# How to Achieve Agnostic Technology in Defense: Insights from Major Paul Hanneman Learn how to implement agnostic technology in defense.

Major Paul Hanneman shares insights on user empathy and collaboration for effective solutions. In the rapidly evolving landscape of defense technology, a significant question looms: how can we ensure that the systems we use are truly agnostic?

In this episode, we'll dive into the insights shared by U.S. Army Major Paul Hanneman, a Digital Transformation Specialist, during his recent conversation on the GovDiscovery AI Podcast. With over 21 years of experience from special forces to digital transformation, Major Hanneman offers a unique perspective on achieving effective technology integration in defense.

LEARN MORE: Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com

Summary:

In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI podcast, General Matthew Glavy discusses the critical need for a dedicated Cyber Force in the U.S. military, emphasizing the challenges posed by adversaries like China. He outlines the importance of logistics, structure, and the lessons learned from allies and U.S. Cyber Command. The conversation also delves into the role of AI in cybersecurity, the current status of discussions around the Cyber Force, and the significance of open source intelligence. General Glavy shares insights on the defense industrial base's innovation and the lessons learned from Ukraine's defense strategy, concluding with a call for continuous improvement and adaptation in the face of evolving threats.

Keywords:

Cyber Force, AI, Cyber Command, Defense Innovation, Open Source Intelligence, National Security, Military Strategy, Ukraine Defense, Cybersecurity, Technology in Defense

Links:

https://www.csis.org/programs/strategic-technologies-program/projects/commission-us-cyber-force-generation

https://govdiscoveryai.com/

In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, Mike Shanley interviews Michael Robbins, President and CEO of AUVSI, discussing the current state and future of the US defense uncrewed market. They explore the challenges of technology integration, manufacturing capabilities, critical minerals, battery technology, cybersecurity, and the global dynamics of the drone market. Robbins emphasizes the importance of innovation, the lessons learned from Ukraine's defense strategies, and the opportunities for new entrants in the market. He also highlights AUVSI's role in advocating for the industry and the upcoming events that will shape the future of uncrewed systems.

Learn more about AUVSI here:

https://www.auvsi.org/

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn how we support clients to identify more opportunities, earlier in the pipeline for the US Defense market. To connect with our team directly message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn or submit a request at www.govdiscoveryai.com. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

Summary

In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI podcast, host Mike Shanley interviews Michael Catanasi, the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial-Based Policy. Catanasi discusses his recent experiences at the Honolulu Defense Forum, where he engaged with various military and international partners to address the challenges and opportunities in maintaining and growing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasizes the importance of developing skilled labor and advanced manufacturing capabilities in Hawaii, which are crucial for supporting U.S. military operations in the Pacific.

Guest Bio: The Honorable Michael Cadenazzi was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (ASD(IBP)) on September 23, 2025. In this role, he is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment on industrial base policies and leads the Department of War's efforts to develop and maintain the U.S. defense industrial base to ensure a secure supply of materials critical to national security.

Over the past two decades, Mr. Cadenazzi has served as a serial entrepreneur and consultant with experience in managing and addressing challenging issues across the aerospace & defense sector. He has launched multiple defense industry services and technology start-ups across the signals intelligence, program analysis, data analytics, and market assessment and strategy sectors, and executed two successful transfers of business ownership. His extensive sector experience includes work from the space to undersea domains and from aircraft and munitions to armor, weapons, ships, and services. His clients have included domestic and international firms from large prime contractors to all levels in the supply chain. His direct experience spans strategy, mergers & acquisitions, operations, supply chain and organizational transformation.

Prior to his civilian career, Mr. Cadenazzi served for ten years as an active-duty U.S. Navy cryptologic warfare officer. He completed the Cryptologic Division Office Course at Corry Station in Pensacola Florida before his first tour at Naval Communications & Telecommunications Area Master Station (NCTAMS) WESTPAC in Agana, Guam. Following graduate education, he was assigned to the staff of Commander, U.S. Navy SIXTH Fleet in Gaeta Italy. He completed his military service on the staff of U.S. Naval Forces Europe in London, the United Kingdom.

Mr. Cadenazzi holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from Tulane University and a master's degree in electrical engineering with an emphasis on RF communications and signals intelligence from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He was commissioned an ensign in 1995 through the Tulane Naval Reserve Officer Corps (NROTC) program.

Learn more at BusinessDefense.gov

LEARN MORE: Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about our Defense business intelligence solutions by visiting www.govdiscoveryai.com. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

Summary:

In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, Dr. Matt Willis, director of the Army FUZE Program, discusses the historical challenges the Army has faced in innovation and how the Army FUZE Program aims to address these issues. The conversation covers the importance of risk tolerance, the integration of soldier feedback in the development process, and the role of venture capital in supporting Army innovation. Dr. Willis also highlights current focus areas for funding and eligibility criteria for companies looking to engage with the Army FUZE Program.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Matt Willis serves as the Director of Army FUZE, leading the Army's portfolio of private sector engagements through prize competitions (xTech), the Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, the Technology Maturation Initiative (TMI) program, and the Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) program, comprising over $750 million in annual research and development investments. Previously, Dr. Willis served as the Army Director for Laboratory Management at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) and held various positions across the Army and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Willis earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and both a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

In this episode, host Mike Shanley sits down with Howie Lind, President and Executive Director of ISOA, the International Stability Operations Association. Howie brings decades of experience across the Department of Defense, State Department, and the Pentagon, including serving as Deputy Director for the Iraq Project and Contracting Office.

Together, they unpack:

• What ISOA members are experiencing across acquisition, contracting, and geopolitics - ISOA's unique role at the intersection of government and industry
• How companies, especially new defense entrants, can get the most ROI out of the 2026 ISOA Annual Summit
• What makes ISOA's overseas conferences so high-value for networking and partnership-building

Whether you're already an ISOA member or looking to expand into overseas stability operations, this conversation is loaded with practical insights.

RESOURCES:

Howie Lind; [email protected]

Gneeral Inquiries: Ginny Maycock; [email protected]

Sponsorships Contact: Roxanne Kaufman; [email protected]

BIOGRAPHY:

Howard Lind serves as the President and Executive Director of the International Stability Operations Association that represents private sector companies and non-governmental organizations that work in fragile states around the world.

Previously, Mr. Lind served as a Washington DC representative for the Fluor Government Group regarding work in the Middle East and central Asia.

Prior to joining Fluor, Mr. Lind served in the Departments of Defense and State in the offices of Iraq and Afghanistan reconstruction from 2003 to 2007. He began at the Pentagon in support of Iraq and Afghanistan, then in the State Department's Iraq Reconstruction Management Office. Following that assignment, Mr. Lind served again in the Pentagon in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA-ALT) as Deputy Director for the Iraq Project and Contracting Office.

Mr. Lind began his professional career as a US Naval Officer. After a 20-year career, he retired at the rank of Commander having served aboard five Navy ships of the line and at Navy headquarters staffs. Mr. Lind received a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School.

LEARN MORE:

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI.

To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

https://www.konektid.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/early-defense-opportunity-identification/

In this episode, host Mike Shanley sits down with Major General Thad Bibb (Ret.), former Commander of the 18th Air Force and now VP of Defense Business Development at Radia.

They discuss Radia's WindRunner™, the world's largest aircraft by volume, how it emerged from commercial wind-energy needs, and why its logistics capacity could redefine modern warfare, allied readiness, and dual-use innovation.

General Bibb shares insights from 33 years in the Air Force, lessons in defense acquisition, and practical advice for defense tech companies entering the market.

RESOURCES:

Radia (WindRunner Aircraft) - https://radia.com

BIOGRAPHY:

Thad is an innovative leader, passionate about bringing unique solutions to complex problems. In 2024, he retired from the Air Force as a Major General with over 33 years of service. As a command pilot with over 5,000 flight hours, Thad led operations around the world, from gravel strips in Alaska to combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq. As Commander of 18th Air Force, he led 36,000 Airmen, conducting all Air Force active duty airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation missions. As Commander, 618th Air Operations Center, his team planned, tasked, executed and assessed operations for a global fleet of 1,100 aircraft. Managing budgets of over $320B dollars, Thad also served as a leader in Air Force Materiel Command, where his teams led strategy, budget and operations efforts for all Air Force Research, Test, Acquisitions and Sustainment programs.

In 2025, Thad joined Radia, bringing his skills to bear on energy security and logistics for the defense of the United States and its allies. Radia is building a unique aerial transportation solution, WindRunner™, to enable the movement of the largest cargo to the hardest to reach places. Addressing a global deficit of outsized airlift, WindRunner will provide new solutions for Defense, onshore wind energy and outsized commercial cargo. When delivered in 2030, WindRunner will be the largest aircraft in the world.

Thad earned a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Mechanics from the USAF Academy and a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He is also an Ancien of the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. Thad enjoys spending free time with his family traveling, skiing at the lake or in the mountains, and flying his grandfather's 1967 Mooney.

LEARN MORE:

GovDiscovery AI provides defense market intelligence, early demand signal tracking, and business development support for companies entering or expanding in the defense sector.

Subscribe for:

- Weekly interviews with industry leaders

- Defense market analysis

- GovTech + defense innovation insights

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

In this episode, Mike Shanley sits down with Admiral Mark Montgomery (Ret.), now a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to break down one of the most pressing strategic challenges of our time: how the United States, Taiwan, and allies should prepare for a potential conflict in the Pacific.

This is a must-listen episode for anyone working in defense tech, national security, cyber policy, Indo-Pacific strategy, or defense industrial base modernization.

​RESOURCES:

Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) - https://www.fdd.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-montgomery-b8932810/

Twitter: @MarkSeymourMontgomery

​BIOGRAPHY: Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, the son of a career naval officer, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985 with bachelors and master's degrees in history and political science, and was commissioned through the Naval ROTC program. He subsequently attended Oxford University where he earned a master's degree in history. He has also completed the Navy's nuclear power training program. Montgomery's shipboard assignments include tours as an engineering division officer on USS Bainbridge (CGN 25), operations officer on USS Leftwich (DD 984), reactor electrical assistant on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and executive officer of USS Elliot (DD 967). From 2001 to 2003, he was the first commanding officer of USS McCampbell (DDG 85), during which time the ship was delivered to the Navy and completed two counter-narcotics deployments. From 2004 to 2006, he served as reactor officer on USS Nimitz (CVN 68). He commanded Destroyer Squadron 15 and Task Group 75.4 from 2007 to 2009, leading the destroyers and frigates assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet, completing multiple deployments with the Kitty Hawk and George Washington Carrier Strike Groups. Montgomery was selected as a White House fellow in 1998 and assigned to the National Security Council from 1998 to 2000, serving as a director for Transnational Threats. From 2009 to 2010 he served as the head of the Strategy Branch in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. As a flag officer, Montgomery served as deputy director, plans, policy and strategy, United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, from 2010 to 2012. From January 2013 to October 2014 he commanded Battle Force 7th Fleet/Task Force 70/Carrier Strike Group 5 permanently embarked on board the USS George Washington (CVN 73) forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. Montgomery is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a graduate of Massachusetts's Institute of Technology Seminar XXI course. LEARN MORE: Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/ https://www.konektid.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gov-market-growth/

In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, host Mike Shanley speaks with Irina Paliashvili, President and CEO of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), about the evolving landscape of Ukraine's defense and reconstruction markets.

This discussion offers a firsthand look at how Ukraine's defense market is evolving amid the ongoing war, and how U.S. firms can strategically and responsibly participate in rebuilding efforts.

RESOURCES:

Learn more about USUBC: https://www.usubc.org

Connect with Irina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-paliashvili-08060011/

BIOGRAPHY:

Irina Paliashvili is President and CEO of U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC). She has been an integral part of the USUBC governance team for more than twenty years, having been consistently reelected to the USUBC Executive Committee, where she had served as Chair of the Legal Committee, supporting legal and judicial reforms, advocating for the rule of law, and promoting private sector development. At present, she co-leads the ongoing project "USUBC Legal Series: by Members – for Members", offering webinars with exclusive insights into the most pressing legal issues related to doing business in Ukraine. Irina frequently speaks at international conferences and publishes on the legal and business climate in Ukraine, and is also known for her active support of Ukrainian culture and art.

When Ukraine regained its independence, Irina co-founded one of the first private law firms in Kyiv and later expanded by founding the Washington, DC-based Ukrainian Legal Group, representing US-based multinational companies doing business in Ukraine, as well as serving as independent expert witness on the matters of Ukrainian law in major international arbitrations and in the US, UK, the Netherlands, Cypriot and Swedish courts proceedings. She is licensed to practice Ukrainian law as a Special Legal Consultant in the District of Columbia and is a member of the Kyiv Bar.

Irina graduated with the highest honors from the Kyiv State University School of International Law and subsequently earned a Ph.D. in International Law from the same school. She also holds an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from George Washington University.

LEARN MORE:

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

https://www.konektid.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gov-market-growth/

In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, host Mike Shanley speaks with Dr. Marina Theodotou, Executive Director of the newly launched Center for Frontier AI Security (CFAS). Drawing on her eight years at the Department of Defense, including leadership roles at the Defense Innovation Board and Defense Acquisition University, Dr. Theodotou discusses how the U.S. can maintain an AI advantage amid global competition. She highlights CFAS's mission to bridge the gap between AI policy and implementation by creating national security specific standards for AI safety, reliability, and alignment. The conversation also explores the challenges of compute power, interoperability, and the critical role of collaboration across government, industry, and academia in securing frontier AI systems.

RESOURCES

CFAS Website: www.cfas.online

Connect on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-frontier-ai-security/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinatheodotou/

BIO:

Dr. Marina Theodotou is an innovation and transformation leader with more than 30 years of experience advancing high-impact initiatives at the intersection of defense, finance, education, and consulting, spanning the US, EU, and Middle East. She is the Executive Director and Founder of the Center for Frontier AI Security (www.cfas.online) a non-profit focusing on operationalizing AI in national security. Dr. Theodotou also serves as a Senior Advisor with Kotter International, the premiere change management and innovation consultancy.

As Executive Director of the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon, she advised top DoD leadership on innovation, digital transformation, and organizational change, delivering more than 150 actionable recommendations with 40% adoption rate. She also co-led a classified assessment of US-China AI competition shaping national defense strategy. Dr. Theodotou previously spearheaded people innovation at the Defense Acquisition University, (DAU) launching the groundbreaking People Innovation Readiness Assessment Framework to complement technology-centric innovation. She led efforts to scale digital products driving an exponential 1,720% increase in student digital engagement. Leveraging her leadership, she founded and led teams that scaled platforms like TEDx DAU, catalyzing widespread innovation throughout the DoD.

She has published 150+ articles, served as a keynote speaker, mentor, and coach to tens of professionals in federal government and academia. As professor at the Jack Welch Management Institute, she taught over 120 Executive MBA Students. Dr. Theodotou won numerous innovation awards including the 2024 United States Distance Learning Association Gold Award, the 2023 Chief Learning Officer Innovation Trailblazer Gold Award and the DAU 2023 Senior Businessperson of the Year.

Dr. Theodotou holds a doctorate in education on organizational change and leadership from the University of Southern California and continues to champion cross-sector innovation, organizational agility, and inclusive change as a board member, coach, and mentor.

LEARN MORE:

Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

https://www.konektid.com/