In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with a leading voice in the defense innovation space to unpack the future of military manufacturing. From flying CH-53 helicopters in the Marine Corps to pioneering advanced industrial capabilities at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), our guest shares a compelling journey through aerospace, entrepreneurship, and public service.

Together, they explore the intersection of autonomy and manufacturing, the fragility of U.S. supply chains, and how we can build a surge-ready domestic ecosystem that rivals our global adversaries. From vertical integration to modularity and infrastructure strategy, this conversation highlights what it will take for the United States to not only compete—but lead—in the next era of unmanned systems.

Travis on Linkedin: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisdemeester/)

Timestamps:

0:00 – A career in defense: aviation, entrepreneurship, and DIU
5:20 – Advanced manufacturing and autonomy: the emerging overlap
10:00 – Policy, risk, and the missing middle in defense innovation
15:00 – Challenges in U.S. supply chains and scaling production
21:40 – Vertical integration, modularity, and surge readiness
25:00 – Lessons from software and the future of infrastructure

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About Drone Wars

Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.