Defense Mavericks

This week, Bonnie sits down with Casey Perley, Director of Army Applications Lab, to talk about how to accelerate tech transfer and innovation within the military. Casey shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities in transitioning commercial technologies to benefit our soldiers. From the importance of collaboration and cross-functional teams to the pressing need for speed in accessing new tech, this episode dives into the strategies and approaches to drive impactful change. Tune in for a deep dive into military innovation and problem-solving.

TIMESTAMPS:

(3:15) Lessons learned from DIU 1.0

(6:48) Why cross-functional teams are a must for successful tech transfer

(10:22) Navigating funding sources for innovation and acquisitions

(14:50) Balancing end user needs with budget constraints

(18:37) How Catalyst Pathfinder is empowering soldiers with low-cost solutions

(22:19) How to build relationships with transition partners

(25:56) Measuring success in tech innovation projects

(30:10) Why listening to both soldiers and industry is key

LINKS:

Follow Casey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyperley/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Army Applications Laboratory: https://aal.army/

This week, Bonnie sits down with Emma Bates, founder of PaaS tool Cachai and a veteran DoD strategy thinker, live from South by Southwest 2024. Emma shares her journey from a DIU fellow to founding Cachai, driven by her mission to tackle complex coordination challenges in computer systems for national defense. They dive into the significance of human connections, the reality behind SBIR STTRs for dual-use companies, and the importance of clear communication when working with the DoD. Tune in for a great discussion on modernizing technology in defense and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.

TIMESTAMPS:

(3:28) The bottleneck in state management for distributed systems

(9:17) How the name “Cachai” came to be

(15:25) Why dual-use startups should not focus on government first

(18:23) The challenge of translating military requirements into tech terms

(23:31) The missing piece from DoD that could streamline private sector innovation

(30:15) Why most transition funds are unusable

(35:25) How collaboration empowers clear next steps for innovation

LINKS:

Follow Emma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmasophiabates/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Cachai: https://cachai.io/

This week, Bonnie is joined by Will Roper, CEO of Istari and former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, to talk about the future of military technology and innovation. Will shares his journey from theoretical physicist to defense acquisition leader and what it took to drive innovation along the way. He dives into the impact of digital engineering, the role of software and data in modern warfare, and the importance of adapting to rapidly evolving technological landscapes. Tune in to learn more about how the defense sector can effectively compete on a global scale.

TIMESTAMPS:

(2:39) How a theoretical physicist revolutionized military procurement

(3:20) Why software factories are the Air Force's new frontier

(8:45) Will’s playbook for innovation & sustainable enterprise change

(12:30) The secret to successful digital engineering

(17:15) What’s next for AI operationalization?

(24:49) Advice for current and future acquisition professionals

(29:24) The key to scaling innovation and moving past the “planting of seeds”

(31:13) Underestimated difficulty of creating digital engineering platforms

(34:03) Formula One and federal acquisitions—parallels and lessons

LINKS:

Follow Will: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamroper/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Istari: https://www.istaridigital.com/

This week, Bonnie is joined by Brennan Townley, CEO of Collaboration.AI to dive into the world of government contracting, innovative teamwork, and the impact of technology in defense collaboration. Brennan shares his unexpected journey into the DoD, highlighting the nuances of navigating government contracts and the power of connecting the right people to the right problems. Tune in to learn how storytelling and human-centered collaboration are shaping the future of tech in government.

TIMESTAMPS:

(1:30) Solving the government's hairiest problems

(5:16) How to succeed despite continuous government turnover

(7:41) Why a startup mentality helps you test & iterate faster

(12:37) Transitioning from SBIR phase II to III

(16:23) Struggling to define customer personas

(20:31) How to connecting the right people for collaboration opportunities

(26:17) Linking non-traditional contractors to military programs

(28:13) Connecting with people beyond transactional relationships

LINKS:

Follow Brennan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennantownley/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Collaboration.AI: https://collaboration.ai/

This week, Bonnie is joined by Allison Brager, U.S. Army neurobiologist, sleep expert, CrossFit athlete, aspiring astronaut, and Deputy Chief Science Officer for the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center to talk about how to optimize human performance in combat. Allison dives into the importance of leveraging science and technology to push human limits in both athletic and military environments and why fatigue management policies should be prioritized in the DoD. Tune in to this engaging discussion on the future of individualized training in special forces.

TIMESTAMPS:

(1:30) Allison’s journey from academia to the Army

(4:59) Why stress exposure is key to performance

(7:31) Using CrossFit for military recruitment

(10:45) Implementing fatigue management policies for Army fleet truck drivers

(12:23) Is sleep a sign of weakness?

(18:37) Why we need individualized training programs & how genetics are at play

(22:14) The secret to maximizing our combat power

(32:48) Humans over hardware

LINKS:

Follow Allison: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-brager-80a58210/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Bonnie is joined by Bryon Kroger, founder and CEO of Rise8, about the pivotal role of software in government and military operations. Bryon shares his insights on the challenges of bridging the gap between acquisitions and operations, the importance of continuous software delivery, and the ethos of fostering a culture of outcomes over outputs. Drawing on the lessons learned from the creation of Kessel Run and his subsequent venture, Rise8, Bryon outlines a new paradigm for agile, user-focused software development and systems integration in the federal space.

TIMESTAMPS:

(1:37) Bryon’s first experience with deadly software

(3:59) How Kessel Run changes the game in software delivery

(6:07) The secret to continuous software delivery

(14:46) Why Bryon founded Rise8

(19:53) Reimagining requirements & user engagement

(22:34) How output and behavior impact mission

(33:49) Challenge bureaucracy, innovate, and don't feel powerless

LINKS:

Follow Bryon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryon-kroger/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Rise8: https://www.rise8.us/

This week, Bonnie is joined by fellow CDAO leader Captain Manuel Xavier Lugo, Head of AI Initiatives and Capability Delivery and Task Force Lima Commander at OSD CDAO, to discuss the Task Force Lima mission, its challenges, and their 18-month race to AI mastery. Captain Lugo dives into the reality of AI integration, the pursuit of technological maturity, and the critical importance of tailored AI readiness in defense. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the balance between innovation and pragmatism.

TIMESTAMPS:

(1:30) What is Task Force Lima?

(7:28) Scaling vs. sustaining – who really owns success?

(8:55) Why you should abandon the “Black Box” mentality

(15:32) Partnering with use case owners

(19:05) Benefits of centralized enterprise models

(22:55) Don’t be scared of technology, be skeptical

(25:02) The hope and potential of AI

(28:22) Why you should never skip the basics

LINKS:

Follow Captain Lugo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxlugo/

Email Task Force Lima: [email protected]

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Bonnie is joined by special guest Jennifer Pahlka, author of "Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better”, to talk through some of the most pressing issues facing public servants today. Jennifer dives into the need to shift from project management to product management, the power of human-centered policy, and how embracing change can accelerate the integration of emerging technologies. Tune in for an important conversation on reshaping the public sector to better serve its citizens.

TIMESTAMPS:

(5:13) The power of bottom-up policy

(6:39) Closing the gap between policy and delivery

(12:41) Why public servants should prioritize mission over process

(16:33) Discovering your “why”

(19:16) Focusing on direct user feedback rather than requirements

(23:28) Adding vs. simplifying policies

(26:09) Putting a stop to maximalist approach to policy

(27:14) Shifting from project to product management in government

(31:17) How to seek community & communicate needs

LINKS:

Follow Jennifer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpahlka/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Bonnie sits down with Schuyler Moore, Chief Technology Officer for U.S. Central Command, to discuss the process of integrating technology into critical military operations and her experience pioneering the role of CTO at CENTCOM. Schuyler shares her insights on the importance of fostering a culture of innovation from the top down, the critical role of user feedback in tech development, and the power of partnerships between industry and government in driving impactful change. Tune in for a dynamic conversation on what it takes to shape the future of defense technology.

TIMESTAMPS:

(3:13) Cultivating a culture of innovation in US Central Command

(6:42) Why user feedback is key in tech development

(11:19) Overcoming operational challenges in implementing emerging technologies

(14:57) The impact of historical precedents on military technology

(18:33) Balancing operational imperatives with technological innovation

(22:10) Pro tips for staying ahead in the dynamic tech landscape

(26:05) The vital role of the user community in shaping tech solutions

LINKS:

Follow Schuyler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schuylermoore

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Bonnie is joined by Lieutenant General Michael Groen (Ret.), former director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, to talk about the importance of transformative thinking in the DoD. General Groen shares his insights on transforming military capabilities with AI, the significance of a communal drive for change, and the need for and lack of imagination in defense. Tune in for an engaging conversation on innovation, experimentation, and what it truly takes to craft the next generation of defense capabilities.

TIMESTAMPS:

(3:42) What does it mean to “transform”?

(8:12) The importance of stimulating thought within department

(11:11) Why vitamin “I” deficiency is killing progress

(13:35) Describing problems vs. prescribing solutions

(17:25) How to push boundaries with experimentation

(20:06) Striving for uncomfortable relevance

(23:20) The key to making AI transformative

(26:23) Why we need integrated data environments for decision-making

(27:22) Fining the balance between industry and DoD partnerships

LINKS:

Follow General Groen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-s-groen/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/