The Department of War (DoW) is moving faster than ever—embracing commercial technology, autonomous systems, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled capabilities. But this acceleration raises a critical question: what happens to the human in the loop?

Recorded at the NDIA Human Systems Conference, Arun Seraphin speaks with four leaders working at the intersection of technology, personnel, and defense innovation: Dr. Eric Sikorski, Stuart Michelson, Jenn McNamara, and Jesse Flint.

Together, they examine how evolving priorities within the Department of War (DoW) are accelerating adoption of autonomous systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI), while placing new demands on the workforce responsible for operating them. The discussion reveals that rapid defense innovation often outpaces workforce readiness and can create challenges in training, integration, and scalability.

This episode highlights how NDIA members across industry, academia, and government are advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, and human performance strategies to ensure the Department of Defense (DoD) workforce can effectively support next-generation missions at speed.

See here for more information on NDIA's Human Systems Division: https://www.ndia.org/divisions/human-systems

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SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 9-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org/

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#EmergingTechnologies #DefenseInnovation #ArtificialIntelligence #DefenseAcquisition

Keywords:

-            Defense innovation

-            autonomous systems

-            Artificial intelligence (AI)

-            Department of Defense (DoD)

For decades, the U.S. government has tested weapons systems before deployment, but not the policies that govern them. That gap is starting to close through artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced modeling techniques.

In this episode, Dr. Arun Seraphin sits down with Dr. David Metcalf and Dr. Doug Buettner to explore how AI, multi-agent systems, and simulation technologies are transforming how defense policy can be designed, tested, and implemented. What emerges is a new paradigm: policy that can be modeled and refined before it ever reaches the real world.

The conversation explores how AI-powered multi-agent systems can simulate complex environments with multiple stakeholders, enabling policymakers to run thousands of “what if” scenarios in real time. As these systems scale, questions of bias, validation, and trust become central to whether artificial intelligence-driven insights can inform high-stakes decisions.

Looking ahead, the challenge is no longer technical feasibility—it is whether institutions can adopt AI and multi-agent systems, build the right validation frameworks, and ensure that AI-driven policy decision-making remains accountable.

NDIA ETI Brief -- “Using Data for Defense: Integrating Modeling & Simulation for Policymaking”: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/brief-series/policy-and-modeling 

ADD WEBINAR ON POLICY MODELING – YOUTUBE VIDEO

ADD LINK to AIRC

SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 9-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org/

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#EmergingTech #ArtificialIntelligence #PublicPolicy #DefenseInnovation

Over the past decade, microelectronics and semiconductors have become a cornerstone of U.S. national security and supply chain resilience, moving beyond a purely technical issue to a central focus of economic and defense policy in Washington. 

In this episode, host Dr. Arun Seraphin sits down with Grant Meyer, chair of the National Defense Industrial Association Electronics Division, to discuss the evolving role of the electronics industrial base in supporting U.S. defense capabilities and securing critical supply chains. 

The conversation explores how rising geopolitical competition and legislation such as the CHIPS and Science Act have accelerated federal attention on semiconductor manufacturing, microelectronics innovation, and resilient supply chains. Seraphin and Meyer also dive into the challenges of building a coherent national electronics strategy, including fragmented priorities across the industrial base and commercial technology sector, and the difficulty of aligning long-term defense acquisition timelines with fast-moving commercial cycles. 

Meyer draws on his extensive experience in defense electronics to explain why microelectronics and semiconductors are foundational to modern military systems and national security infrastructure. 

Check out Meyer’s NDIA division here: https://www.ndia.org/divisions/electronics 

NDIA ETI Report – “Modernizing Defense Microelectronics: Challenges and Opportunities”: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/research-papers/modernizing-defense-microelectronics 

ETH Podcast on Report: 

https://www.youtube.com/@EmergingTechETI/search?query=electronics 

ETH Podcast CHIPS Act and Microelectronics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36rGE0yjw1Y&t=5s 

Tech 101 Webinar: Microelectronics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6sxrq3PiwI&list=PL5oQnv75FK5bwT5tk6qgPa3FhLWm1vgAv&index=37&t=3066s&pp=iAQB 

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And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org 

#ETI #EmergingTech #SupplyChains #Microelectronics #Semiconductors 

Microelectronics and semiconductor technologies are no longer commodities—they are central to national security and defense innovation. James Chew, President and General Manager of Government Technologies at Intel, explains why this shift is redefining how the semiconductor industry supports defense platforms. 

Chew joins Dr. Arun Seraphin to explore how microelectronics has evolved from interchangeable components to mission-critical systems, driving a fundamental change in procurement and supply chain strategy. He highlights how past commercial off-the-shelf reforms created sustainment gaps as suppliers exited the market, leaving critical defense systems waiting on parts. 

The discussion also examines Intel’s Secure Enclave, designed to provide reliable access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing through dedicated capacity at its Arizona facility. Chew further outlines how government investment can strengthen the microelectronics and semiconductor industrial base, align long-term priorities, and enable Intel to operate more like a defense prime contractor in an increasingly competitive global landscape. 

NDIA ETI Report – “Modernizing Defense Microelectronics: Challenges and Opportunities”: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/research-papers/modernizing-defense-microelectronics 

ETH Podcast on Report: 

https://www.youtube.com/@EmergingTechETI/search?query=electronics 

ETH Podcast CHIPS Act and Microelectronics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36rGE0yjw1Y&t=5s 

Tech 101 Webinar: Microelectronics - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6sxrq3PiwI&list=PL5oQnv75FK5bwT5tk6qgPa3FhLWm1vgAv&index=37&t=3066s&pp=iAQBe sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more:  

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And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org 

 #ETI #EmergingTech #Microelectronics #Semiconductor 

Join host Dr. Arun Seraphin for a conversation with Kate Käufer, President & Founder of KMK Global Strategies, LLC, to break down how the DoD, Congress, and industry are navigating the FY26 Appropriations Act. The discussion highlights key budget timelines, the evolving role of the Defense Industrial Base, and emerging priorities including munitions production and the Golden Dome. Kate shares insights on interpreting appropriations signals, understanding DoD priorities, and how companies can stay proactive through stronger communication and collaboration across the defense ecosystem.

KMK Strategies: https://kmm-strategies.com/

Explore the 2026 DoD Appropriations Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4016

SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 9-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org/

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#EmergingTechETI #DoD #DefenseIndustrialBase #Munitions #GoldDome

The U.S. military has spent decades optimizing platforms while largely underinvesting in the system that actually operates them: the warfighter. As body-worn technologies mature, that imbalance is becoming harder to justify.

In this episode, Sonya Rahmani, Warfighter Performance Lead at Booz Allen, joins Dr. Arun Seraphin to argue that the future of military advantage lies in treating the warfighter as an integrated system—one that spans cognitive, physiological, and tactical domains. The challenge is no longer collecting data but transforming it into actionable insights using Defense AI Technology.

The conversation explores why the real bottlenecks are not just in AI or sensing, but in power management, system integration, and cybersecurity. Warfighters cannot manage fragmented devices, incompatible batteries, or constant data streams. The burden must shift from the individual to the system—through automation, edge computing, and intelligent filtering powered by Defense AI Technology.

Rahmani also explains why commercial wearable technologies, while essential, are insufficient on their own. Devices built for connected, civilian environments must be fundamentally reengineered for disconnected operations, cybersecurity risks, and mission-specific demands in modern defense environments. Learn more about Booz Allen’s Defense Technology: https://www.boozallen.com/defense

SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 9-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org/

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Over 3,000 troops and contractors experienced some form of casualty moving fuel to U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. That history explains why military energy thinking has defaulted to fuel logistics for two decades — and why a more serious vulnerability has gone largely unexamined. Today, the U.S. power grid is emerging as a critical infrastructure risk with direct implications for national security. Will Rogers, Principal at Converge Strategies and co-author of Powering the Fight: Lessons from the Grid at War, joins Dr. Arun Seraphin to discuss the military’s growing dependence on the power grid.

The conversation highlights the historical evolution of this dependency, noting that modern military operations rely heavily on a globally networked defense footprint tied to critical infrastructure systems. Rogers advocates for public-private cooperation to strengthen the power grid and address national security vulnerabilities under increasing stress.

Read Converge Strategies’ article here: https://convergestrategies.com/powering-the-fight-lessons-from-the-grid-at-war-converge-strategies/

Get in contact with Will Rogers and the team at Converge Strategies:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-rogers-66360414/

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://convergestrategies.com/

#EmergingTech #PowerGrid #CriticalInfrastracture #NationalSecurity Keywords: - Power grid - Critical Infrastructure - National Security

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Join host Dr. Arun Seraphin for a conversation with Dr. Reed Skaggs of Lewis-Burke Associates examining how the Pentagon’s new innovation memo is reshaping the Defense Technology ecosystem. The discussion focuses on the memo’s emphasis on accelerating speed to Capability, strengthening the STEM-focused innovation workforce, and clarifying how service laboratories and research organizations support Emerging Technology development within the defense technology pipeline. Dr. Skaggs also highlights the growing importance of developing K–12 STEM capacity as a foundational national security issue, given current education gaps impacting the future Defense Technology workforce.
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#Defense Technology #STEM #EmergingTech #EmergingTechETI

Join Dr. Arun Seraphin for a conversation with Dr. Sridhar Kota and Hal Chrisman of FlexSys exploring how adaptive morphing control surfaces are transforming aerodynamics across the aerospace industry and defense industry. The discussion centers on this engineering breakthrough and its potential to reshape future DoD platforms and missions. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in the aerospace and defense industry, Dr. Kota and Chrisman explain how this adaptive technology can improve lift-to-drag ratios, reduce fuel consumption and noise, and eliminate the need for conventional flaps in next-generation aircraft designs.

 This conversation examines how morphing aerodynamics technologies could transform DoD mission requirements, from enabling shorter takeoff and landing distances to improving climb gradients and reducing fleet size requirements. In addition to the operational benefits for the Department of Defense (DoD), Dr. Kota and Chrisman explore key technology transition challenges facing the defense industry, including certification, integration, and scalability. The conversation concludes with a forward-looking vision for making morphing control surfaces an industry standard, along with practical guidance for OEMs and DoD partners interested in adopting this advanced aerodynamics technology.

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Another cycle of NDAA-driven Acquisition Reform has concluded, beginning with the introduction of the FoRGED Act and SPEED Act and culminating in the enactment of the FY26 NDAA. Join Dr. Arun Seraphin and Moshe Schwartz for a detailed discussion of NDAA acquisition reforms and why this legislation could represent one of the most significant defense acquisition reform packages in decades. Drawing on Moshe’s deep defense acquisition expertise, the conversation breaks down what changes to acquisition policy were enacted, what did not make it into law, and how Congress and the Department of Defense are aligned on implementation.The discussion examines major acquisition changes introduced in the FY26 NDAA, including expanded acquisition authorities, best-value decision-making, commercial-first acquisition preferences, and new roles and responsibilities across the defense acquisition workforce. Moshe and Arun analyze the potential impact of these reforms on defense contractors, including nontraditional defense contractors, with a close look at implications for intellectual property rights, consumption-based acquisition models, sustainment strategies, and the elevated roles of portfolio acquisition executives and product support managers within the Department of Defense.

Etherton and Associates: https://www.ethertonandassociates.com/

ETI's Insights into FY26 NDAA: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/insights/fy2025ndaa

FY26 NDAA: https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/s1071/BILLS-119s1071enr.pdf

Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, inside scoops, & more:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1