Building the Base Podcast

?????We’re here recording live with founders at Manifest: Demo Day in Navy Yard. If you’re here, say hello! ??Sign up for our newsletter to get each episode in your inbox. www.buildingthebase.org Thanks for having us Long Walk Technologies team! Landon Bell Honorable James Geurts Lauren Bedula Hannah Greene Spata Doug Bernauer Radiant Dylan Enright

Thrilled to share that the Building the Base team will be joining us for Manifest: Demo Day on March 17th in DC! One cool aspect of Just Doing Things is that you can invite people you admire who also Just Do Things to team-up with you. And sometimes they say yes! All of us at LWT are huge fans of the BTB podcast and we're honored to have Lauren Bedula & Honorable James Geurts joining us to launch M:DD in just under 2 weeks. They'll be recording on-site; talking to Founders, Govt Leaders, Investors, and more. Can't wait! Want to join them and hundreds of leaders from across Govt, VC, and Industry to see live demos from 35 of America's most important emerging defense and dual-use tech companies? Link to apply in comments ?? cc Mike Katharine Ryan Kate

“So they wanted to create a Skunkworks type of organization, and they asked me if I wanted to do it, and I was told two things: They go, ‘no one's going to know what you're doing’, and ‘you might not make it past Lieutenant Colonel’. And I said, ‘Sign me up’. So just kind of that whole idea that I was going to be able to have a lot of autonomy and actually be able to personally affect the outcome of a problem set. And that was really, really attractive. So for many years, nobody knew who this organization was, and we kind of clawed our way to prove our relevance. Nobody talked about it. We kind of lived by Fight Club roles, which was really fun, but also it was really hard.” So fun chatting with SOCOM Acqusition Executive Melissa Johnson about her career and story, current priorities, and why it’s important to break down barriers between commercial and military tech. Thanks for coming on Building the Base Podcast, Mojo! Honorable James Geurts Hannah Greene Spata

[NEW EPISODE] Melissa “Mojo” Johnson, Acquisition Executive at US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), offers a candid look into the world of military acquisition, drawing from her extensive experience with the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) and SOCOM. Five key takeaways: 1. To drive organizational growth effectively, Mojo advocates for horizontal scaling, emphasizing small, high-performing teams with direct communication and a flat chain of command over creating layers of bureaucracy. 2. Acquisition success, according to Mojo, isn't about drowning in complex regulations, but about applying critical thinking - tailoring processes to solve specific problems and maintaining focus on the core mission. 3. Breaking down barriers between commercial and military tech requires a continuous dialogue, Mojo believes, by bringing together venture capitalists, industry partners, and military leaders to understand and apply innovative solutions. 4. When integrating new technologies, Mojo emphasizes understanding the end effect - moving beyond simply applying AI or new tech, and clearly articulating how a solution will enhance operator capabilities and reduce unnecessary burdens. 5. For maintaining resilience in high-stress environments, Mojo recommends building a strong support system, taking time to gain perspective, celebrating successes, and recognizing that no challenge is entirely unprecedented. ?? Stream the episode now on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/gFDxzgVg Lauren Bedula Honorable James Geurts Hannah Greene Spata

[NEW EPISODE] Melissa “Mojo” Johnson, Acquisition Executive at US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), offers a candid look into the world of military acquisition, drawing from her extensive experience with the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) and SOCOM. Five key takeaways: 1. To drive organizational growth effectively, Mojo advocates for horizontal scaling, emphasizing small, high-performing teams with direct communication and a flat chain of command over creating layers of bureaucracy. 2. Acquisition success, according to Mojo, isn't about drowning in complex regulations, but about applying critical thinking - tailoring processes to solve specific problems and maintaining focus on the core mission. 3. Breaking down barriers between commercial and military tech requires a continuous dialogue, Mojo believes, by bringing together venture capitalists, industry partners, and military leaders to understand and apply innovative solutions. 4. When integrating new technologies, Mojo emphasizes understanding the end effect - moving beyond simply applying AI or new tech, and clearly articulating how a solution will enhance operator capabilities and reduce unnecessary burdens. 5. For maintaining resilience in high-stress environments, Mojo recommends building a strong support system, taking time to gain perspective, celebrating successes, and recognizing that no challenge is entirely unprecedented. ?? Stream the episode now on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/gFDxzgVg Lauren Bedula Honorable James Geurts Hannah Greene Spata

[NEW EPISODE] Fun fact: the first acquisition reform bill in the United States was enacted in 1792, and over 4,000 procurement-related statutes have been passed since. Think of today's episode as?Acquisition Reform 101. Thanks to our guest, Eric Lofgren, Professional Staff Member of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, for sharing his personal thoughts on the processes by which our military acquires its assets. Five key takeaways from today's episode: 1. Eric is currently working with Chairman Wicker and SASC members to champion the?FoRGED (Fostering Reform and Government Efficiency in Defense) Act. 2. A dedicated student of history, Eric has logged many hours in the Pentagon Library to learn the historical context of past acquisition models, rather than just iterating on the current system. 3. Eric initially took a job at a defense contractor after graduating, thinking it would just be a two-year stint, but he became attached to the mission and started delving into the history and economics of defense acquisition, which ultimately led him to his current role on the Senate Armed Services Committee. 4. Engaging with industry, especially non-traditional/commercial companies, is crucial to understand challenges and inform policy changes. The professional staff of?SASC?welcome direct outreach. 5. Eric recommends "cutting the red tape" by reviewing and eliminating outdated or unnecessary pilot programs, reporting requirements, and other regulatory burdens that are not providing value to the DoD acquisition process. ?? Stream the episode now on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/gBT265kw Lauren Bedula Honorable James Geurts

[NEW EPISODE] Fun fact: the first acquisition reform bill in the United States was enacted in 1792, and over 4,000 procurement-related statutes have been passed since. Think of today's episode as?Acquisition Reform 101. Thanks to our guest, Eric Lofgren, Professional Staff Member of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, for sharing his personal thoughts on the processes by which our military acquires its assets. Five key takeaways from today's episode: 1. Eric is currently working with Chairman Wicker and SASC members to champion the?FoRGED (Fostering Reform and Government Efficiency in Defense) Act. 2. A dedicated student of history, Eric has logged many hours in the Pentagon Library to learn the historical context of past acquisition models, rather than just iterating on the current system. 3. Eric initially took a job at a defense contractor after graduating, thinking it would just be a two-year stint, but he became attached to the mission and started delving into the history and economics of defense acquisition, which ultimately led him to his current role on the Senate Armed Services Committee. 4. Engaging with industry, especially non-traditional/commercial companies, is crucial to understand challenges and inform policy changes. The professional staff of?SASC?welcome direct outreach. 5. Eric recommends "cutting the red tape" by reviewing and eliminating outdated or unnecessary pilot programs, reporting requirements, and other regulatory burdens that are not providing value to the DoD acquisition process. ?? Stream the episode now on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/gBT265kw Lauren Bedula Honorable James Geurts

[NEW EPISODE] Rep. Pat Ryan (NY-18) talking bipartisan defense tech breakthroughs via the new House Defense Modernization Caucus he co-chairs with Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-1). Five key takeaways from today's episode: 1. Throughout his career, Rep. Patrick Ryan has embraced a wide range of challenging roles—from serving on the battlefield to leading sales teams, to making legislative progress in Congress. 2. With?Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)?innovation hubs already established in Austin and Silicon Valley, Rep. Ryan proposes New York City as the next ideal location for a hub, recognizing the city's unique blend of talent and business development opportunities. 3. A self-proclaimed “perpetual optimist,” Rep. Ryan credits his attitude and resilience to his interactions with young people, whether it's JROTC students, United States Military Academy at West Point cadets, or his own young children. 4. The House Defense Modernization Caucus?had some early wins?in the last NDAA, with the next convening planned for February 11 in concert with Silicon Valley Defense Group. 5. Rep. Ryan advises defense tech companies to approach lawmakers with clear, actionable requests for quicker support and to focus on storytelling over lengthy presentations. “Help me help you,” he says —be specific about where you're stuck and how Congress can assist. ?? Stream the episode now on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/gSct2n_t Recorded at the Reagan National Defense Forum on December 7, 2024. Lauren Bedula Honorable James Geurts Olivia Mullaney Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute

[NEW EPISODE] A deep dive into the intersection of AI and defense technology with one of the leading innovators in the field: Thomas Robinson, COO Domino Data Lab. ?? Stream the episode now on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/dJZ-ehBP Thanks for the insights, TRob! Recorded at the Reagan National Defense Forum on December 7, 2024. Lauren Bedula Honorable James Geurts Erin Scanlan Dave Conner Joel Meyer Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute #Defense #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #DataScience #Innovation #MilitaryTech #DominoDataLab #BuildingTheBasePodcast #TechLeadership

[NEW EPISODE] Fascinating discussion with Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus on his career progression and the future of directed energy systems. Thanks for sitting down with Lauren Bedula and Honorable James Geurts at the Reagan Forum this past month. Stream the episode now on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/gjdyWUKc Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute