Former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Will Roper, talks about revolutionizing military procurement with software factories, playbook for innovation, digital engineering, AI operationalization, and scaling innovation. He also shares advice for acquisition professionals and discusses the difficulty of creating digital engineering platforms. The podcast delves into parallels between Formula One and federal acquisitions, highlighting the importance of adapting to rapidly evolving technological landscapes for the defense sector to compete globally.
Innovation in defense acquisition requires embracing digital engineering and software advancements to stay ahead in modern warfare.
Adapting to rapid technological transformations is crucial for defense sectors to compete globally and ensure operational success.
Prioritizing agility and fostering speed in acquisition processes over cost is essential to keep pace with peer competitors and cutting-edge technologies.
Deep dives
Approach to Change in Governments and Organizations
The podcast delves into the speaker's skepticism towards the efficacy of process or reorganization in driving change within governments. Instead, the speaker emphasizes the influence of guiding stars such as technologies and global trends, suggesting that policies and reorganizations merely attempt to keep pace. The rapid evolution of technology is highlighted, indicating that policies may perpetually lag behind the advancements, leading to a need for adaptation and innovation.
Evolution of Career Trajectory
The episode narrates the speaker's transformative journey from a theoretical physicist to a pivotal role in defense acquisition. The impact of 9-11 on the speaker's career choices is explored, along with experiences working on defense programs post-graduation. The transition from academia to defense laboratories and subsequent high-profile government positions reflects a blend of theoretical expertise with practical defense application and a commitment to addressing evolving global challenges.
Focus on Speed and Agility in Acquisition
The discussion highlights the speaker's tenure as a senior acquisition executive for the Air Force, emphasizing a strategic focus on agility and innovation. The importance of fostering speed in acquisition processes and providing support to startups through venture capital initiatives is underscored. The speaker's emphasis on prioritizing agility over cost highlights a shift towards a faster, adaptive acquisition approach to keep pace with technological advancements and peer competitors.
Key Technological Trends in Defense Innovation
The podcast delves into pivotal technological trends shaping defense innovation, such as software advancements, digital engineering, and increased collaboration with venture capital. The significance of leveraging software, cloud computing, Kubernetes, and AI in military operations is emphasized to enhance digital dominance. The adoption of digital engineering models inspired by industries like Formula One and the integration of venture capital to access cutting-edge technologies highlight the evolving landscape of defense innovation.
Guiding Principles for Acquisition Professionals
The episode concludes with the speaker offering insightful advice for acquisition professionals, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement, leveraging bureaucratic flexibility, and focusing on scalable initiatives. The speaker advocates for building trust with stakeholders, pushing boundaries within organizational regulations, and creating templates for replicable success. A strong emphasis on the continuous evolution of initiatives and cultivating talent to navigate technological advancements and drive sustainable change is highlighted.
Reflecting on Past Initiatives and Future Trends
Looking back on past initiatives and assessing future trends, the speaker contemplates strategies to address challenges in digital engineering and AI operationalization while fostering innovation in defense systems. The importance of adapting to emerging trends like artificial intelligence, digital engineering, and venture capital collaboration is emphasized to stay competitive against global adversaries. The discussion underscores the need for continuous evolution, talent cultivation, and a proactive approach to defense innovation.
This week, Bonnie is joined by Will Roper, CEO of Istari and former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, to talk about the future of military technology and innovation. Will shares his journey from theoretical physicist to defense acquisition leader and what it took to drive innovation along the way. He dives into the impact of digital engineering, the role of software and data in modern warfare, and the importance of adapting to rapidly evolving technological landscapes. Tune in to learn more about how the defense sector can effectively compete on a global scale.
TIMESTAMPS:
(2:39) How a theoretical physicist revolutionized military procurement
(3:20) Why software factories are the Air Force's new frontier
(8:45) Will’s playbook for innovation & sustainable enterprise change
(12:30) The secret to successful digital engineering
(17:15) What’s next for AI operationalization?
(24:49) Advice for current and future acquisition professionals
(29:24) The key to scaling innovation and moving past the “planting of seeds”
(31:13) Underestimated difficulty of creating digital engineering platforms
(34:03) Formula One and federal acquisitions—parallels and lessons
