DoD Minseries : Maintaining The Edge Research and Engineering; Part 1 of 4 In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (DoD R&E). Broadcasting live from the Pentagon, this conversation launches a new miniseries focused on the groundbreaking work of DoD R&E. Bess shares her unique journey to the Pentagon, insights into the office's major initiatives—including biomanufacturing, microelectronics, and strategic capital—and the innovative programs shaping the future of defense. She also provides a behind-the-scenes look at what the DoD is doing to accelerate development, iterate faster, and strengthen the country’s technological capabilities. Key Takeaways:1. Biomanufacturing Innovation: Over $1 billion allocated to revolutionize biomanufacturing and integrate biotechnology into defense.2. Microelectronics Focus: $2 billion investment to advance microelectronics R&D, critical for defense strategies.3. Strategic Capital: New financial tools like loans and guarantees to drive innovation in non-traditional sectors.4. Faster Tech Deployment: DoD is accelerating tech development by partnering with both traditional and non-traditional contractors.5. Bess Dopkeen's Journey: Bess shares her 19-year career path from contractor to Senior Advisor at the Pentagon.

In this episode of Building The Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Evan Smith, co-founder and CEO of Altana AI. Together, they explore how emerging technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence, are revolutionizing global supply chains and advancing national security. Evan shares his perspective on how AI can bridge critical gaps in supply chain visibility, ensure operational resilience, and provide competitive advantages for businesses and governments. This episode covers technology, defense, or logistics, and provides valuable insights into the future of AI-driven supply chains and their implications for security and commerce.Key Topics Discussed : AI for Global Supply Chain ResilienceImportance of Public-Private PartnershipsBuilding Trust with AIAI's Role in National SecurityThe Future of Supply Chain Technology

In this episode of "Building the Base," Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with VADM (Ret) Mike Moran, a distinguished leader in military acquisition and naval aviation. Admiral Moran shares his journey from an operational career in the Navy to leading transformative acquisition processes, offering an inside look at the challenges and opportunities within the defense sector. The conversation highlights the critical importance of innovation, culture, and leadership in delivering capabilities that meet the urgent needs of our nation's defense. Admiral Moran's stories of overcoming bureaucracy and accelerating technology deployment are a masterclass in effective leadership and problem-solving.Key Takeaways:1. The Importance of Leadership in Acquisition.  2. Innovation and Rapid Deployment3. Cultural and Bureaucratic Challenges4. The Role of  Program Executive Officers (PEO) in Military Success.5. Balancing Risk and Reward

In this episode of Building the Base, our hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Guerts dive in with Justin Fanelli CTO of the United States Navy. The conversation revolved around the defense industry, digital transformation in government, and the importance of professional curiosity and humility in private-public partnerships. Some of the major takeaways included the need for accelerated innovation, prioritizing mission outcomes, removing friction in the defense industrial base, and adopting a portfolio-based approach to digital transformation in government. Justin emphases the importance of overcoming cultural and policy barriers, effective risk management, and balancing technological advancements with policy and human considerations.Key Takeaways·      Navy CTO's background and mission-focused work.·      Military service highlighting the importance of teamwork, discipline, and exposure to a big world.·      CTO role in government, including divestment and friction removal.·      Barriers to innovation in government, with a focus on policy and cultural changes.·      Risk management in public-private partnerships, emphasizing professional curiosity and humility.·      importance of considering both actual risks and generalized context for better decision-making.·      Tech and policy in government·      Using agile methods in government, with a focus on transparency and decentralized coordination.

In this episode of "Building the Base," hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur Dmitri Alperovitch. Dmitri shares his journey from immigrating to the United States from Russia to co-founding CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company. He discusses the insights from his new book, "World on the Brink," which addresses the geopolitical threats posed by China and strategies for the U.S. to maintain its global leadership. The conversation delves into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the critical role of the private sector in national security, and the need for a robust and adaptable defense industrial base.Key Takeaways1. Cybersecurity and National Security Interconnection: Dmitri emphasizes the inseparable link between cybersecurity and national security2. Immigrant Perspective on American Opportunity: Dmitri's immigrant journey underscores his appreciation for the opportunities in the U.S. 3. Challenges with Dual-Use Technologies: complexities of developing technologies that serve both commercial and government sectors4. Importance of Mass and Affordability in Defense: Dmitri critiques the current defense procurement strategy, advocating for more cost-effective and mass-produced solutions to ensure military readiness.5. Role of the Private Sector in Cyber Defense: Highlighting CrowdStrike's success, Dmitri illustrates how private companies can significantly enhance national cyber defense capabilities.

In this episode of Building The Base, Hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts dive in with Arun Gupta venture Capitalist, CEO of the Noble Reach Foundation and Author of "Venture Meets Mission".  They Discuss the growing trend of mission-driven entrepreneurship and the need for collaboration between government agencies and entrepreneurs to create positive social impact. Arun emphasized the importance of understanding government networks and problems and highlighted the benefits of having "dual-citizens" in government. We hear a candid discussion about the challenges faced by government agencies in fostering innovation and suggestions on how to embraces positive intent and promote collaboration between government and entrepreneurs.Major Takeaways      Merging entrepreneurship, government, and technology to solve societal problems.      Shaping the next generation of tech talent for mission-oriented work.      Bridging public service and entrepreneurship.      Humanizing government and entrepreneurial ecosystem.      Scaling AI in government with optimism and collaboration.      Private capital in national security sector with insights on potential losers and future growth.      How to foster collaboration between government and entrepreneurs to solve big problems.

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Paul Breitenbach, co-founder of Priceline and founder of R4, a company focused on AI technology. Paul shares his journey from being a musician in New Jersey to a successful tech entrepreneur, highlighting his unconventional path into computer science. He emphasizes the importance of team culture and strategy in driving success, drawing parallels between the internet era and the current AI revolution. Paul discusses R4's transition from commercial to government contracts, particularly in the defense sector, and the challenges and opportunities it presents. The conversation delves into the evolution of AI technology, from body shop toolkits to decision intelligence, and its impact on various industries. Paul also addresses common misconceptions about AI, emphasizing problem definition over data accumulation and the role of human expertise in conjunction with AI technology.Key Takeaways1. Problem Definition Over Technology Focus: Paul stresses the importance of clearly defining problems and desired outcomes when implementing AI solutions, advocating for a user-centric approach rather than getting bogged down by technical details.2. Team Culture and Collaboration:  Drawing from his experience at Priceline, Paul underscores the significance of team culture in achieving success, emphasizing the value of collaboration and diversity in driving innovation.3. AI's Evolution and Impact: Paul traces the evolution of AI technology from its early stages to its current phase of decision intelligence, highlighting its potential to revolutionize industries by enabling predictive capabilities and informed decision-making.4. Talent Acquisition and Unconventional Sources: Contrary to common assumptions, Paul believes that talent can be found in unconventional places and advocates for tapping into overlooked programs and individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets.5. Defense Community's Potential: Paul expresses confidence in the capabilities of the defense community, noting their adaptability and resourcefulness in leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.

In this episode of Building The Base our Host Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts dive into a compelling conversation with Nilooofar Razi Howe, a prominent investor, executive, and entrepreneur.  Niloo shares her remarkable journey from navigating revolutions as a child to becoming deeply involved in cybersecurity and technology innovation, particularly at the intersection of the private sector and the US government. We chat about the evolving landscape of national security, the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector, the critical role of technology in addressing modern threats, talent development, cultural shifts, and the future of innovation.Key Takeaways:1. Adapting to Change: Niloo emphasizes the importance of being resilient and adaptable, drawing from her experiences navigating different countries and cultures as a child. Success, she believes, lies in the ability to embrace failure and maintain enthusiasm.2. Technology and National Security: Highlighting her transition from venture capitalism to national security post-9/11, Niloo underscores the significance of technology innovation in safeguarding both private and government sectors.3. Talent and Purpose: Discussing the shifting priorities of the next generation, Niloo stresses the importance of purpose-driven work and aligning organizational values with individual aspirations to attract and retain top talent.4. Collaboration and Trust: Niloo emphasizes the need for enhanced collaboration and trust between the private sector and government agencies, particularly in addressing complex national security challenges.5. Service and Impact: Whether in entrepreneurship, government service, or nonprofit work, Niloo encourages individuals to find their unique path to serving and making a positive impact in their communities and country.

In this episode of the Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM, the focus is on the digital aspect of partnered operations, particularly exploring international components. Lieutenant Colonel Tuni Massey, a British Army Officer embedded within the US Central Command’s J6 branch, discusses the role of the Collaborative Partner Environment (CPE) in facilitating information sharing among coalition partners. Through CPE, CENTCOM aims to revolutionize data exchange and collaboration, breaking down barriers that traditionally hindered rapid information sharing in military operations. The conversation delves into the challenges of traditional networking, the importance of security in data sharing, and the transformative potential of CPE in enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness.Key Takeaways:1. CPE enables rapid establishment of information sharing networks, reducing setup time from months to minutes, thus enhancing operational agility.2. Unlike traditional networking, CPE operates on a zero-trust architecture, ensuring data security by controlling access at the object level.3. The adoption of CPE necessitates a cultural shift, with users assuming greater responsibility for data tagging and sharing.4. CPE's impact extends beyond headquarters operations, providing real-time information exchange capabilities to field commanders, thereby enhancing decision-making efficiency.5. The development of CPE reflects CENTCOM's leadership in digital transformation within the military, with potential applications across other combatant commands and international partnerships.

In this episode of the "Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM,"co-hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Brigadier General John Cogbill from CENTCOM to explore the strategic implications of digital transformation in modern warfare. From operationalizing the commander's vision to fostering a culture of innovation, Brigadier General Cogbill provides insights into how headquarters are redefining their approach to digital warfighting.Key Takeaways:1. Culture of Innovation: Initiatives like the Dragon's Lair and the Innovation Oasis are pivotal in unlocking the potential of servicemen and women, empowering them to become problem solvers rather than just problem identifiers.2. Digital Transformation in Real Time: The integration of live data and real-world scenarios enables unprecedented levels of situational awareness, allowing commanders to make informed decisions and maintain a common operating picture across the AOR.3. Experimentation and Collaboration: Despite the demands of real-world operations, CENTCOM prioritizes experimentation and collaboration with industry partners to drive digital literacy and refine warfighting capabilities.4. Interoperability and Integration: Ensuring interoperability across components and with partner nations remains a critical focus, with ongoing efforts to streamline data flow and optimize decision-making processes.5. Strategic Vision: Looking ahead, the command envisions a future characterized by live data-driven decision-making processes, minimizing reliance on traditional methods like PowerPoint and maximizing the effectiveness of digital tools in achieving mission objectives.