CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE
CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE
Coming August 4: CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE podcast hosted by Billy Mitchell and Meagan Metzger!
A raw, unfiltered new podcast from DefenseScoop and Dcode, exploring how cutting-edge technology, institutional barriers, and evolving national security priorities collide in today’s defense landscape.
CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE features candid conversations with leaders across defense, tech, venture capital, and policy—bringing forward diverse perspectives on the future of defense innovation.
From the front lines of government to the forefront of technology, this series examines the challenges and breakthroughs shaping tomorrow’s mission-critical decisions—with no spin, no agenda, and no filter.
Stay tuned.
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About DefenseScoop
DefenseScoop is the premier community-driven news source dedicated to the U.S. military’s acquisition, development and use of technology as a force for modern defense. As the Department of Defense moves in the direction of Joint All Domain Command and Control and other initiatives to connect the joint force and fight future battles, DefenseScoop will deliver the latest insights, trends and analysis on this pivotal transformation and engage Pentagon and service senior leaders to discuss ways technology can be a central fixture in our nation’s ability to understand threats, make decisions and take action in a rapid manner. https://defensescoop.com/about/
A raw, unfiltered new podcast from DefenseScoop and Dcode, exploring how cutting-edge technology, institutional barriers, and evolving national security priorities collide in today’s defense landscape.
CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE features candid conversations with leaders across defense, tech, venture capital, and policy—bringing forward diverse perspectives on the future of defense innovation.
From the front lines of government to the forefront of technology, this series examines the challenges and breakthroughs shaping tomorrow’s mission-critical decisions—with no spin, no agenda, and no filter.
Stay tuned.
Follow DefenseScoop on Social Media
• https://www.twitter.com/DefenseScoop
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/defensescoop
• https://www.facebook.com/DefenseScoop/
• https://www.instagram.com/defensescoop/
• https://www.threads.net/@defensescoop
• https://www.youtube.com/@defensescoop
• https://bsky.app/profile/defensescoop.bsky.social
• https://www.tiktok.com/@defensescoopnews
About DefenseScoop
DefenseScoop is the premier community-driven news source dedicated to the U.S. military’s acquisition, development and use of technology as a force for modern defense. As the Department of Defense moves in the direction of Joint All Domain Command and Control and other initiatives to connect the joint force and fight future battles, DefenseScoop will deliver the latest insights, trends and analysis on this pivotal transformation and engage Pentagon and service senior leaders to discuss ways technology can be a central fixture in our nation’s ability to understand threats, make decisions and take action in a rapid manner. https://defensescoop.com/about/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 3, 2025 • 48min
Steve Blank: The Playbook for Defense Innovation, from the Classroom to the War Room
While Steve Blank might be best known for his ultra-popular Lean Startup methodology that has inspired a generation of American entrepreneurs, he's spent much of the past decade working to infuse that thought leadership in the defense innovation ecosystem, largely at the academic level. Through his work as a founding faculty of Stanford University's Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation and the school's Hacking for Defense program, Blank is helping shape a new class of startups dedicated to defense-aligned missions. And most recently, he launched a PEO Directory that he refers to as "a phonebook for the Pentagon" that's meant to make it easier for those founders to do business with the Department of Defense. The legendary Blank joins CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE for a wide-ranging discussion about the state of defense innovation, why budding entrepreneurs are turning to defense problem sets at greater rates, and how startups can navigate the bureaucracy of the Pentagon amid a variety of Trump administration reforms.
Oct 27, 2025 • 52min
Matt Cronin: Why Andreessen Horowitz has bet big on defense
Venture capital has become an integral part of of the defense innovation ecosystem. And there’s perhaps no Silicon Valley VC firm leaning in to support national security- and defense-focused startup more than Andreessen Horowitz through its American Dynamism initiative. Matt Cronin, senior national security advisor at Andreessen Horowitz, joins this episode of CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to explore that evolving intersection of venture-funded innovation and defense, and how the nation can make more room for early-stage startups to bolster national security.
Oct 20, 2025 • 51min
Chris Brose: How Anduril is paving its path as the next defense unicorn
In this conversation, Chris Brose, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Anduril Industries, dives into the urgent need for U.S. military modernization amid global competition, especially with China. He discusses the importance of software and autonomy in defense, how talent is gravitating toward startups, and Anduril's unique approach to rapid production and innovation. Chris also shares insights from the battlefield, emphasizing the value of real-world feedback and maintaining company culture while scaling.
Oct 6, 2025 • 51min
Katie Arrington: Connecting tech reform to the warfighter mission
When Katie Arrington was named to her role performing the duties of the CIO for the Department of Defense, which the Trump administration is now calling the Department of War, she took that charge seriously. As such, she’s not just keeping a seat warm until the Senate approves a new CIO. Instead, Arrington, who knows what it takes to get things dones in the Pentagon, has been helllbent to drive IT reform to deliver better software and digital services that warfighters depend on. In an energetic new episode of CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE, Arrington shares why she returned to the Pentagon during the second Trump administration, what’s in store for the department’s IT and much more.
Sep 29, 2025 • 49min
Tara Murphy Dougherty: Hesitation loses wars — Why the DOD needs a new tech playbook
Despite dramatic advance in AI and compute power, the Pentagon still largely operates as an organization driven by spreadsheets and PowerPoint. To become a truly data-centric force, the U.S. military services must move beyond this to adopt advanced data analytics and AI tools for making critical decisions with speed and accuracy. Govini is one of the top commercial entities leading that charge, and its CEO, Tara Murphy Dougherty, joins CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE this week to discuss why the U.S. must move decisively and without hesitation into this new era, or risk putting itself in a losing position against its top adversaries.
Sep 22, 2025 • 48min
Josh Stiefel: The independent cyber force debate
The debate rages on — and it's coming to a head. Does the U.S. military need an independent cyber force? Or should the services retain their own cyber organizations with specialization in the domains in which they operate? Josh Stiefel, vice president of government relations for Second Front Systems and a former professional staffer for the House Armed Services Committe, is one of the prominent voices advocating for studying the prospect of an independent cyber force, recently helping launch the Commission on U.S. Cyber Force Generation at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Stiefel joins CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to dig into the debate and share what's ahead.
Sep 14, 2025 • 51min
How startup speed and private-sector risk-taking could reshape defense
Can venture capital unlock the Pentagon’s innovation problem? Alex Harstrick of J2 Ventures, an Army reservist and former leader of the Defense Innovation Unit's National Security Innovation Capital team, joins CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to explore how startup speed and private-sector risk-taking could reshape defense. We dig into where VC is making a real impact, where it struggles against DOD bureaucracy, and what it will take for government and investors to actually work together to deliver the next wave of national security technology.
Sep 8, 2025 • 31min
Radha Plumb: What's next for the Pentagon's AI office
After a more than three year stint in various roles across the Pentagon, Radha Plumb was appointed as Chief Digital and AI Officer in April 2024, a position she served in until the end of the Biden administration. Now on the other side of that service, she joined CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to reflect on her tenure, the direction of the CDAO, the adoption of AI in the context of the U.S. military, and much more.
Aug 25, 2025 • 53min
Lt. Gen. Clint Hinote: Why the Pentagon can't move fast enough
Retired Lt. Gen. Clint Hinote, a former Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Air Force, shares his insights on military readiness against modern threats like China and Russia. He critiques the Pentagon's focus on PowerPoint presentations over tangible power, emphasizing the need for urgent strategy reforms. The discussion covers the importance of authentic communication within the government and the adaptation of military leadership to new technologies. Hinote also highlights the role of continuous learning and innovative training in preparing for future conflicts.
Aug 18, 2025 • 52min
Shyam Sankar: Inside Palantir's Vision to Transform U.S. Defense
Shyam Sankar, the CTO of Palantir and one of its first employees, shares insights on transforming national security through technology. He emphasizes the importance of unplugging from digital distractions to foster deeper connections with the physical world. The discussion highlights innovative partnerships between tech and defense, especially with initiatives like Detachment 201 to integrate tech experts. Sankar also reflects on childhood dreams of space exploration, blending nostalgia with a forward-looking perspective on the future of military capabilities.
