In this episode of the "Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM," co-hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Colonel Garrett Hogan, callsign "Nails," to discuss technology and innovation in supporting the mission of US Central Command (CENTCOM). Colonel Hogan, with 20 years of experience as an electronic warfare officer, currently serves as the Director of Combat Operations for the Air Component Command inside CENTCOM. He explains the role of the Combat Operations Division in organizing and...
Apr 16, 2024•23 min•Ep. 46
In this episode of the Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM, co-hosts Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula are joined by Colonel Molly Solsbury to delve into the digital side of counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems). Col. Solsbury, Commander of the 513 Military Intelligence Brigade, shares her journey into the Army, the focus of her unit on the Middle East, and the challenges and strategies in countering UAS threats. They discuss fostering a culture of innovation, the importance of collaboration ac...
Apr 09, 2024•25 min•Ep. 45
In this kickoff episode of the Special Four Part Series, "Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM," our Hosts Lauren and Hondo chat with Schuyler Moore, the Chief Technology Officer of Central Command (CENTCOM). Schuyler puts in context the ongoing digital transformation efforts within CENTCOM as a prelude to the four episodes which follow in this special series. The series highlights how CENTCOM is driving digital transformation innovations across various echelons of the command. We hear real-w...
Apr 04, 2024•8 min•Ep. 44
“If you create opportunities, and don't pick winners, then there are no winners, and then the capital runs away, the founders that are interested in the market run away, and you end up right back where you started” - Trae Stephens In this episode of the Building the Base podcast, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts interview Trae Stephens, the co-founder and chairman of Anduril. Stephens discusses his background in national security, his experience as a venture capitalist, and his vision for th...
Apr 02, 2024•40 min•Ep. 43
I love starting things. I love ideas, I love creating. And America provides the best opportunity for the realization of human potential there is. - Jim Hake . In this episode of "Building the Base," hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Jim Hake, the founder of Spirit of America, a unique nonprofit organization. The podcast delves into Jim's fascinating background as an entrepreneur and the inception of Spirit of America in response to the 9/11 attacks. The conversation explores the organ...
Dec 20, 2023•26 min•Ep. 42
"The DOD is designed to give responsibility down to the lowest level, and that is the complexity that must be solved for. But we are never going to move with speed if we keep it down at the lowest common denominator." - Dana Deasy In this episode of "Building the Base," hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome special guest Dana Deasy, former DOD Chief Information Officer with extensive experience in both the private and public service sectors. Dana's distinguished career includes roles as t...
Dec 06, 2023•36 min•Ep. 41
"It's not de-globalization; it's being really thoughtful about which allies and partners to use, and perhaps even 'friend-shoring'...thinking clearly about which allies and partners to use." - Shelly O'Neill Stoneman In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Shelly O'Neill Stoneman, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Lockheed Martin. In the discussion, Shelly shares insights on her diverse career journey spanning government, non-profit, and private ...
Nov 22, 2023•31 min•Ep. 40
In this episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome General Joe Anderson, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, G-3/5/7, and current President and CEO of Rafael Systems USA, a defense company specializing in advanced defense systems. General Anderson shares his journey into the military, driven by a family tradition of service, and discusses his experiences transitioning from the military to the private sector. He emphasizes the challenges of building trust and...
Nov 08, 2023•33 min•Ep. 39
In this episode of Building The Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Karen Dahut, the CEO of Google Public Sector, to explore her incredible journey from the Navy to leading Google's public sector business. Karen shares her story, highlighting the influence of her parents' service and her personal dedication to making a difference. She discusses the evolving defense industrial base, emphasizing the need for greater integration and technical program management. Karen delves in...
Oct 18, 2023•38 min•Ep. 38
In this episode of Building the Base Laruen Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with, former Chief Information Officer of the Air Force, Lauren Knausenberger. Lauren shares her journey from the private sector to government service and her experiences in driving innovation and collaboration between the tech industry and the Department of Defense (DOD). She emphasized the importance of partnerships between the government and private sector, highlighting historical examples like GPS and the internet that ...
Oct 04, 2023•42 min•Ep. 37
In episode one of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Balan Ayyar, retired US Air Force General Officer and now CEO of Percipient AI, a Silicon Valley-based artificial intelligence and machine learning firm. Balan's unique background, spanning military service, government IT, and startup leadership, provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of national security and technology innovation. Bullet-Pointed Topics Discussed: Bal...
Sep 20, 2023•45 min•Ep. 36
In this week's episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts are joined by Katherine Boyle from Andreessen Horowitz. Katherine, a general partner at Andreessen, leads the American dynamism practice, which focuses on national security, aerospace, defense, public safety, housing, education, and industrial sectors. Katherine discusses her journey from being a reporter at The Washington Post to venture capitalism, emphasizing the growing importance of technology in the defense i...
Sep 06, 2023•36 min•Ep. 35
In this podcast episode, Nand, a former founder and now a representative of the intelligence community, shares valuable insights on the intersection of the private and public sectors in the realm of national security. He emphasizes the need for better communication between startups and intelligence agencies, highlighting the challenge of understanding the specific needs of the intelligence community due to its inherently secretive nature. Nand calls for increased transparency, expressing the int...
Aug 16, 2023•31 min•Ep. 34
The podcast features Lauren Bedula, Hondo Geurts, Whitney McNamara and Pete Modigliani discussing national security, the future of innovation in Natsec and how the private industry can support the growth of the industrial network. Whitney & Pete are both members of the Atlantic Council and share their experience in both Government service and in the private sector highlighting how to be a good rebel in big institutions, remaining intellectually curious in your career and the importance of ex...
Jul 26, 2023•41 min•Ep. 33
The podcast features Lauren Bedula, Hondo Geurts, and Michael Brown discussing national security and public/private partnerships. Mike Brown, a former CEO and director of DIU, shares his experience in the private sector and government, highlighting the threat landscape related to China's investment in early-stage companies. He emphasizes the need for increased awareness in the private sector regarding the Chinese threat. The conversation touches on the changing landscape of national security and...
Jul 12, 2023•37 min•Ep. 32
In this podcast, Lauren and Hondo engage in a conversation with three guests, Cameron McCord, Biz Peabody, and Akhil Iyer, discussing topics related to national security and public/private partnerships. The guests share insights on managing deadlines, staying fresh, and finding ways to de-stress in challenging situations. They emphasize the importance of connecting with people and having open discussions to address frustrations and challenges. The conversation also touches on the concept of good...
Jun 28, 2023•38 min•Ep. 31
In this podcast, Jason Rathje, the new director of the DoD Office of Strategic Capital, discusses the importance of public-private partnerships in the context of national security. He shares his background and pivotal moments that motivated his work in the Department of Defense. The Office of Strategic Capital aims to maintain the Department of Defense's technological advantage by leveraging private investment capital and improving collaboration with startups and entrepreneurs. They focus on cri...
Jun 14, 2023•30 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, Hondo, Lauren, and Billy discuss the intersection of national security and public/private cooperation. They delve into the development of a full-scale sea glider prototype that can carry humans, highlighting the importance of de-risking and proving the viability of new technologies. Billy emphasizes the need for private companies to generate returns for their investors while also changing the world through passion and motivation. They explore the challenge of expensive manufactu...
May 31, 2023•28 min•Ep. 29
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Debbie James, former Secretary of the Air Force, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Secretary James discusses changes in national security, including the prevalence of software in DoD operations and the importance of diversity in the workforce. The Secretary identifies room for improvement in both the DoD and industry by emphasizing the need for collaboration with nontraditional companies, suggesting reforma...
May 17, 2023•36 min•Ep. 28
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Bilal Zuberi to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Bilal Zuberi is an experienced investor and current partner at Lux Capital with a passion for using technology to solve complex problems. He has worked adjacent to the national security industry and is committed to investing in innovative solutions. Bilal understands the importance of collaboration between the defense community and the private sector and believ...
May 03, 2023•48 min•Ep. 27
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Suzette Kent to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Kent’s impressive background across the public and private sectors has given her the unique ability to understand a wide range of perspectives, spanning a variety of industries. During her time as Federal CIO, she witnessed the rapid change of pace the government experienced to tackle the problems brought about by COVID-19. Kent emphasizes the importance of the...
Apr 19, 2023•36 min•Ep. 26
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Schuyler Moore to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Schuyler’s impressive and varied background across the public and private sectors has given her a powerful perspective regarding the defense industrial base. Her experiences in Afghanistan led her to understand the importance of national security. This, combined with her acumen for technology, is what led her to be the first Chief Technology Officer at CENTCO...
Apr 05, 2023•31 min•Ep. 25
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Raanan Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Elbit Systems of America, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Raanan's varied portfolio in key industries of the future industrial network and former military experience has made him an advocate for an engaged dialogue between the DoD and the private sector in a closed-loop, manufacturer-end-user system. He emphasizes the need to involve small- and mid-range compani...
Mar 22, 2023•35 min•Ep. 24
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Brian Schimpf, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Anduril Industries, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Brian’s educational background as an industrial engineer, pioneer in automation and AI, and formative professional experiences at Palantir Technologies pushed him to co-found his own start-up in Silicon Valley. He thinks that the academic, commercial, and public sectors all have ways they can contr...
Mar 08, 2023•41 min•Ep. 23
Don't miss this week’s episode of Building the Base, we're hosting Congressman Joe Courtney, representing Connecticut’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss topics around the future of the defense industrial network, workforce development and defense spending. Learn more about Congressman Courtney’s extensive background as a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee, as he shares his unique perspective on both w...
Feb 22, 2023•38 min•Ep. 22
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Frank Finelli to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Frank’s varied experiences in the military, on Capitol Hill, and in the private sector have given him a unique lens through which to view the future industrial network and a thorough grasp of the processes of the industrial base. He emphasizes the constraints the DoD is under due to its extensive Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process a...
Feb 08, 2023•35 min•Ep. 21
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Representative Elissa Slotkin of Michigan’s 7th District to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Elissa’s experience in a locally known family business in Michigan and her extended career in national security and defense makes her a strong advocate for public-private partnerships. She advocates for faster government acquisition and contracting cycles of emerging technologies to sustain an edge over our internatio...
Jan 25, 2023•28 min•Ep. 20
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Shyam Shankar, Chief Operating Officer of Palantir, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Shyam’s experience in Palantir and Silicon Valley pushes him to advocate for better use of the US’s strong tech sector in the national security realm. He emphasizes building an understanding between the diverse people across the future industrial network and allies around the world. He thinks that the DoD and private secto...
Jan 11, 2023•21 min•Ep. 19
In this week’s episode of Building the Base, Hondo and Lauren join Steffanie Easter, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions, to discuss the future of the defense industrial network. Steffanie’s vast experience in acquisition across the services leads her to emphasize the need for communication not only among the services, but also among industry partners. She explains that DoD must learn to balance information sharing with strategic competi...
Dec 28, 2022•36 min•Ep. 18
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 ...
Dec 14, 2022•43 min•Ep. 17
