technology.

After a more than three year stint in various roles across the Pentagon, Radha Plumb was appointed as Chief Digital and AI Officer in April 2024, a position she served in until the end of the Biden administration. Now on the other side of that service, she joined CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to reflect on her tenure, the direction of the CDAO, the adoption of AI in the context of the U.S. military, and much more.

The U.S. Department of Defense knows what it faces in modern adversaries like China and Russia. Yet, the joint forces are more focused on building PowerPoints instead of power projection. As the deputy chief of staff for strategy, integration and requirements, retired Lt. Gen. Clint Hinote was one of the Air Force’s top strategic thinkers. And on this episode of CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE, he doesn't hold back on what the next fight will look like and why he believes the U.S. isn't ready for the conflicts ahead.

Palantir has emerged over the decade as a unicorn in the defense and national security space, leveraging its innovative roots to disrupt the legacy defense industrial base. As CTO and employee #13, Shyam Sankar has helped transform and scale Palantir from a Silicon Valley startup to a global leader in AI and data analytics software. Sankar joins CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to share his vision for Palantir as it continues to cement itself as leader in the American national security space, his thoughts for how the Pentagon can continue to evolve to rapidly adopt technology at scale, what his new role as a member of the Army's Detachment 201 will entail, and much more.

As the leader of human capital for the U.S. Space Force, Katharine Kelley is on the frontlines of creating the workforce of the future for the military’s newest service. That effort could serve as a launch pad for modernizing the way the Department of Defense manages its workforce across the entire HR lifecycle, from recrutiment and hiring to retention and retirement. On this energetic episode of CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE, Kelley shares how she’s leading the effort to rethink the role of HR in the U.S. military, how the Space Force Personnel Management Act will serve as a gamechanger on that journey, and why workforce innovation isn’t just about technology.

The Army is in the midst of a once-in-a-generation transformation. As part of that Army Transformation Initiative, Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command are merging to form what's called the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command. Ahead of that, Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of Army Futures, joined CTRL+ ALT +DEFENSE as one of the podcast's inaugural guests to discuss the latest on the Army Transformation Initiative, how the service is going about shepherding in such massive change, and what leaders like himself are doing to ensure its success. ⁠ Learn more. ⁠

Tune into new episodes of CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE every Monday. 

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About CTRL+ALT+DEFENSE 

Defense innovation is evolving at a disorienting pace, as cutting-edge technology collides with bureaucracy, strategy, and national security imperatives. 

CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE, a raw, high-energy, no-holds-barred podcast brought to you by DefenseScoop and Dcode, pulls back the curtain on the most pressing challenges and game-changing technology breakthroughs shaping the future of defense.

Coming August 4: CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE podcast hosted by Billy Mitchell and Meagan Metzger! 

A raw, unfiltered new podcast from DefenseScoop and Dcode, exploring how cutting-edge technology, institutional barriers, and evolving national security priorities collide in today’s defense landscape.

CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE features candid conversations with leaders across defense, tech, venture capital, and policy—bringing forward diverse perspectives on the future of defense innovation.

From the front lines of government to the forefront of technology, this series examines the challenges and breakthroughs shaping tomorrow’s mission-critical decisions—with no spin, no agenda, and no filter.

⁠Stay tuned. ⁠

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About DefenseScoop 

DefenseScoop is the premier community-driven news source dedicated to the U.S. military’s acquisition, development and use of technology as a force for modern defense. As the Department of Defense moves in the direction of Joint All Domain Command and Control and other initiatives to connect the joint force and fight future battles, DefenseScoop will deliver the latest insights, trends and analysis on this pivotal transformation and engage Pentagon and service senior leaders to discuss ways technology can be a central fixture in our nation’s ability to understand threats, make decisions and take action in a rapid manner. ⁠https://defensescoop.com/about/