All Quiet on the Second Front

On this episode of All Quiet on the Second Front, Tyler sits down with longtime friend and Harpoon Ventures GP Larsen Jensen—Olympian, SEAL, and now defense tech investor—for a raw conversation on transitioning out of service and building tech that actually gets to the warfighter. Larsen also shares why he believes we’re at an inflection point in defense tech and why the next generation of founders has a duty (and an opportunity) to step up.What’s Happening on the Second FrontWhy this is the golden age of defense innovationHow Black Flag is helping founders navigate the maze of governmentWhat needs to change—fast—to keep private capital in the fightConnect with Larsen Jensen: LinkedInConnect with Tyler Sweatt: LinkedIn

On this customer spotlight episode of All Quiet on the Second Front, TJ Rowe sits down with John Conafay, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrate—a platform built to manage complex programs for the world’s most ambitious hardware. Today, it’s helping the Space Force move faster.John shares what it took to move from fragmented workflows and siloed tools to a secure, scalable solution now deployed across defense and commercial space programs. They also dig into what it means to build dual-use software that actually works—for the mission, and the people behind it.What's Happening on the Second FrontWhy product-market fit with government isn’t that different from commercialWhat makes the government a better customer than most startups expectWhy trust and usability—not compliance alone—define real dual-use softwareWhy risk isn’t optional when you’re building for national securityIf you’re building tech for the front lines—space, cyber, or otherwise—this one’s for you.

On this episode of All Quiet on the Second Front, Tyler sits down with longtime friend and fellow West Point grad Rob Boeckmann, now Director of Social at Black Rifle Coffee Company, to talk about his unconventional path from field artillery officer to global brand strategist.They dig into the real-world parallels between military ops and modern marketing, how to build brand voice with precision, and why good marketers operate like fire support officers. Rob also shares lessons from running social at AWS, launching a top influencer agency in Europe, and how AI is reshaping creative execution.What’s Happening on the Second Front:Transitioning from active duty to creative/brand rolesLessons from marketing at scale (AWS, Black Rifle Coffee)How military leadership translates to commercial successThe grind and strategy behind modern social mediaThe role of AI in creative and operational acceleration

In this special episode of All Quiet on the Second Front, we’re bringing you a live recording from Offset 2025. Moderated by Danielle Metz, 2F Chief Policy Officer, this panel tackles a question that’s easy to say but hard to operationalize: how do we actually build trust between government and industry to deliver secure, mission-ready technology? Danielle is joined by Rob Nolen, Chief Technologist for DoD at AWS, Dan Garcia, Chief Information Security Officer at EnterpriseDB, and Eric Sanders, Chief Information Security Officer at DHS (I&A) and, together, they unpack the cultural and structural baggage that slows innovation—and explore what it’ll take to shift hearts, minds, and bureaucracies toward impact.What’s Happening on the Second Front: Building security into systems from the start (not bolting it on later)Measuring impact through velocity, not vanity metricsRisk tolerance vs. risk avoidance in government techThe role of policy and regulation in accelerating trustWhy a shared language between builders, buyers, and approvers is mission-critical

In this special keynote episode recorded live at Offset Symposium, Senator Markwayne Mullin joins 2F CEO Tyler Sweatt to talk national security, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and the urgent need for change across government and defense.Senator Mullin lays out a clear-eyed view of the current state: the technology is moving faster than the government—and without bold action, we risk falling even further behind. From budgeting flexibility to breaking down silos across the DoD, this conversation covers where the gaps are, how private sector partnerships can help, and what it’ll take to drive real reform.What’s Happening on the Second Front:Why relationships—not just policy—drive changeHow the DoD can embrace a “get to yes” cultureMaking room in the budget for faster, more flexible solutionsWhy the next 18 months are critical for national security transformationIf we’re serious about change, we can’t wait for permission. Tune in for a candid, high-impact conversation from the Offset main stage.

This week on All Quiet on the Second Front, Tyler sits down with Bret Boyd, co-founder and CEO of Sustainment, to talk shop on reshoring U.S. manufacturing, rethinking the defense industrial base, and why clipboards and PDFs are still running the depots. Bret’s got the receipts—combat deployments with the 75th Ranger Regiment, 15+ years in tech, and now building one of the largest networks of non-traditional U.S. manufacturers. What’s happening on the Second Front: How small manufacturers hold the key to reindustrializationThe real bottlenecks behind readiness: not weapons, but partsWhy defense acquisition needs fewer PDFs and more CRMsThe case for a U.S. “manufacturing ready reserve”Connect with Bret Linkedin: Bret BoydConnect with TylerLinkedIn: Tyler Sweatt

In this episode of All Quiet on the Second Front, Tyler sits down with Cameron McCord, CEO and co-founder of Nominal, to talk about why testing & evaluation is finally getting its moment in the spotlight—and why that matters more than you think. From time at Anduril and Lux Capital to launching Nominal, Cam shares a candid look at the bottlenecks slowing down national security and how the right software (and the right team) can tip the balance.What's happening on the Second FrontWhy test data is the next frontier for advantage in defenseHow government incentives and contracting structures need to evolveWhat it really takes to build a mission-driven team in this spaceThe difference between missionaries and mercenariesConnect with CameronLinkedIn: Cameron McCordConnect with TylerLinkedIn: Tyler Sweatt

Samuel Semwangu, CEO of Bazze and former special ops veteran, shares his fascinating journey from military to Silicon Valley. He discusses the pivotal role of commercial data in modern intelligence operations and how Bazze is transforming data access with a federated API that integrates insights from numerous sources. Sammy sheds light on the importance of service partners in achieving software success and navigating regulatory challenges, emphasizing the need for collaboration in the evolving defense tech landscape.

Join Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, a retired Air Force leader with a rich background in AI and defense innovation, and Stephen Rodriguez, a strategist from the Atlantic Council focusing on tech in warfare. They delve into how software is reshaping military operations and the critical nature of the Department of Defense's initiatives. Expect fascinating anecdotes from their careers and insights into how the U.S. military must adapt to embrace software-defined warfare, ensuring readiness for future challenges.

Episode 88. On this episode of All Quiet, host Tyler Sweat chats with cybersecurity expert Greg Touhill, director of the CERT Division at Carnegie Mellon's Software Engineering Institute. With a rich background as the U.S. government's first Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and a seasoned executive in the U.S. Air Force and Department of Homeland Security, Greg discusses the trajectory of cybersecurity from its foundational days to its current critical role in national security and private sector strategy. Explore how AI and cybersecurity intersect and the essential steps today's leaders must take to safeguard our digital future.What’s Happening on the Second Front:Greg's journey from the U.S. Air Force to leading national cybersecurity initiatives.The impact of AI on cybersecurity—what does the future hold?Cybersecurity in the corporate world: How is it shaping business strategies at the highest levels?Emerging challenges: What are the next big threats, and how are we preparing to tackle them?Connect with GregLinkedIn: Gregory TouhillConnect with TylerLinkedIn: Tyler SweattSEI resources discussed:SEI website: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/AI/AI Security: Artificial Intelligence Security Incident Response Team (AISIRT)Risk and Resilience: Enterprise Risk and Resilience ManagementSEI GitHub: Software Engineering Institute · GitHub