NavalX Connecx

Colonel Brian Rideout discusses with Mohawk Matt how failure isn’t a waste, lighting the spark of innovation, and having honest conversations with key senior leaders. Rideout has been enthusiastic about the military since he was a kid. His love of drawing military vehicles in kindergarten turned into a real career in the field. 20 years later, he is focused on innovation as the commanding officer at 1st MEF Information Group, a new facet that puts five battalions, 4000 Marines and Sailors, and 170 different primary military occupational specialties focused on the information related capabilities all under one roof. They also discuss the origin story of Matt’s now famous nickname, thanks to Rideout.

Major Lucas Burke, director of warfighter support division and his Operations Officer, Captain Mike Troncoso at Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity. MCTSSA adopted scrum to track their productivity and actions. These marines discuss the basics of scrum and how it helps the team track information across numerous time zones and commands. They explain how the scrum board is a “living” document that tracks tasks across the to do, doing and done space so there is awareness on tasking. Their goal is to spread scrum far and wide across the organization, and for those interested to reach out to the Marines here to learn more about the Centers for Adaptive Warfighting (CAW) and the courses they offer. How do you implement scrum within your own organization? Just start doing it yourself and visually manage tasking to demonstrate to others how it works. Even when things fail, it allows you to reevaluate when you need to look at each sprint.

To achieve the goals of the Navy we can no longer have a system silo perspective, and PEO MLB is enabling data sharing across the IT platforms that exist on the Navy team. Data transformation is intended to force the organization to make decisions that can allow for economies of scale for data processing programs within the Navy. Les Hubbard and Kevin Burnett share how they came to lead the PEO MLB (Program Executive Office Manpower Logistics and Business Solutions) and what their mission on that team includes. PEO MLB is built on three pillars: application and enterprise services group, data transformation services, enterprise systems and services innovation support. They shared the importance of utilizing the tools which you are pushing the workforce to use is key to see from leaders so that the Navy can lead by example. Learning to appreciate the processes which keep the Navy running.

At age 17, Brandon Newell was already asking himself, “What do I stand for?”. Inspired by the service of his family members, Newell decided that the structure of ROTC would set him on the path to answering this question. In this episode, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Newell takes us through family life, travels and 5G along with his time in the Marine Corps, what it taught him about being a leader of character, and how he inspires others to be the same. As a firm believer in the power of passion and innovation and as the director of the SoCal Tech Bridge Lt. Col Newell has leveraged his leadership skills to supercharge the Navy’s involvement in the 5G revolution. A collaboration with Qualcomm and Verizon enabled the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to become the first military base in the United states with a small cell 5G tower. His passion for collaboration between industry and the military may have guided Lt. Col Newell to his success, but he knows that without the foundation of character and family, he wouldn’t have been able to get it done.

Picture a first generation American as a caddy on a golf course inspired by his family's maritime history and decides to join the Navy! Captain Frank Futcher went from joining the Navy as a way to pay for college and continued to serve because of the multitude of experiences he was exposed to through the Navy. Frank shares about the 60+ countries he has gotten to see through his travels while a Supply Officer in the Navy. Over the years Frank has cultivated his love of wine and found his wine education can help him explore the world through a different lens. Frank shares a little about how in today’s military there are more expectations from every sailor and Marine from the ground level up. As the second director of NavalX, Frank has seen his role as providing the top cover for the organization to try and to change the culture that is the traditional military and government. NavalX is meant to grow the culture in a different form by cultivating inclusivity and diversity of thought and oftentimes folks don’t understand something that is new and different. Frank brags about his spreadsheet skills but when it comes down to it, the people are the only things that matter in the end.

When you want to make changes, the first step is often making the right connections. Put yourself in the path for innovation if you don’t find that you will have the opportunity to create it within your own organization. CAPT Matt Arny, call sign Flounder, is currently the Commanding Officer of Whidbey Island, the largest Naval Air Station in the Pacific Northwest. During his time in Sweden he was taught to look around the room and give folks space to add their thoughts if you notice they haven’t spoken up. Arny emphasizes the need to take care of yourself so you can perform at your best when you show up at work. Flounder talked passionately about revamping the process for refueling aircraft could be revitalized and it would only take a change to the logistics system. Democratization of the challenges facing the Department of the Navy workspace has really helped elevate problems that can be solved easily once identified. Finding issues throughout the enterprise that seem to be marginal issues but can really make a difference in people’s lives.

EPISODE 26 - Riding the Waves of Change by NavalX Connecx

Join David Schiff, one of the founding members of NavalX, which connects experts and solutions to workforce needs and challenges across the Navy and Marine Corps, as he shares his career lessons and innovation experience. David has served on the Aircraft Carrier USS Kitty Hawk, the Submarine USS Nebraska, who then left the Navy for the private sector and returned a year later to the acquisition community with NAVSEA and has spent the past 3 and half years with Defense Innovation Unit and then most recently at NavalX. David shares his passion for connecting people across the Department of Navy and beyond and the importance of cultural innovation across the Department of the Defense.

EPISODE 24 - The Key to Contracting is Communication by NavalX Connecx

Leadership is a contact sport and you need to engage and be ready for what you’re going to hear from the workforce and let them blaze their own trail," Lt Col Michael Liguori. Learn about MCTSSA’s three pillars and how the people make MCTSSA such a vital and essential entity. Liguori attended the Naval Academy and was drawn to the Marine bond he saw between the former enlisted Marines he met at. He was voluntold to take over MCTSSA and he has enjoyed his journey across the Marine Corps. Liguori credits his leadership style and passion to the various leaders who have come before him through observation. Ask a lot of questions of others to engage folks to think and transform.” He also shares HERO as an acronym, Honesty, Empathy, Respect and Open-mindedness; and infectious positivity can empower teams of all kinds.

EPISODE 22 - The Epiphany of Collaboration w/ Stephen McKee by NavalX Connecx

Marine Staff Sgt Chloe Honjoyo started her journey in the Marine Corp while sitting in a parking lot eating an In & Out burger. She began as a Maintenance Management Specialist who has, like many Marines, has worn all sorts of hats during her 11 years in the Marine Corps. Becoming an instructor was the most impactful duty station to her and gives you the opportunity to build a legacy through empowering others to go forth and execute their mission. According to Honjoyo growth through iteration is what makes the Marine Corp such a powerful institution. She says Find out what the puzzle palace is and how strategic doctrine is designated down to the tactical level.

Enabling teammates to work on things that lend to their strengths; the pros and cons of rotational employees and those programs and lessons learned from that model are what to expect listening to Aerospace and Electrical Engineers: William Jinkins and Andrew Gatdula as they talk about how they have been able to have a career that has ZERO to do with their degree and how that has benefited them. They share about their team, Digital Innovation Acceleration Team (DIAT) and how they put people first and give people growth opportunities vs the traditional model of hiring people based on skill set.

20 years ago, Marine Master Sgt. Josh Thomas began his career as an infantryman, and thought he was only serving one enlistment. Josh had a turning point in his life in 2006 - “I got hit with an IED, lost a few of my friends and that was the first moment of “I’m not done. My friends are done but I’m not done.” I’m going to keep going. They don’t have a voice anymore, but I’m gonna be their voice.” Since then he has served all over the world and continues to empower his Marines in his charge and even found a way to empower Marines far and wide through his work with the Centers for Adaptive Warfighting, which he recently took to Okinawa with Major Pete Thermos.

Join Special Agent Kevin Burke, with Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), as he shares his passion for serving the Navy and Marine Corps, his escape through cabins and fly fishing and how he developed a 29-year career protecting people’s ideas and intellectual property both inside the government and outside with private companies. He also shares with Matt how NCIS is more than criminal investigations seen on TV and focuses more energy on proactive work versus reactive work. Learn some cyber hygiene, social media tips and ways to protect your technology!

Innovating corporate operations with weekly activity reports. Join Kate McKenzie and learn her lessons of a recent process change related to corporate operations and a weekly activity report at National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. "By looking at the holistic picture of a process, you can identify what's that quick fix that's going to solve 80 percent of your problems. For us it was adding transparency.

Join Whitney Tallerico as she explains what the innovation pipeline is and how your job or role is a part of the pipeline and the innovation process. Whitney is the NavalX Tech Bridge Director and Office of Naval Research Liaison. Her and Mohawk Matt also discuss how anyone can be an innovator and there is not degree or permission required to have an idea and try it out.

Episode 15 - Be the Spark - Centers for Adaptive Warfighting by NavalX Connecx

Federal employees are gathering together to share ideas, success stories, learn from fails and more at the recently formed Federal Innovators Salon. Join David, Sabra and Trish as they talk about this community of practice they are building with representatives from agencies all across the Federal Government.

Isabel Anderson and Brad Goodrich talk about taking a non-traditional path through their careers in the U.S. Navy, their six college degrees between them! Both have lived all across the world and share with Mohawk Matt their recommendations on finding those unique opportunities and ways to keep those relationships that may result in future endeavours and trying different jobs. They also discuss FOOD, Family and Fun that helps them take care of themselves and prevent burnout.

Navy Lieutenant Peter Guo is a 1st generation Taiwanese-American who went from playing jazz saxophone in Philadelphia nightclubs at age 14, to leading Sailors and driving Navy Ships, and is now driving the Navy into DEVSECOPS through Black Pearl. Peter shares his path as a Naval Officer, lessons he has learned and the importance of leadership above and below you.

I was a PFC twice, a Lance Corporal twice and a Corporal twice.” Gunnery Sgt. Brandon Smart shares his journey as a Marine who went from being court martialed to founder of a movement that is changing the way thousands of Marines address daily work, to being the 1st enlisted Marine at NPS for a specific program. He also talks with Mohawk Matt about happiness as a metric, anything is possible, serving those around you, his family and much more.

Join Mohawk Matt as he talks about different ways you can communicate to reach your audience. He talks about Quick Chats with Mohawk Matt, Ask Me Anything events, User Centered Communication and how these can help you or leaders and organizations connect to your audience, listen to their needs, show them the human side of leadership and an organization.

- Join us as four teammates from different commands across the Navy talk about culture, innovation and what it’s like being a new NavalX teammate. They share where they come from across the Naval enterprise and their different backgrounds of expertise that make NavalX the melting pot that it is. Mohawk Matt is from Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake and is joined by Commander Jen Franco who is a Navy Reservist, Sondra Laughlin is from Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, Indiana and Chris Capuano is out of Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport, Rhode Island. -

Sailors in the US Navy, tend to follow a tailored path based on their job type. Meet Petty Officer First Class Rich Walsh, a sailor who decided to take on the hardest challenges he could and become a household name in the innovation space across the Department of Defense. Rich currently works at the Navy’s N7 - Strategic Warfighter Innovation Cell, at the Pentagon.

Jonas Lazo and David Spencer have a Naval IT Cloud conversation. Learn the basics of what the IT Cloud is, how the Navy and Marine Corps are looking at the cloud and what is this new Cloud Playbook, as Jonas calls it, the mother of all cloud playbooks. Jonas is the Naval Tech Warrant and David is the Cloud Lead at the Enterprise Systems and Services PMW-250 program office.

Hallie Balkin and Cara Little discuss Other Transactions, an acquisition tool, and how they are able to be used for research and development type partnerships between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the private sector. Hallie is the OT Professor at Defense Acquisition University(DAU) and Cara is an OT user and Associate Council at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA.)

A group of young officers in the Navy and Marine Corps have gotten together to be agents of change and connect their community across the world. Navy Lt. Adam Johnson, co-founder, and chair of the Naval Juniors Officers Council shares how they came together to turn frustrations into solutions. He is joined by Jasmine Carpenter, the lead civilian and vice-chair at NJOC.

Description: Ben Vanbuskirk shares about his time as a Navy Helicopter Pilot and what he is up to at the Strategic WarfighterInnovation Cell, OPNAV N7, on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff. They are an organization pursuing innovation and culture change from inside the Chief of Naval Operations Staff, in the Pentagon.

Naval F/A-18 Pilot targets private capital and industry. Navy Commander Sam "Chubs" Gray, talks about what the Navy and Marine Corps are doing to collaborate with Private Capital and helping private companies, startups, and small businesses connect with the Navy and Marine Corps.

NavalX is the Department of the Navy's SuperConnector - Join Mohawk Matt as he talks with Navy Captain Frank Futcher, NavalX Director, about what attracted a 30 year naval officer away from retirement and towards commanding a group of Naval professionals working to empower the Naval workforce. He explores tech bridges, workforce agility and workforce engagement and NavalX's mission to CONNECT.

Mohawk Matt sits down with two Deputy Assistant Secretaries of the Navy Jaimie Reese and Cindy Shaver to talk about leaders who trust their teams and how to build & keep trust in a telework/remote working environment.