The Drone Ultimatum

Morgan Murphy joins the show to talk national security, defense manufacturing, and why he’s running for U.S. Senate in Alabama. Murphy is a 26-year Navy Reserve captain, former Pentagon press secretary, and national security advisor who has worked across the White House, State Department, and Senate.He shares his perspective on restoring America’s industrial base, rebuilding shipbuilding capacity, and why he believes manufacturing is now a national security imperative.The conversation covers border policy, the defense industrial base, China’s manufacturing lead, and how the Senate actually works behind the scenes.For defense, military, and national security listeners, this episode offers an unusually candid look at policy, power, and the realities of governing.Episode 55.---Links to the show:https://www.youtube.com/@thedroneultimatumhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3F1sc8yzQIF9WcdHQ3w7kf?si=3af8082184104062https://thedroneultimatum.substack.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-drone-ultimatum/id1770994541https://www.instagram.com/thedroneultimatum/https://x.com/droneultimatumhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/the-drone-ultimatum?trk=public_post_feed-actor-nameFollow Steve:⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevensimoni/https://x.com/StevenSimoni⁠https://www.allencontrolsystems.com/

Emma Bates, co-founder and CEO of Cachai, dives into the complexities of true drone swarming. With a background in defense modernization, she explains why many so-called swarms, like light shows, don’t qualify and discusses how her team's software empowers distributed systems without a single point of failure. Emma elaborates on the challenges of achieving real-time consensus and the ethical implications of advanced autonomy in warfare. She also shares insights on government procurement and the potential for her technology in various sectors beyond defense.

Dan Magy, co-founder and CEO of Firestorm, returns to the show for a live episode recorded at Battlefield 2027. Firestorm is building deployable, modular 3D printing systems that can manufacture drones, parts, and tools directly at the edge of operations — a game-changing capability for contested logistics.We discuss how Firestorm’s portable manufacturing units are reshaping military production, the lessons learned from early Army field tests, and how 3D printing is enabling faster repair and sustainment in the field. Dan also shares his perspective on the realities of scaling a defense startup, the “valley of death” between R&D and procurement, and what it takes to survive in the new era of defense innovation.Links to the show:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Steve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Allen Control Systems

Rob Sladen is the Chairman and CEO of Zulu Pods, a company pioneering next-generation lubrication and fluid delivery systems for aerospace and defense. Before founding Zulu Pods, Sladen spent 13 years at Pratt & Whitney designing jet engines — experience that now fuels his startup’s role as the “picks and shovels” behind future weapon systems.In this episode, we talk about how Zulu Pods’ “Tide Pod for jet engines” was invented, the state of DoD procurement, and why small defense startups face such steep barriers breaking into military programs. Rob also dives into dual-use technology, cost-plus contracting, and why the Army’s approach to acquisition timelines desperately needs reform. It’s a sharp, insider look at building in defense, raising capital, and rethinking how the next generation of aerospace systems will actually get built.Links to the show:⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Steve:⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Allen Control Systems

John Ferry, a seasoned defense-industry entrepreneur, returns to discuss the complex dynamics of selling to the government and the challenges faced by startups in the DoD ecosystem. He candidly explains how relationships dominate contract prospects and the reasons why many startups perish before reaching the market. Ferry and the host discuss the inefficiencies of trade shows for visibility, the implications of private equity in defense tech, and how Anduril transformed industry strategies. Their insights reveal the often unseen hurdles and opportunities in the world of defense contracting.

Church Hutton, Chief Growth Officer at AV Inc. (formerly AeroVironment), joins the show for a deep dive into the future of autonomous systems, directed energy, and defense innovation. A retired Army officer and longtime Hill staffer, Church brings an insider’s view of how national security priorities, procurement, and industrial competition with China are evolving.He shares how AV is doubling down on robotics, drones, and lasers following its merger with BlueHalo, and why the company’s investments in internal R&D are outpacing much of the defense industry. Steve and Church also dig into lessons from Ukraine, U.S. homeland defense policy challenges, and what’s next for programs like Golden Dome and directed-energy systems.This episode unpacks how the defense industrial base is changing and what the next generation of defense companies are getting right.Links to the show:⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Follow Steve:⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠⁠⁠Allen Control Systems

Jeff Wright, founder and CEO of SplashOne Robotics, joins the show to discuss how his company is developing small, purpose-built fighter drones to redefine air superiority. A former Marine and Air Force Special Tactics Officer, Wright brings a warfighter’s perspective to modern defense tech — from the limits of current counter-drone systems to the coming shift toward autonomous, air-to-air combat.We cover the “drone bubble” shaping defense startups, how SplashOne is tackling the kill chain end-to-end, and why bullets—not missiles—may define the next era of air defense. Wright also shares what he learned leading drone initiatives across INDOPACOM, why he built his first prototypes in his garage, and what it takes to found a defense startup straight out of uniform.This episode goes deep on the future of air combat, the realities of defense innovation, and the mindset required to build the next generation of fighter drones.Episode #49.Links to the show:⁠YouTube⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠Follow Steve:⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠X (Twitter)⁠⁠Allen Control Systems

Max Vozoff, Chief Technology Officer at X-Bow Systems, joins the show to discuss the urgent challenges and opportunities in America’s solid rocket motor industry.With decades of experience, including early work at SpaceX, Vozoff explains why the U.S. is facing a “Sputnik moment” in hypersonics and energetics — and how X-Bow is building new manufacturing methods to meet the demand.We dive into X-Bow’s “rocket factory in a box,” distributed production concepts, and their growing role as a second source supplier for hypersonic weapons. Vozoff also shares lessons from startup scaling, his perspective on contracting bottlenecks in defense, and what it will take for America to regain an edge in critical propulsion technology.This is a rare insider’s look at the transformation of one of the defense sector’s most overlooked but essential industries.X-Bow Systems: https://www.xbowsystems.com/Episode #48.Links to the show:YouTubeSpotifySubstackApple PodcastsInstagramX (Twitter)LinkedInFollow Steve:LinkedInX (Twitter)Allen Control Systems

Todd Graetz, co-founder and CEO of Aerolane, joins the show to share how his aviation startup is reimagining air cargo with autonomous glider-based aircraft. From his early work launching one of the first large-scale drone programs at BNSF Railway to building Aerolane's innovative “air cart” system, Graetz has been at the forefront of UAV and aerospace innovation for over a decade.We discuss the challenges of scaling U.S. drone manufacturing, the realities of FAA regulation, and why bans on Chinese drones won’t solve the underlying problems. Graetz also reflects on recruiting rare engineering talent, lessons learned from entrepreneurship inside a Fortune 500, and the future of autonomous cargo transport. This is a deep insider’s look at drones, aviation, and what it takes to change how goods move through the sky.Todd Graetz: LinkedInEpisode #47.Links to the show: YouTube Spotify Substack Apple Podcasts Instagram X (Twitter) LinkedInFollow Steve: LinkedIn X (Twitter) Allen Control Systems

Jon Dandrow, CEO of Radenso and Strikeman, joins the show to talk about building advanced radar detection systems, modular sensing hardware, and consumer-to-defense innovation.From hacking traffic cameras in his college years to leading dual-use technology companies, Dandrow shares the unconventional path that brought him into the defense world. We dive into how modular, FPGA-powered platforms are reshaping signals intelligence and CUAS, the challenges of manufacturing in the U.S. versus China, and why full-stack engineering capability matters.He also opens up about funding strategies, lessons learned from past startups, and the realities of operating at the intersection of consumer electronics and defense tech.Episode #46Companies & Guest Radenso Strikeman Jon Dandrow on LinkedInLinks to the Show YouTube Spotify Substack Apple Podcasts Instagram X (Twitter) LinkedInFollow Steve LinkedIn X (Twitter) Allen Control Systems#podcast #defensetech #militaryinnovation #startups #govcon #dod #dualuse #radar #signalsintelligence #cua #counteruas #ai #fpga #hardware #manufacturing #china #startuplife #venturecapital #innovation #usmilitary #technology