Chris Kirchhoff, a founding member of the Defense Innovation Unit and former Obama NSC staffer, discusses his new book, Unit X. He dives into DIU’s fight against Pentagon bureaucracy, illustrating how they used ‘waiver authority’ to innovate. Kirchhoff critiques the defense industry’s slow adaptation to tech changes and advocates for increased funding to non-traditional companies. He also reflects on lessons from commercial spaceflight for AI governance and the need for a cultural shift in military strategy amid rising tech challenges.