M2 Defense Strategies

? PEO Master Directory ? AKA a "who buys in the government phonebook" What a gift from Steve Blank to kick this off and Stanford Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation to maintain it in order to get at one of the Department's most challenging cases of "information asymmetry" and a continuous learning bluff for defense startups looking to build for the military. Incredible this hasn't already been turned into an app that identifies, tracks, and connects PEOs back to budget documentation for startup guidance, from nascent product development and shaping iterative go-to-market strategies to congressional appropriations pursuits. A great resource and signal to DoD to #LevelThePlayingField for the startup ecosystem ?? M2 Defense Strategies

Is the only solution creating or resurrecting a new Under Secretary of Defense? TLDR: The Defense Innovation Board recommends that the Pentagon form a new USD for International Industrial Cooperation (IIC), or alternatively, reconsolidate USD A&S and USD R&E back into USD AT&L to “Optimize Innovation Cooperation with Allies and Partners,” the study's stated objective. While it is unlikely that DoD will seek and Congress will authorize a new USD by FY26 on the heels of an election, sharing some tactical considerations around the DIB's Leadership and International Cooperation Recommendations that I hope to see the building tiger team before adding another layer of bureaucracy that may have snowball effects across U.S. and international startup industry. 1. How would the proposed USD(IIC) fold into existing security cooperation processes with international partners to enhance and accelerate, not hinder, cooperation with emerging tech companies in partner and allied nations? OSD Policy, in coordination with the Joint Staff, COCOMs, Country Teams, etc. manage the defense side of our bilateral engagement with partners and allies. Yet, the study focuses more on transforming USD A&S portfolios into a USD(IIC) rather than fold into, or pursue reform of, existing security cooperation processes that include said offices as well as DSCA, the State Dept, and others. 2. Will USD(IIC) be responsible for managing international industry engagement as well as joint international efforts with U.S. industry? For instance, does USD(IIC) become the new gateway for a foreign startup - or a foreign government - and a U.S. startup that have already partnered together? International engagement is a key, often misunderstood, component of startup strategies, though our startups do face distinct acquisition challenges and the study frequently refers to "industry *and* allies and partners" as one at a time when DoD already struggles with actionable responsiveness to U.S. startups. 3. Getting the personnel right from the get-go is critical to ensuring structural changes, especially one as significant as a new USDship, will in fact accelerate international industry engagement and not simply add a layer of bureaucracy. ? On Manpower: With OSD strapped for manpower and bandwidth amid an unfailingly high tempo, will building and hiring for a new USDship be the most expeditious route to accelerating DoD responsiveness to international industry? ? On Skillset: If USD(IIC) is to be the one-stop-shop for international companies, ideally the personnel boast a very rare duo of defense industry and regional expertise that enable effective engagement with partners and allies. These considerations highlight a slew of other alternatives to explore: chief among them, integrating international industry-facing personnel into OSD Policy regional shops, clarifying and adopting A&S, R&E, DIU, etc. roles to meet operational gaps, and adopting the DIB's many other core recommendations.

"I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world." - President Ronald Reagan, Memorial Day, 1983. Today, we honor and celebrate the lives of those lost in service to our nation. As we commemorate Memorial Day in 2024, and reflect on the sacrifices made from the Global War on Terror to those of the Greatest Generation as we approach the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, the Gipper's reflection one Memorial Day many years ago somberly and inspiringly rings true across generations. May we continue the fight to forge and accelerate the policies and capabilities in the field that will preserve these precious freedoms for generations to come. #MemorialDay #M2DefenseStrategies #LevelThePlayingField

ICYMI: United States Air Force seeking industry feedback as they stand up Integrated Capabilities Command - see Chief Impact Officer's post here. Great respect for Chief of Staff Gen. Allvin's leadership in this USAF reorganization and reaching out a hand to industry to ensure it's strategically positioned "to keep up with the pace of technology [and] the pace of change." “The idea of Integrated Capabilities Command is really to take that expertise, the requirements generation, those that understand the functional expertise in their operations in their part of the Air Force, put them together, and start understanding what we need the Air Force to do as far as mission outcomes." Eager to watch how this new command rolls out and whether it creates a sustainable model capable of being replicated and adapted by all the Services.

As we continue to monitor the ramifications and potential responses to Iran's unprecedented attacks over the weekend, sharing two salient analyses as well as my two cents on what we - Washington and Industry - can take away. ?? Middle East Institute's "Rapid Reactions" https://lnkd.in/gG6uFnr9 With former NCTC Lt. Gen. (ret.) Nagata, former DASD ME and the ole boss Michael Mulroy, former NAVCENT CDR VADM Donegan, MEI's Jeff Jager ? Andrew Glenn's cost imbalance estimate: https://lnkd.in/g_qUcZBd Iran's expenditure of ~$545M to launch 185 drones, 36 cruise missiles, and 110?ballistic missiles vs. defenses totaling over $1-2B in Israeli (~$550-$1.3B), American (~ >$262M), British, French, Jordanian, and Saudi expenditure. Iran's unprecedented attack risks further regional escalation that none seek. But we have seen the swarm tactics exhibited in Tehran's first non-proxy attack on Israel grow in complexity over the course the Russian-Ukrainian war, and in the future, they will undoubtedly be on full display should the Pacific see conflict. Likely sans notice and U.S and Israeli-led air defense at 99% success. This is nothing new... From the 2020 Beijing Olympics' 1,800 drone light show teaser to the Houthis' 3D printing of drones for years prior to recent escalation in the Red Sea. But with a defense industry now saturated with UAS and C-UAS capabilities far cheaper than the U.S. and allied capabilities they would have complemented over the weekend, and with conflict escalating in CENTCOM and EUCOM - and potential for it in INDOPACOM, what will it take to upend the comfortable status quo we're riding in 2024 America into the urgency of, say, 1940s era America? Less than a month after Pearl Harbor: “Powerful enemies must be out-fought and out-produced,” - FDR to Congress Within three years after Pearl Harbor:? U.S. built 17 aircraft carriers alongside 2/3 of all Allied military equipment: 297,000 aircraft, 86,000 tanks, 193,000 artillery pieces, and 2M Army trucks. Reinvigorate the defense industrial base. Execute the NDIS off paper. Develop more tech. Accelerate (& fund) adoption. Increase manufacturing. Build at the edge. Harden (& diversify) supply chains. Bolster energy resiliency... Repeat. Before a direct attack on U.S. forces - or further attacks on partners and allies. #LevelThePlayingField?M2 Defense Strategies

M2 Defense Strategies looking back on an action-packed last month traveling coast to coast with some stellar clients. Pictured, a few for the books: ?? Firestorm's Ribbon Cutting of their new headquarters with San Diego Congresswoman Sara Jacobs and Founders Dan Chad and Ian highlighting the criticality of Firestorm's role in driving access to capabilities across the nation and at the edge of conflict. Expeditionary additive manufacturing is the future ?? ?? M2 Defense Strategies' Mary Monica back in Washington with clientele as FY24 appropriations crossed the line and attention turns to FY25 preparedness for an unparalleled threat landscape that may take us "almost back to the axis of evil" to quote INDOPACOM Commander Aquilino's recent posture hearing. ?? Harpoon Ventures convening Southern California's defense startup and venture players who are working to counter this growing axis, a great opportunity to catch up with colleagues on their mission sets and hear from headliners like Merlin Labs' Austin & Kodiak's Nathan. H/T to Larsen.