In this week’s episode of Building the Base, BENS hosts Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula join Lieutenant General Michael Groen, U.S. Marine Coprs (Ret.), former commander of the DoD Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. General Groen specifies the necessity of consistent collaboration between our nation’s warfighters and those who are developing innovative technologies that can be useful in warfighting. He explains that DoD must balance the capabilities of the functional community and innovative virtualization in order to maximize our warfighting capability. To that end, the DoD must experience a cultural transition by acting collaboratively across not only the public and private sectors, but also the varying branches of service.Hondo, Lauren, and General Groen go on to discuss a variety of topics, including: Digital transformationCompetitive advantageTribalism in the DoDMission-derived capabilitiesPatriotism in the private sector

In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join The Honorable Ellen M. Lord, former Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network.   Ellen emphasizes the necessity of frequent and rich communications between Congress and the Department of Defense to properly budget programs while also allowing for the program to flex as necessary. She argues that commercial technology is becoming increasingly important to the warfighter. To that end, the DoD must have the capability to immediately grant a contract when they find a technology that fits a critical need.  Hondo, Lauren, and Ellen go on to discuss a variety of topics, including:  Consolidation in the Defense Industry Financial Security COVID as a Flashpoint Partnering with Allies Beneficial Ownership of Contractors 

In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Secretary Leon Panetta, founder of the Panetta Institute and former CIA director and Secretary of Defense, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network.Secretary Panetta emphasizes the necessity of a strong defense industrial base to ensure we are the strongest global military power. He argues that the US must recognize the threat that cyberspace, as the battlefield of the present and future, constitutes. To that end, the US must balance the economy using fiscal policy and federal reserve actions to ensure it has the funds to support the future industrial base.Hondo, Lauren, and Secretary Panetta go on to discuss a variety of topics, including:CyberthreatsModern times & dangerous flashpointsBalanced economic approach to DIBThe Panetta InstituteGlobal democratic alliance

In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren talk with Michael John Gallagher, U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District to discuss the future of the defense industrial network.   Throughout the podcast, Representative Gallagher touches on the role of increased automation in cutting edge technology, investing in the workforce, and the Pentagon’s procurement efforts. Representative Gallagher highlighted the importance of streamlining how authorities work with the Pentagon and the need for presidential leadership in increasing collaboration between DoD and the Hill. In this regard, such collaborations are important for enhancing our domestic infrastructure and getting out of a dysfunctional budget cycle.   Hondo, Lauren, and Representative Gallagher go on to discuss a variety of topics, including: The role of higher education in innovation Need for greater oversight in DoD operations Cyber weaknesses and CISA IP Theft Mentorship 

In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Ted Schlein, Chairman & General Partner, Ballistic Ventures and General Partner, Kleiner Perkins to discuss the future of the defense industrial network.Throughout the podcast, Ted touches on inefficiencies within the defense industrial base regarding its acquisition of cybersecurity technology. One of Ted’s most important views highlighted is that the government should not be playing the role of investor, but it should be finding out how to be a better partner and customer to contractors. To that end, faster and more efficient acquisition processes should be at the forefront of the DoD’s concerns. Hondo, Lauren, and Ted go on to discuss a variety of topics, including:Measuring risk in investmentThe relationship between and roles of venture capital and the governmentHaving a true public-private ‘partnership’DisinformationTalent acquisition in cybersecurity

In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Katrina McFarland, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology joins our own Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula to discuss supply chain security, maintaining the technological competitive edge, and cultivating talent in the national security workforce. Ms. McFarland explains how national security strategy has fallen behind innovation and technological advancements and how dependence on global supply chains poses a risk to security. She also highlights how the national security and defense ecosystem needs to modernize in order to keep up with the tech industry.

Sue is currently the Director at CACI International which provides the unique expertise and distinctive technology that address customers’ greatest enterprise and mission challenges. She was the fifth Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) from August 2017 to August 2019. As PDDNI, Sue was a key advisor to the President and National Security Council and led the 17-member Intelligence Community. With more than three decades of experience in the IC, Sue has served in a variety of leadership roles spanning numerous intelligence organizations and disciplines. Prior to the DNI, Sue served as the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from 2015 to 2017, helping the director lead the agency and manage the National System of Geospatial Intelligence. Before joining the NGA, she served for 27 years at the Central Intelligence Agency, rising to senior executive positions in each of the Agency’s four directorates: operations, analysis, science and technology, and support. In 1998, she designed and drove the formation of In-Q-Tel, a private, non-profit company whose primary purpose is to deliver innovative technology solutions for the agency and the IC. She is the recipient of numerous government and industry awards, including the Distinguished Intelligence Medal and the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award. Sue earned a Bachelor of Science from Duke University. A trusted authority on strategy, innovation and leadership, Sue is currently a consultant on global risk, technology, cyber and space issues and a member of the Board at Pallas Advisors, a Washington D.C.-based consultancy.  Summary:In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Sue Gordon, Director at CACI International and former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. In the first part of the podcast, Sue touches on inefficiencies in the defense acquisition system and the procedural and cultural barriers one must overcome when innovating. One of the most promising avenues Sue highlighted was increased collaboration with the private sector, an area which has seen increased activity in part spurred on by the urgency of the Ukraine crisis.  Hondo, Lauren, and Sue go on to discuss a variety of topics, including:Public/private collaboration in the intelligence communityLeadershipWork/life balance when in high pressure jobsHow the national security sector needs to improve its talent acquisition practicesMentorship

Check out our latest Business Executives for National Security (BENS) “Building the Base” podcast featuring Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor at Insight Partners, Adjunct & Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. Hear him engage with our own Jim “Hondo” Geurts and Lauren Bedula about his new book with co-author Marina Nitze, Hack Your Bureaucracy: Get Things Done No Matter What Your Role on Any Team, which comes out September 13, 2022. The book contains over 50 tactics, each with real-world examples, for making lasting change in bureaucracies from PTAs and HOAs all the way up to the White House and Fortune 500 companies.

Michael Morell is Former Deputy Director and twice Acting Director of CIA from 2009 to 2013. A 33-year veteran of CIA, including time as the head of analysis and daily intelligence briefer to President George W. Bush. Only person to be with President Bush on 9/11 and with President Obama on May 1st, 2011 when Osama bin Laden was brought to justice. Author of The Great War of Our Time, a New York Times bestseller. Member of President Obama’s 2013 Review Group on Intelligence and Telecommunications Technology. Member of the 2018 National Defense Strategy Commission.Listen as he engages with our own Jim “Hondo” Geurts and Lauren Bedula about his experience being the Acting Director of CIA, 9/11, The China Problem, the Next 10 years of Globalization and Hunting Tech Talent.

Retired three-star general VeraLinn “Dash” Jamieson sits down to discuss her experience in the armed forces and pressing national security issues facing the country’s ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) efforts. Currently, she sits on multiple boards of directors for organizations like Digital Realty Trust, ArQit, Beacon Global Strategies, and Primer Technologies..Gen. Jamieson discussed how her service to the country originated with her grandmother, a Red Cross nurse during World War I who found herself leading a charge in the trenches. She elaborated on this by discussing the importance of those who serve and the need to take a wide-ranging view in filling public service roles.