Phillip Buckendorf, CEO of Airspace Intelligence, and Leonard J. Kosinski, retired Lieutenant General and Chief Strategy Officer at ASI, dive into the software crisis plaguing America's critical infrastructure. They discuss how outdated systems jeopardize safety and efficiency in air traffic and logistics, and why modernizing software is essential. The duo explores the dual-use tech that can bolster both civilian and military frameworks and warns of increasing vulnerabilities without urgent updates, all while emphasizing collaboration between sectors.
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Phillip Buckendorf's Career Journey
Phillip Buckendorf shares his journey fleeing Germany's stagnant economy to embrace Silicon Valley's tech ecosystem.
He highlights how the U.S. offered the right ecosystem and energy that enabled his success and family life.
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Interconnected Aviation Challenges
Aviation's safety is undermined by staffing shortages and legacy software.
Staffing, infrastructure, and software are interconnected problems that must be tackled holistically to enable modernization.
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Legacy Software Holds Back Modernization
Legacy software systems are deeply tied to outdated compute power, making modernization hard across widespread facilities.
Traditional long development cycles with heavy documentation hinder keeping software current and attracting top engineers.
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In this book, Michael Pillsbury discusses China's secret strategy to surpass the United States as a leading global power by 2049. Drawing from his extensive experience as a China analyst and policy advisor, Pillsbury argues that China's strategy is deeply rooted in Chinese statecraft and strategic thinking, employing methods such as economic growth, espionage, and the manipulation of international norms. He critiques China's stealthy, long-term tactics and analyzes China's historical strategies influencing its modern policies. The book also highlights how the U.S. government has sometimes unwittingly or deliberately contributed to China's rise and calls for a more competitive U.S. strategy toward China.
Today’s critical infrastructure—air traffic, logistics, defense—is powered by legacy software. And that’s a problem.
In this episode, recorded live at the a16z American Dynamism Summit, a16z partner Leila Hay sits down with Phillip Buckendorf, CEO of Air Space Intelligence, and Lt. Gen. Leonard J. Kosinski (Ret.), ASI’s Chief Strategy Officer and former Director for Logistics on the Joint Staff for the Pentagon.
They explore why software is now a weapon system, how dual-use tech can harden both civilian and military infrastructure, and what happens if we don’t modernize fast enough.
Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.
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