NatSec Tech

Jeanne Meserve is joined by Sree Ramaswamy, Chief Innovation Officer at the NobleReach Foundation. The conversation explores how NobleReach is addressing this through the NobleReach Scholars Program, which recruits engineering and computer science graduates to enter public service for short-term, high-impact stints. The conversations cover the critical need to bridge the "tech talent gap" within the U.S., the U.S. Tech Force initiative, and the necessity of creating "dual citizens" who can move fluidly between the public and private sectors to maintain America's technological edge.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Jeanne Meserve is joined by Steve Blank, adjunct professor at Stanford and co-founder of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. They discuss the Department of Defense's proposal to transform its defense acquisition system. The conversation covers the shift from a requirements-based process to a problem-solving model, the introduction of portfolio management, and the challenges of integrating Silicon Valley-style innovation into a three-million-person organization to better compete with adversaries like China.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, Planet Labs CEO Will Marshall joins host Jeanne Meserve to discuss the vital role of satellite constellations in modern conflict, specifically as seen in Ukraine. Marshall explains how daily global imaging, paired with AI at the edge, is providing a critical information advantage by enabling rapid threat detection and "tipping" systems for drone operations. The conversation highlights how the democratization of this unclassified data allows not only militaries but also NGOs and journalists to hold global actors accountable in real time.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

On this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve sits down with General Jay Raymond, the first Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force. As the service marks its sixth year, Raymond discusses the rapid transition of space into a warfighting domain where active satellites have surged from 1,500 to nearly 13,000 since 2019. He details how the Space Force is leveraging AI and "digital twins" to manage this massive congestion, track maneuvering "nesting doll" satellites from adversaries, and accelerate decision-making at the speed of space.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

On this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve is joined by Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov to examine the critical risks and opportunities at the intersection of AI, nuclear, and biosecurity. Dr. Kusnezov explains that the democratization and convergence of emerging technologies—like AI and gene editing—have lowered the barriers to creating highly sophisticated threats. He details NTI’s Future Safe initiative, which uses these same technologies to generate real-time risk awareness and develop new mitigation strategies, stressing that fighting technology with technology is the only path forward.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Andrew King, Executive Director of Future Union, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to galvanizing the private sector to stand with democracy. The conversation addresses the critical issue of how U.S. firms and investors are, sometimes unwittingly, fueling Chinese technological innovation, fundamentally undercutting U.S. national security.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Dr. Amber Jaycocks, Senior Vice President of Data Science at Dun & Bradstreet, and Mounir Ibrahim, Chief Communications Officer and Head of Public Affairs for TruePic, to discuss the critical challenge of digital visual deception in the age of AI. They explore how deepfakes and AI-generated content are being used to perpetrate widespread business fraud and detail the necessary technological counter-measures, such as robust authentication and cryptographic verification, for maintaining national security and global commerce.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Dr. Sarah Miller, Assistant Professor of Emergency Management at Pierce College and co-chair for the International Association of Emergency Managers Emerging Technology Caucus, to discuss how Artificial Intelligence is poised to radically transform emergency management. They discuss the critical role AI is playing across the entire crisis timeline—from predicting a storm's course and screening 911 calls to assessing damage and speeding up long-term recovery efforts.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

How does the American public really feel about artificial intelligence? On this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve is joined by Justin Lall of Gallup and Rama Elluru of the Special Competitive Studies Project to discuss the findings of their joint poll on public opinion on AI. They break down what Americans think about AI's impact on the economy, national security, and daily life. 

Read our Substack about the Gallup poll: https://scsp222.substack.com/p/we-commissioned-a-poll-with-gallup

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NatSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Steve Bowsher, the Chief Executive Officer of In-Q-Tel. Bowsher explains In-Q-Tel's role in identifying and funding cutting-edge commercial technologies for a wide range of government customers. He discusses why In-Q-Tel is needed, its rigorous process for vetting companies, its collaboration with other innovation entities, and its strategic priorities for the future, including autonomy software, generative AI, and the reindustrialization of the U.S.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.