Everyday Extraordinary

Guest: Tony Patillo

In the movies, warfighters on tactical missions can pull up vast amounts of data at the snap of a finger. In reality, providing troops with accurate and relevant information has always been more complicated—but that’s about to change. Tony Patillo has dedicated decades of research and time into developing a program designed to give those serving our country the information they need at the speed of mission.

When the stakes are highest—when a threat is imminent or an ally is in danger—every second counts. The modernized integrated database (MIDB) was built in the early 1990s as the central intelligence repository. The platform had its share challenges, and in 2018 the Defense Intelligence Agency began a “once in a generation happening” to modernize and improve MIDB.

Tony is on the cusp of making things a whole lot more like the movies, ensuring that the difference between success and catastrophe is brought to minimum, and that America and its Allies have the support they need in the most dangerous, time-sensitive situations.

Guest: Rob Davies

Imagine if the IRS still relied on file cabinets and fax machines. While it might not be the flashiest topic, having a dependable and efficient operating system is what makes it possible for the government to serve its people effectively. Every time you apply for a home loan, receive your tax return, or file a patent, you benefit from a system that, by and large, just works—a feat that is anything but small.

In this episode, we sit down with Rob Davies to explore how Peraton ensures that these critical operations remain smooth and secure. While much attention is given to protecting our leaders and monitoring potential threats, the backbone of a functional government lies in data security and operational efficiency. Rob shares how Peraton is not only keeping these systems secure but continuously working to make them even better, safeguarding the sensitive information that keeps our country running.

Guest: Sergei Li

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, did you ever stop to wonder how we knew where the hotspots were? The answer lies in the immense amount of data that needed to be collected, organized, and analyzed to provide the CDC with accurate, life-saving information. At the heart of this work was Sergei Li, a veteran in this industry who has taken up the fight against some of the world’s most dangerous outbreaks over the past 25 years.

From the early 2000 Anthrax scare to the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS and the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, Sergei’s career has been defined by his relentless efforts to manage chaos with precision. First with the CDC and now with Peraton, Sergei and his team have been instrumental in working to inform the public about pandemic hotspots, facilitating vaccine rollouts, and shaping long-term strategies to prevent the spread of diseases like HIV.

In this episode, we explore Sergei Li’s extraordinary journey, delving into how Peraton’s data-driven approach has helped protect countless lives—from acts of terrorism to global health crises—and continues to make the world a safer place.

Guest: Natalie Nencioni

Trust is the cornerstone of effective government, and that trust starts with the people who show up every day to serve our nation. With nearly 4.5 million Americans holding security clearances, the stakes are high—these are the individuals trusted with our most sensitive national secrets. But how do we ensure that those who protect our nation are truly trustworthy?

In this episode, we explore Peraton’s role in conducting background investigations for the federal government. A process that ensures agencies—from the intelligence community to the defense department—are staffed with individuals who uphold the highest standards of integrity.

We speak with Natalie Nencioni, who has dedicated her career to this fascinating line of work. We’ll take you behind the scenes as she shares her journey and the impact of her investigations, making sure that those we rely on to keep our government running are people we can truly trust.

Guests:

Leslie Cunkelman, Sonny Giroux

A mission to the moon is a milestone that all of humanity can take pride in. With the stakes higher than ever, the complexity is staggering, involving a vast number of moving parts working together to achieve what once seemed impossible. As we prepare for the next historic moment when humans return to the moon’s surface, Peraton will play a critical and fundamental role, harnessing the top scientific and engineering minds in the world to make this ambitious mission a reality. For decades, Peraton's team has been the foundation of communication for both deep space and near-space missions. The success and safety of these missions hinge on maintaining connections with spacecraft that are sometimes light-years away.

In this episode, we dive deep into Peraton’s pivotal role in supporting NASA’s space exploration with Sonny Giroux, program manager for the deep space contract, who has been leading the charge for over a decade, and Leslie Cuncleman, outreach supervisor and a seasoned expert in translating the complexities of space travel into concepts that the rest of us can actually understand.

Guests: Jeff Berlet and Cleo Brown

These days, cybersecurity is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, and with good reason. Events like the Colonial Pipeline attack—a breach that brought one of the largest U.S. oil pipelines to a standstill—highlight just how vulnerable our critical infrastructure can be. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, Peraton’s work in securing our nation’s infrastructure and strengthening its cyber defenses is more important than ever. 

In this episode, we sit down with Cleo Brown, who’s on the front lines of preventing these attacks, and Jeff Berlet, who’s developing forward-thinking strategies to keep our online and offline world safe. They discuss how Peraton is tackling today’s challenges while also investing in the future of cybersecurity, from training the next generation of experts to advancing our nation’s offensive and defensive capabilities.

Guest: Ritu Chadha

Artificial Intelligence is far more than a tool for polishing resumes or drafting emails—it’s transforming how we interact with and impact the world. At Peraton, AI has been at the heart of our mission to create a safer world for decades.

In this episode, we dive into the innovative work of Ritu Chadha, Ph.D., a leader in AI technology at Peraton. With a background in cybersecurity, data analytics, and machine learning, Ritu has contributed to critical projects for agencies like DARPA and the U.S. Army. She’s been instrumental in developing technologies like a communication system that became a vital lifeline for armed forces and CyberVAN - a platform that has revolutionized how we train against cyber threats.

Join our host, Scott Cooper, as he explores Ritu’s incredible journey and looks ahead to the future of AI, where the focus is on making this powerful technology even more trustworthy and impactful.

Everyday Extraordinary invites you into the world of Peraton, where the extraordinary is all in a day’s work. From Hollywood-worthy missions that keep the world’s most critical systems running to the often unseen work that safeguards our future, Peraton's efforts are as ambitious as they are thrilling.

At the heart of Peraton is a team of mission-driven experts—scientists, engineers, and analysts—dedicated to tackling the toughest challenges facing America and its allies. These aren't just jobs; they’re lifelong commitments to making the impossible possible, ensuring a safer, more secure world.

In this series, you'll go behind the scenes with Peraton’s people, uncovering the real stories and bold strategies that drive their mission.. Everyday Extraordinary offers a front-row seat to the real-life drama of securing our future, where every day brings new opportunities to make history.