In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18). Rep. Ryan represents a diverse district of 800,000 in upstate New York, which includes his alma mater, West Point. An Iraq war veteran, Rep. Ryan transitioned from active duty, to defense tech, to Congress, where he now champions defense innovation and national security issues. In March 2024, Rep. Ryan launched the Defense Modernization Caucus with Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-1) to push for bipartisan action. This episode was recorded at the Reagan National Defense Forum on December 7, 2024.

Five key takeaways from this episode: 

1. Throughout his career, Rep. Ryan has embraced a wide range of challenging roles—from serving on the battlefield, to leading sales teams, to making legislative progress in Congress. 
2. With DIU innovation hubs already established in Austin and Silicon Valley, Rep. Ryan proposes New York City as the next ideal location for a hub, recognizing the city's unique blend of talent and business development opportunities.
3. A self proclaimed “perpetual optimist,” Rep. Ryan credits his attitude and resilience to his interactions with young people, whether it's JROTC cadets, West Point students, or his own young children.
4. The House Defense Modernization Caucus had some early wins in the last NDAA, with the next convening planned for February 2025 in concert with Silicon Valley Defense Group.
5. Rep. Ryan advises defense tech companies to approach lawmakers with clear, actionable requests for quicker support and to focus on storytelling over lengthy presentations. “Help me help you,” he says — be specific about where you're stuck and how Congress can assist.