Defense Mavericks

This week, Bonnie sits down with Casey Perley, Director of Army Applications Lab, to talk about how to accelerate tech transfer and innovation within the military. Casey shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities in transitioning commercial technologies to benefit our soldiers. From the importance of collaboration and cross-functional teams to the pressing need for speed in accessing new tech, this episode dives into the strategies and approaches to drive impactful change. Tune in for a deep dive into military innovation and problem-solving. TIMESTAMPS: (3:15) Lessons learned from DIU 1.0 (6:48) Why cross-functional teams are a must for successful tech transfer (10:22) Navigating funding sources for innovation and acquisitions (14:50) Balancing end user needs with budget constraints (18:37) How Catalyst Pathfinder is empowering soldiers with low-cost solutions (22:19) How to build relationships with transition partners (25:56) Measuring success in tech innovation projects (30:10) Why listening to both soldiers and industry is key LINKS: Follow Casey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyperley/ Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/ Army Applications Laboratory: https://aal.army/

Emma Bates, founder of Cachai and a DoD strategy thinker, discusses tackling coordination challenges in defense tech. Topics include human connections, SBIR STTRs, translating military requirements, collaboration, and modernizing defense technology.

Former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Will Roper, talks about revolutionizing military procurement with software factories, playbook for innovation, digital engineering, AI operationalization, and scaling innovation. He also shares advice for acquisition professionals and discusses the difficulty of creating digital engineering platforms. The podcast delves into parallels between Formula One and federal acquisitions, highlighting the importance of adapting to rapidly evolving technological landscapes for the defense sector to compete globally.

This week, Bonnie is joined by Brennan Townley, CEO of Collaboration.AI to dive into the world of government contracting, innovative teamwork, and the impact of technology in defense collaboration. Brennan shares his unexpected journey into the DoD, highlighting the nuances of navigating government contracts and the power of connecting the right people to the right problems. Tune in to learn how storytelling and human-centered collaboration are shaping the future of tech in government. TIMESTAMPS: (1:30) Solving the government's hairiest problems (5:16) How to succeed despite continuous government turnover (7:41) Why a startup mentality helps you test & iterate faster (12:37) Transitioning from SBIR phase II to III (16:23) Struggling to define customer personas (20:31) How to connecting the right people for collaboration opportunities (26:17) Linking non-traditional contractors to military programs (28:13) Connecting with people beyond transactional relationships LINKS: Follow Brennan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennantownley/ Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/ Collaboration.AI: https://collaboration.ai/

Allison Brager, U.S. Army neurobiologist and CrossFit athlete, discusses optimizing human performance in combat. Topics include stress exposure, fatigue management policies for Army drivers, importance of individualized training, and leveraging science and technology to push human limits. Tune in to learn about the future of training in special forces.

This week, Bonnie is joined by Bryon Kroger, founder and CEO of Rise8, about the pivotal role of software in government and military operations. Bryon shares his insights on the challenges of bridging the gap between acquisitions and operations, the importance of continuous software delivery, and the ethos of fostering a culture of outcomes over outputs. Drawing on the lessons learned from the creation of Kessel Run and his subsequent venture, Rise8, Bryon outlines a new paradigm for agile, user-focused software development and systems integration in the federal space. TIMESTAMPS: (1:37) Bryon’s first experience with deadly software (3:59) How Kessel Run changes the game in software delivery (6:07) The secret to continuous software delivery (14:46) Why Bryon founded Rise8 (19:53) Reimagining requirements & user engagement (22:34) How output and behavior impact mission (33:49) Challenge bureaucracy, innovate, and don't feel powerless LINKS: Follow Bryon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryon-kroger/ Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/ Rise8: https://www.rise8.us/

This week, Bonnie is joined by fellow CDAO leader Captain Manuel Xavier Lugo, Head of AI Initiatives and Capability Delivery and Task Force Lima Commander at OSD CDAO, to discuss the Task Force Lima mission, its challenges, and their 18-month race to AI mastery. Captain Lugo dives into the reality of AI integration, the pursuit of technological maturity, and the critical importance of tailored AI readiness in defense. Tune in for an insightful conversation on the balance between innovation and pragmatism. TIMESTAMPS: (1:30) What is Task Force Lima? (7:28) Scaling vs. sustaining – who really owns success? (8:55) Why you should abandon the “Black Box” mentality (15:32) Partnering with use case owners (19:05) Benefits of centralized enterprise models (22:55) Don’t be scared of technology, be skeptical (25:02) The hope and potential of AI (28:22) Why you should never skip the basics LINKS: Follow Captain Lugo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxlugo/ Email Task Force Lima: osd.cdao.tf.lima@mail.mil Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Jennifer Pahlka discusses shifting to product management in government, prioritizing mission over process, embracing change for tech integration. Also, focusing on direct user feedback, simplifying policies, community engagement, and communication needs.

Schuyler Moore, CTO of US Central Command, discusses fostering innovation, user feedback in tech dev, overcoming operational challenges, historical impact on military tech, balancing operations with innovation, staying ahead in tech, and the role of user community in shaping solutions.

Former Director of the Joint AI Center, Lt. Gen. Michael Groen, discusses transformative thinking in defense. Topics include the importance of imagination, pushing boundaries with experimentation, integrated data environments, and balancing industry partnerships. Tune in for insights on crafting the next generation of defense capabilities.