Ep 138: AI, Space-Based Interceptors & the Bleeding Edge of Warfare with Pentagon R&D Chief Emil Michael

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Jan 9, 2026

Emil Michael, the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering, shares insights from his journey at the Pentagon after a rapid rise in tech at Uber. He discusses his urgent mission to transform military innovation and apply startup speed to the Department of Defense. Topics include streamlining the Critical Technologies List to six key areas, launching GenAI.mil in record time, and exploring the implications of AI on warfighting. Emil also highlights the shift to commercially-focused procurement and the importance of recruiting talent to maintain technological supremacy.

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INSIGHT

Opportunity To Disrupt The Pentagon

Emil Michael joined the Pentagon because a disruptive president and secretary created a rare chance to change a broken system.
He treats the role as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rapidly transform culture and pace of innovation.

ADVICE

Run Pentagon Projects Like Startups

Use business practices like daily standups and rapid decision-making to break bureaucracy and get projects moving fast.
Emil executed this to deploy GenAI (Google's Gemini) to every employee in two months.

INSIGHT

Focus By Narrowing Priorities

Emil cut the Critical Technologies List from many items to six to focus R&D spending where it matters most.
He believes a short, memorable list drives daily decisions and better outcomes.

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Emil Michael directs the U.S. military’s research and development of advanced technologies. Previously, he led global business growth for Uber — one of the fastest moving organizations in Silicon Valley history. Can he bring that startup speed to the Department of War? What are the six critical areas of innovation he’s prioritizing? And how is he investing in these key technologies to bolster the defense industrial base?

We’re honored to go inside the Pentagon for a special episode with Emil Michael, Chief Technology Officer and Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering. He oversees the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Office of Strategic Capital, and other critical organizations. Prior, he helped scale multiple businesses, including D-Wave Systems, Tellme Networks, and Uber Technologies. Earlier in his career, he also served as a White House Fellow and later on the Defense Business Board.

We begin with Emil’s decision to join the Trump administration, and why he believes this is a generational opportunity to transform the culture and pace of innovation inside the Pentagon. Learn how he rolled out GenAI.mil (Google’s Gemini) to the entire force — roughly three million people — in a matter of months. Next, we dive into his decision to pare down the all-important Critical Technologies List, which drives the Pentagon’s R&D spending, from 14 areas to six. Then, we discuss the Department’s shift to a “commercial first” approach and what that means for the defense industrial base. Finally, we cover his priorities for the Office of Strategic Capital, plus how he’s thinking about talent and encouraging our best and brightest to step up and serve the country.

[NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the United States capture and extradition of Nicolas Maduro]

00:00 Episode intro

01:40 Time to disrupt the Pentagon

04:20 What did you learn from your first threat briefing?

06:30 Can you bring Uber speed to Dept of War?

08:45 Redefining the Critical Technologies List

13:30 Hypersonics and Golden Dome

18:00 Commercial first approach and changing the culture

23:00 How to recruit the best talent into government

28:45 Optimism for the future

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