Podcasts about afwerx

Impulse Space has raised $300 million in a Series C funding round. Redwire's advanced lunar and Martian manufacturing technology, Mason, has passed Critical Design Review (CDR). Astroscale UK has successfully completed the Critical Design Review for the ELSA-M In-Orbit Demonstration spacecraft, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Selected Reading Impulse Space Secures $300 Million Series C to Accelerate the Future of In-Space Mobility Redwire Receives NASA Approval to Advance Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Technology for Building Infrastructure on Moon and Mars Astroscale's ELSA-M spacecraft completes Critical Design Review Maxar and Saab Agree Strategic Partnership to Develop Multi-Domain Battlespace Solutions and Advance Europe's Space-Based Capabilities DIU selects new companies for the Hybrid Space Architecture project. (Maxar Interview) Planet Expands Business with Welsh Government for Land and Natural Resource Management Rocket Lab Schedules Third Electron Launch in 24 Days to Deploy Next Mission for iQPS Reflect Orbital Selected for SBIR Phase II Contract by AFWERX to Advance Satellite-Based Sunlight Redirection Technology IonQ Completes Acquisition of Lightsynq, Accelerating Quantum Computing and Networking Roadmap America's First Spacewalk - NASA Two space vets added to Astronaut Hall of Fame as one awaits launch- collectSPACE T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The European Union Agency for the Space Programme has selected Thales Alenia Space to extend the service life of the EGNOS satellite. Sidus Space is partnering with Lonestar Data Holdings to design, build and provide on-orbit support for six lunar data storage spacecraft. Slingshot Aerospace has been selected by AFWERX to support its Rapid Analysis of Photometric Tracks for space Object identification and behavior Recognition program (RAPTOR), and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Selected Reading Thales Alenia Space wins €51 million contract to extend EGNOS service life AFWERX Selects Slingshot Aerospace to Track and Identify Nefarious In-Space Activities Sidus Space Signs Extended and Amended Preliminary $120M Agreement with Lonestar for Lunar Data Storage Spacecraft China launches test spacecraft for satellite internet - CGTN CesiumAstro to Deliver Space Payloads and Ground Systems for Taiwan's First National Communications Satellite Constellation Starliner's flight to the space station was far wilder than most of us thought - Ars Technica UK firm replaces Russia in search for life on Mars Satellite operator opens new HQ in heart of Cornwall's space sector - South West Redwire Appoints Mike Gold as President of Civil and International Space Business to Lead Global Expansion NASA's SPHEREx Takes First Images, Preps to Study Millions of Galaxies Citizen Scientists Use NASA Open Science Data to Research Life in Space T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Japan's SKY Perfect JSAT confirms that it has contracted Planet Labs to build their low Earth orbit constellation. The US Air Force's AFWERX has selected a proposal from Momentus to perform an in-space demonstration flight of multispectral sensors for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO). SpaceX launches Maxar's fifth and sixth WorldView Legion satellites, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Dr. David Smith, the CEO at Mojave Air and Space Port. You can find out more about Mojave Air and Space Port on LinkedIn, and on their website. Selected Reading SKY Perfect JSAT and Planet Labs PBCPartner to Build a $230M Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Constellation Momentus Selected by U.S. Air Force for Space Demonstration of Rendezvous Using Low-Cost Multi-Spectral Sensor Suite- Business Wire Maxar Successfully Launches Fifth and Sixth WorldView Legion Satellites- Business Wire ESA and Finland pave the way towards a supersite for Earth observation CNES to Develop Reusable Upper Stage for Heavy-Lift Rocket - European SpaceflightRocket Lab Signs Multi-Launch Contract with iQPS for Four Electron Missions Five Eyes Launch Guidance to Improve Edge Device Security - Infosecurity Magazine  Space Foundation Names Emily Calandrelli Recipient of 2025 Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award True Anomaly Appoints Frank Calvelli, Pentagon's First-Ever Dedicated Service Acquisition Executive in Charge of Military Space Programs, to its Board of Directors Grand Canyons Of The Moon T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DoD has $2.5B for Small Business Innovators ready to change the world.Join GovCon Chamber president Neil McDonnell in a fireside chat with Gina Sims, Director of SBIR / STTR Program Office for the US Department of Defense. ✅ In this live interview, GovCon Chamber president Neil McDonnell and Gina Sims discuss:What kind of 'innovation' is DoD is looking for from Small BusinessesHow Small Businesses apply to get access to $2.5B in DoD #innovation fundingDoD's non-dilutive funds for traditional government contractors and those not yet supporting federal agenciesWhy #SBIR dollars should be part of government contractor total growth strategy Difference between successful and unsuccessful applicants ✅ Join us on LinkedIn to build your network and engaging other in the largest Government Contracting community online. https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/government-contracting-success-6895009566325907456/

Today's Story: Autonomous Aviation

Today's Story: Innovative Fellowship Program

Original air date: August 22, 2023 Next in Foreign Policy: Zoe and Natalya are joined this week by Joey Arora, partner at the Outpost, where he supports companies in securing government contracts in defense, and a former co-founder of AFWERX. They talk about Joey's path from the Air Force to entrepreneurship, trends in defense tech investing, and what every founder should know before trying to secure a government contract. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Original air date: August 22, 2023 Next in Foreign Policy: Zoe and Natalya are joined this week by Joey Arora, partner at the Outpost, where he supports companies in securing government contracts in defense, and a former co-founder of AFWERX. They talk about Joey's path from the Air Force to entrepreneurship, trends in defense tech investing, and what every founder should know before trying to secure a government contract. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Bonnie sits down with Brian Morrison, retired Chief Master Sergeant of the United States Air Force Reserve, for a candid conversation on innovation in the DoD. Brian dives into his unique (and some might say “weird”) journey from active duty to innovation leader and the keys behind translating ideas into operational success on the battlefield. He shares his insights on pushing for excellence, navigating the complex acquisition process, and becoming a true defense innovator. Tune in for a raw and honest conversation on the highs and lows of bringing innovative solutions to life. TIMESTAMPS: (0:57) Brian's unique journey from active duty to innovation leader (4:32) The stark difference between pre and post AFWERX innovation (13:04) How to push past the theatrics of innovation in the DoD (20:21) Practical strategies for deploying ideas to the field (26:12) The best advice for aspiring defense innovators (30:52) What does true innovation look like in defense acquisition? LINKS: Follow Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-morrison-ab5595109/ Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

In this Better Satellite World podcast series, we ask the question: “What would you do if you had the power to make the world a better place during your career?” Joining SSPI's Lou Zacharilla to answer that question in the third episode are 2 members of the “20 Under 35” cohort of 2023: Srikanth Kodeboyina, Founder and CEO of Blue Eye Soft Corp dba Blue Space and Klaus Okkelberg, Electrical Design & Analysis Engineer at Boeing. Srikanth Kodeboyina is the Founder and CEO of Blue Eye Soft Corp, currently in the process of becoming Blue Space. He moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue his education and earned his Master's degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering from the University of Dayton. Within six years of completing his degree, he was working for Fortune 100 companies and managing projects across 14 states with budgets up to $32 million. Srikanth moved on to be commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, which led to him becoming a U.S. citizen. With citizenship came the opportunity to pursue his true dream, starting his own enterprise in the form of Blue Eye Soft (BES). The company initially offered IT consulting and management services, but it quickly expanded to include BlueDoc AI, Blue Space and Blue Space International, creating a specialty in the application of artificial intelligence models to analyze vast amounts of data, text and imagery. BES has established offices in South Carolina and New Mexico and intends to establish a presence in an international business hub in India next. The company has achieved the highest security clearances and been awarded contracts from agencies such as NASA and AFWERX, a technology directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Since founding BES, Srikanth has been chosen by more than 20 organizations to participate in incubator/accelerator programs for top entrepreneurs. He was a member of the first cohort of the New Mexico Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program (LEEP) at Los Alamos National Laboratory and was also chosen to be part of MIT's Engine program that helps the next generation of “Tough Tech” leaders navigate the commercialization process. Klaus Okkelberg is an Electrical Design & Analysis Engineer at Boeing. In his current position, he works at Boeing Phantom Works Space on moving ground-based signal processing algorithms to space, reducing turnaround time, which is crucial for enabling autonomous operations. Klaus also works with artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), specifically deep neural networks (DNNs), for image-based inspection and pose estimation – the detection of the position and orientation – of unknown satellites. Supervised AI/ML greatly reduces the need for feature engineering, meaning fewer engineers and revisions are needed per project. Using DNN algorithms has sped up development of new image processing functions and reduces the cost of developing and deploying new space-based imaging sensors, which has led to many new business opportunities for Boeing with national space government customers. Klaus has personally developed several key innovations in AI/ML, including data augmentations, training regularizations and high-dimensional space embeddings.  These developments greatly reduce generalization error and enable the use of real satellite imagery from different sources without additional pre- or post-processing. Klaus is a graduate of Penn State Schreyer Honors College with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and of the University of New Orleans with a Master's degree in the same field. At Penn State, his thesis on nonlinear control of marginal oscillators contributed to the more precise detection of explosive materials, providing immense benefit to potential customers such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Klaus interned at Xilinx in their signal integrity division.

General Pringle discusses her experiences as a cadet, including unique firsts. and she highlights the challenges she faced in her career and the lessons she learned. ----more---- SUMMARY Retired Major General Heather Pringle '91 shares her journey from the Air Force Academy to commanding the Air Force Research Laboratory. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork and being the best wingman. General Pringle discusses her experiences as a cadet, including unique firsts. She highlights the challenges she faced in her career and the lessons she learned. General Pringle also provides advice for other leaders, emphasizing the value of honesty and feedback. She encourages listeners to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world.   OUR QUOTE PICKS "The mission gets done 100 times better if the whole team is working in concert it the success or the failure of the mission isn't on one person's shoulders. It never is on one person's shoulders." "Everyone has a story. And so if someone's a supervisor out there, I would say job number one is to listen and know your team, listen to their stories." "I would just say, don't think about me, you know, just go for it. And if you need help, call me. So that's it, that I just said, go for it. There's nothing should be stopping you."   SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN  |  TWITTER  |  EMAIL   CHAPTERS 00:00:  Introduction and Teamwork 01:06:  General Pringle's Journey 03:22:  Cadet Life and Experiences 04:22:  Unique Firsts and Exchanges 05:41:  Impressions of Today's Cadets 06:08:  Indoctrination Day and Early Memories 07:30:  Involvement in Clubs and Groups 08:19:  Challenges and Lessons Learned 09:39:  Transition to Air Force Research Laboratory 12:32:  Commanding Air Force Research Laboratory 14:46:  Transition to Civilian Sector and Nonprofit Work 19:05:  Advice for Supervisors and Taking Care of Your Team 20:30:  Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Failure 23:49:  Lessons from Mentors and Leaders 24:46:  Being the Best Wingman and Team Player 25:12:  Commanding Air Force Research Laboratory 27:33:  Transition to Civilian Sector and Nonprofit Work 30:25:  Lessons Learned and Being True to Yourself 34:36:  Final Thoughts and Encouragement   TAKEAWAYS FOR LEADERS AND ASPIRING LEADERS - The importance of teamwork and being a good wingman in achieving mission success. No one person carries the burden alone. - As a leader, it's important to listen to your team's stories to better understand and support them. Everyone comes from a unique background. - Facing challenges and setbacks are an opportunity to learn and grow. Don't get discouraged by failures or non-selections - keep pursuing new opportunities. - It's important to be honest with yourself and others for personal and professional development. Be open to feedback to improve. - Focus on serving others through your work and giving back to your community through service and leadership. - Believe in yourself and pursue your dreams and passions. With perseverance, you are capable of more than you realize.  - The success or failure of a mission is not on one person's shoulders; it requires a whole team working together.  - Embrace challenges and failures as opportunities for growth and learning.  - Be true to yourself and embrace your unique story and background.  - Take care of your team and listen to their stories; everyone has a unique perspective and contribution to make.  - Don't be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback to improve as a leader.   BIO Major General (Ret.) Heather Pringle '91 Gen. Pringle retired as Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command, Dayton, Ohio, and Technology Executive Officer, supporting both the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. She led a $2.5 billion science, technology and innovation enterprise in accelerating the discovery and development of solutions for Airmen and Guardians. She was responsible for formulating a comprehensive technology portfolio that anticipates future warfighter needs, while promoting risk-taking and problem solving across her 6,000-member government workforce. She accelerated the delivery of cross-domain solutions through partnerships with industry, academia, and international allies, and executed an additional $2.3 billion in externally funded research and development. Through the laboratory's technology and functional directorates, AFWERX and the 711th Human Performance Wing, her team produced a deep technical and medical bench, pushed the boundaries of modern technology and improved the science for tomorrow. Prior to her last assignment, Maj. Gen. Pringle served as the Director of Strategic Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. - Copy and image credit:  www.af.mil     ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!          FULL TRANSCRIPT   SPEAKERS Our Host is Naviere Walkewicz '99 | Our Guest is Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Heather Pringle '91   Major Gen. (Ret.) Heather Pringle '91  00:09 The mission gets done 100 times better if the whole team is working in concert. The success or the failure of the mission isn't on one person's shoulders. It never is on one person's shoulders. Just like being a cadet isn't just on the cadet's shoulders. There's a whole team of folks out there who, if we are the best wingman that we can be, then the mission will succeed.   Naviere Walkewicz  01:00 My guest today is retired Major General Heather Pringle, a 1991 graduate of the Air Force Academy. General Pringle's journey from in-processing day to her current role in the nonprofit sector spans 32 years. Along the way, she served in education, warfighter support, research, innovation and global leadership roles culminating in the command of the Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Materiel Command. There is a unique first from her days as a fourth degree that stands out. And it makes me wonder how that affected the trajectory of your Air Force career. We'll talk about that with the general and much more. General Pringle, thank you for being here today.   Gen. Heather Pringle  01:36 Thanks for having me, Naviere. And please, call me Heather.   Naviere Walkewicz  01:39 So Heather, let's kind of go back a little bit, you know, to some early days. Back to the beginning. Let's talk about what you were like as a kid where you grew up, about your family?   Gen. Heather Pringle  01:50 Well, I grew up in a small town in Idaho. And I guess before we really dig in, I do want to say, thanks so much for having me here. It's yes, it's an honor to be able to talk to your audience and share some stories. And if there's any way I can be of help, that's what I'm all about.   Naviere Walkewicz  We love that. Thank you.   Gen. Heather Pringle  So, growing up in small town in Idaho, it's well known for the place where Evil Knievel jumped the Snake River Canyon, but he did not land on the other side, or the part of the canyon where I grew up. But the excitement surrounding it really enthralled me. And you asked what I was like growing up, and I love to challenge. I'd love to learn new things. And maybe that was a little difficult on my parents. But boy, they did a such a great job of instilling values in me and always doing my best and working hard and trying to make a difference for others.   Naviere Walkewicz  You grew up, you moved to Idaho.   Gen. Heather Pringle  I'm the oldest of three and my sister served in the Air Force as a nurse and my younger brother, also known as “Zoom”, also served in the Air Force as well. He was a pilot, and yes, so he was a pilot. There you go.   Naviere Walkewicz  03:11 That's awesome. And another long blue line graduate of the Air Force Academy.   Gen. Heather Pringle  03:15 Absolutely. He was class of 1996.   Naviere Walkewicz  03:18 Is that something? Did you know you wanted to go to the academy? How did that come about?   Gen. Heather Pringle  03:22 My aunt and uncle live on a ranch in Wyoming. And that's where I spent my summers. So that part about hard work and doing chores and you know, dawn to dusk type stuff. They taught me a lot about working to make a contribution. And my aunt was a high school teacher. And as part of her curriculum, she went on a trip to Annapolis. And she came back and she said if she had her life to do over again, she would go to a service academy. That was the first I'd ever heard of a service academy. I'm so grateful to my aunt and uncle. And I did my own research and found out about the Air Force Academy in Colorado. And it had an exchange with France…   Naviere Walkewicz  Okay.   Gen. Heather Pringle  …which was really fun. That intrigued me as well. So, I just worked hard and did my best and I got lucky.   Naviere Walkewicz  So did you get to go on an exchange?   Gen. Heather Pringle  While I was a cadet?   Naviere Walkewicz  Wow.   Gen. Heather Pringle  Yes, I did. And I used to joke that it was my favorite semester at the Academy. But there were a lot of great semesters out the Academy, but France was a unique one that is so unique. Yeah, we do. My brother and I have a unique distinction that we're the only brother sister at least couple years ago that was true. The only brothers sister combo that went to the French exchange. Naviere Walkewicz  Oh my goodness. That's cool.   Gen. Heather Pringle  It is kind of cool. But I'm sure today's cadets have already surpassed that milestone and many more.   Naviere Walkewicz  05:02 The level of talent coming in and just how smart they are. I don't know that I would have made it in today's…, for sure where I was, you know, back, you know, in '95.   Gen. Heather Pringle  05:13 I completely agree. It's mind blowing. And I'm just so impressed by the cadet population and their talent and their selfless drive. It's amazing. And I'm very honored. They make me look better than I am. And they're, just fantastic. And the future is really bright. And we're in great hands.   Naviere Walkewicz  05:39 I think that's true. They make they make us look good, because really they represent the long blue line from you know, from years before and as we move forward. So, talk about that a little bit more the cadet life. I know you graduated from five were you always in Vandy? What was Cadet life like for you?   Gen. Heather Pringle  05:55 So Cadet life was, oh, I don't even know how to describe it. But let's see, I started we're…   Naviere Walkewicz  06:03 You're not military at all, like no exposure. So that was it. You literally showed up? Let's talk about just ID (induction day) what was that? Like? Let's start there, indoctrination day.   Gen. Heather Pringle  06:10 Okay, I have a couple of memories. So, the first one is I was on the plane, and my parents shipped me from Idaho to Colorado Springs. And I'm sitting next to somebody on the plane who has this little gold book in front of him. And I'm looking and I said, “Well, hi. I'm Heather.” And it turns out the individual was going to the Academy and had this book. He said, “Well, we have to memorize quotes.” And so that was the first part and then the bus ride from the airport to at the time, that was the Bring Me Men” ramp. It was dreary, it was raining. It was a rare rainy day here in Colorado. And so, you know, the ambiance started to sink in. And the weight of what I was about to enter started hitting me and I started getting worried. And could I cut it? Was I good enough? And all I could do was try. And the other funny memory that I have new here is they take you around on indoctrination day and you get measured for boots, you get measured for uniforms, etc. And they cut your hair.   Naviere Walkewicz  07:27 Yes. I remember that vividly.   Gen. Heather Pringle  07:28 Yes, and I had my hair cut before I went because I was going to be as prepared as I could. And immediately after getting my hair cut, they hand you the little placard to hold it under your chin and they were going to take your military identification photo. And I had the biggest grin because I was just proud and happy to be a part of the cadet corps and loving life. And then immediately after that, an upperclassman came around and definitely trained the smile right out of me. It was the last one for a little bit.   Naviere Walkewicz  08:02 Oh my goodness. So that was definitely a memory for sure. Let's talk a little bit more about while you're at the Academy. I know you, going before the Academy, you dabbled in different things and challenges. What were some of the experiences that you got involved with, or maybe clubs or groups that you can get involved as well while you were at the Academy?   Gen. Heather Pringle  08:19 Oh, that was, that was so fun. And the clubs really helped build that feeling of connection and camaraderie and family in addition to your squadron, right? I was a walk-on the track team. I was a hurdler.   Naviere Walkewicz  Wow.   Gen. Heather Pringle  Not great. I'm really, really not great. I was definitely the walk-on. But there's something for everyone. And that's, that's the goodness of it. And it just was really great. And I'm still friends with some of my track colleagues. And I'm really lucky to make some great friends during that time. I thought I'd mentioned as well, it wasn't all roses, as you can imagine. And in high school, I really liked physics. And I thought, you know, maybe I'll do physics. And I did not do well on the test that I had. So, I pretty quickly dropped physics as a major. And that's a tiny little regret that I have. Human Factors, which is no regret whatsoever. I loved it. And I loved the opportunity to combine technology and the human side of it. And it's it really worked out very, very well. At the time though I was a little disappointed that I didn't quite cut it but that's one of the thoughts that I had might be of interest is don't give up on your dreams when you're going through the Academy. And I'll say that even when one door closes a window opens and you're right, Human Factors, was the best thing ever. I loved it, I pursued it as a scientist and met many great people. And I leave the physics to the really, really talented people, which is there are so many out there.   Naviere Walkewicz  10:14 Well, that really speaks volumes, because so many listeners I think are at, you know, different points when you come to a crossroad. And you kind of wonder which way do I go. So, I think that's a really great story that you shared there. Because sometimes the path that you're not even seeing is the one that you should be going on. And that's kind of how you, you approached it. So, at the Academy, were there any particular leaders that really spoke to you and shaped you in a way that you knew was going to kind of make a difference in your career after the academy?   Gen. Heather Pringle  10:43 You look to so many around you. I leaned on so many people from my roommates along the way to faculty. I was really drawn to the academic side. And I had a lot of faculty that I looked up to, and they encouraged me. My academic advisor, for example, made a friendly bet with me once that I should get a particular grade point average. And, you know me, I love a challenge. So, I didn't just meet the challenge, but you know, that's a little, that's my personality. Unfortunately, yes, well, it can get in the way sometimes, too, but, um, you know, and then my AOCs. I still have my Cadet coin from 5th Squadron from 1991. I just can't believe how many people are dedicated to helping cadets succeed across the weighing across the base. I mean, we can't forget all those folks that are keeping the dorms warm, and ensuring that, you know, all the grounds are kept up to speed. And I, if I could say thank you to all of them for the lack of thank you's that I said at the time, I would love to do so now.   Naviere Walkewicz  12:14 So, I did want to touch on this unique first that your class experienced. So, you know, your class was amongst the first cadets to receive desktop computers. Let's talk a little bit about that. Because, you know, I can think a lot of firsts that cadets have, but this was game changer for the Academy. How did that kind of, what did that look like for you, and did it, you know, shape anything for what you wanted to do in the future?   Gen. Heather Pringle  12:38 The freshmen had computers and the sophomores, but not the juniors and not the seniors. Interesting, very fascinating tool differential. So, I do remember getting the computer during basic training and trying to figure out how to stick the floppy in to boot up the computer and use it right. And we also had an intranet at the time. And I would say that our class got very, very good at coordinating spirit missions using our computers, and the juniors and seniors were none the wiser. And so, we would say, you know, we had to be pretty good about doing that. But we could never pull the wool over the eyes of our sophomores and they were always right there to get us. But I even remember a couple of upperclassmen requesting services, for example, in terms of entering papers into the computer so that they would have a document because I had it and they didn't, rather than handwriting or typing right on a typewriter.   Naviere Walkewicz  13:47 So, just share, do you have a particular spirit mission that still stands out into your mind that you remember?   Gen. Heather Pringle  13:54 Oh, I don't even know if I should get into those.   Naviere Walkewicz  13:58 Fair enough? I think we all have those. Those spirit missions are li those just stay with us.   Gen. Heather Pringle  14:03 Yeah. Let's just say, you know, I really bonded with my classmates. Yeah. And I'm really grateful for having those friends over the years as well. So yeah, there. We, I'm sure, we weren't the best, or the worst. But yeah, we made our mark.   Naviere Walkewicz  14:22 I think of all, every class, I think, feels like they either had the toughest or they had the best spirit mission.   Gen. Heather Pringle  14:29 So, you know, yeah, we're probably right in the middle, right in the middle.   Naviere Walkewicz  14:33 Well, maybe we can shift a little bit to your career. But before we do, for those listeners that are thinking about the Air Force Academy or kind of, you know, lessons that you learn, if you can go back and talk to Cadet Heather, you know, what would you say to her?   Gen. Heather Pringle  14:46 Oh, I would say just keep going for it and enjoy it because it's over too quickly. And I think I didn't really realize how many people were there to help me and I don't think I asked for help enough when I needed it. So, I would say that there are people that want you to succeed. And they're there to help cadets succeed. So that would be my message.   Naviere Walkewicz  15:16 Let's talk about this 32 years of amazing leadership in the in the Air Force, and I know that you're very modest.   Gen. Heather Pringle  15:24 (It) spans two centuries. So, I think it's not all that remarkable. And I have to say, you know, even given that the long blue line, there are so many leaders to look up to, like Heather Wilson, David Ogilvy and Mark Welsh, so many great leaders to look up to. It's very humbling just to be a part of it, and to help someone else make it better and follow in their great footsteps.   Naviere Walkewicz  15:55 Yes, well, I think that's part of what makes us so special is because I think every, you know, person that shares their experiences when it comes to their, like leadership lessons, or just some of the trials, tribulations, successes, someone that's listening on the other end can pick something from that and say, like, that really, that really spoke to me. So, you know, we'll talk about your career. Maybe you can just share just off the bat, you know, you're a mom?   Gen. Heather Pringle  16:19 I am a wife…   Naviere Walkewicz  16:20 You are also you know, you did 32 years and leadership positions. What's that like, juggling all of that? How did you do that?   Gen. Heather Pringle  16:27 I don't know that I did it very well. You know, you just do the best you can. But first is having a great husband who supported me along the way and made sure that the kids were fed. And yeah, I'll say they had dirt on their faces, or, you know, my daughter dressed in mismatched, you know, whatever. But it was just, it was just a great life. And I'm really grateful that he was helping me through the ups and the downs. It's hard to be a mom and to be active duty, and it gets harder over time. It's especially hard when they're little juggling. And you kind of feel like, wow, I'm failing at being a mom, I'm failing at being an officer, and how do you manage both? And I would just say, give yourself a break, and be the best you that you can be. I once tried to be something or meet a standard that I thought was the right thing to do. But once I decided, you know what, I'm Heather, I'm from Idaho, and not many of us are, and I'm a mom, and I just kind of owned that as part of my leadership. I was happier. And I don't know if I did better, but I was able to go further because of it. And I was much more comfortable in my skin. And, you know, you take the highs and the lows, and you just keep going.   Naviere Walkewicz  18:10 No, that's wonderful. I think there's young officers that feel that pressure at both moms and dads. And so I think that's, it's nice to hear those who have done so well to admit, you know, hey, it's tough at times, and sometimes you gotta lean on your network, and your network can be a lot of different things. So thank you for sharing that.   Gen. Heather Pringle  18:28 Yeah, well, you, you might end up going to work once in a while was spit-up on your shoulder, or, you know, kind of being a little, you know, or late to a soccer game. And you don't have to, I guess that's what I'm really saying, is you don't have to be perfect. Across the board. Just be you.   Naviere Walkewicz  18:49 I think that's a great nugget for those that are listening that maybe are feeling some of those pressures. What advice might you give to supervisors that maybe have some, some members in their, on their teams that you might say, maybe consider giving grace? Or what does that look like to you that you might share?   Gen. Heather Pringle  19:06 Well, this is something that I learned from General Mark Walsh, and he said, everyone has a story. And so, if someone's a supervisor out there, I would say job number one is to listen and know your team, listen to their stories. And every individual in the military is serving and comes from all these unique, amazing backgrounds. And they've conquered their own challenges, whether it's past or present. And so, when supervisors understand that, then they can better meet the individual in the middle. Of course, the mission has to get done and you want it to be done. Well, national security is an imperative and we're depending on our uniformed members, so I'm not worried about our military letting us down. I just want to make sure that we're living up to what our military needs. And so, listen, learn, and see if we can meet in the middle.   Naviere Walkewicz  20:12 I mean, it goes back to taking care of your people. And then I think that you just said, you couldn't have said that any better.   Naviere Walkewicz  20:20 Maybe you can share some of the challenges that you might have experienced. You talked about, you know, being a mom and being a leader. Talk about just in leadership in general. What was maybe one of the most challenging things you've experienced? And how did you overcome that?   Gen. Heather Pringle  20:34 I had a variety of challenges. Throughout my career, I'll say I didn't have necessarily a straight line in the way that I went. And I think that's great. And I didn't know if I was, you know, I applied to a lot of different opportunities, you know, there's so many, and I, you know, I didn't get half of them or more. I wanted to be a Squadron Commander down at Air Education and Training Command down at Lackland. And I didn't get selected. That's okay. It like, it's, I kept going and doing other things, and other doors opened, and so you just, you just don't give up. That would have been an amazing opportunity. And what they do down at Lackland is phenomenal. But, you know, that's just one example of, you know, something I tried and didn't pan out. But what do you do, you just keep going and try something new, or work on those skills and learn from it. The worst thing I could have done, or the worst thing anyone could do, is to let that you know, non-selection define them as an individual or feel like, you know, all hope for the future is lost. That's not, couldn't be, couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, all learning comes from failure. And that's something we need to embrace, to improve, to adapt to change, and to keep getting better, right? And to grow as leaders to grow as a leader. So, I love a challenge. So, I took those failures as a challenge. All right, what am I going to learn what I'm going to do next?   Naviere Walkewicz  22:23 And it probably even helped in your, you've probably mentored others, you know, that are going through similar challenges that actually like let's look at it this from a different vantage point. And because you kind of went through those different experiences, you're able to be even more impactful in their lives.   Gen. Heather Pringle  22:35 It is important to be honest and give feedback that helps individuals grow. And so, another thought maybe for supervisors is we don't do them any favors if we don't tell them honestly, where they're strong, but where they need to work. And so, we all want to improve, and we all want to be the best that we can at whatever job that we've been given. So, I welcome that kind of feedback. And I'm currently learning about what I need to do. And so, I've got a lot to learn. So, I'm all ears every day all day long.   Naviere Walkewicz  23:14 I think there's a, I don't know that it's not a direct quote, it's certainly not in contrails. But there's something that talks about I think, truly being kind is being honest, you know, being truthful with people. And I think that's some of the best ways we can be kind is by just being honest and truthful with others. So sure. Now, that's wonderful. So you had mentioned that some of the best things that, you know, advice you can give to someone is ways that they can improve. Was there any particular mentor leader that just gave you something that really stuck with you, aside from general wells that maybe you've taken with you in your career as a growth opportunity?   Gen. Heather Pringle  23:45 A lot, I honestly, I really have so many people that I'm grateful for leaving a mark on me. You know, I learned or watched from afar, General Laurie Robinson and she would always say, “Be the best airman you can be, but also be the best wingman that you can be.” And I think that is another area where not only trying to improve yourself but uplift your teammates. And the mission gets done 100 times better if the whole team is working in concert. And the failure, the success or the failure of the mission isn't on one person's shoulders. It never is on one person's shoulders. There's a whole team of folks out there who if we are the best wingman that we can be, then the mission will succeed.   Naviere Walkewicz  24:44 Right, now teams are where it's at. And you had the opportunity to lead an incredible team at AFRL. And what's so, I think, so cool about that is you were at a time when you were supporting both Air and Space Force. Let's talk a little bit about that and talk about what was it like when you found out you're going to be commanding, you know, Air Force Research Laboratory? How did that feel and maybe just kind of share some of those moments with us.   Gen. Heather Pringle  25:08 Well the Air Force Research Lab, which you know, don't get confused about Air Force in the name, because it's there for the Space Force too, and provides a ton of amazing technologies for guardians. That was the honor of a lifetime, a huge privilege, because that team is eye-wateringly smart, and brilliant, and innovative. And they are, every day focused on solving problems for warfighters. What can be a higher calling than that? I, I just enjoyed getting to know them, helping them succeed. And they're doing some amazing things for, you know, they shoot lasers, they build robots, they blow things up. They code like crazy, right? It's just they love it, they love it. And they're great at it. They're the best in the world. And I'm forever grateful to have had that opportunity. And I know they continue that mission, even today. That's the other beauty of the military. So even when you have an opportunity, you're always moving, right. And now I know that the research lab is in wonderful, amazing, great hands of a test pilot, and doing even better things. And so it keeps getting better and better. Just like those cadets were better than we were back in the day. AFRL is better today than it ever was. And it's going in the right direction. And I would encourage anybody who's listening to go look up the research lab, because it's pretty inspiring, and they don't get the credit they deserve. That's for sure.   Naviere Walkewicz  27:00 Well, that is good for people. I think people always want to know, like, how do we get to some of these technologies that are doing all of these things and supporting our guardians, our Air Force, or you know, what does that look like? And I think that's cool that you said, “Hey, go check it out.” And part of that is maybe that journey will take them there as well.   Gen. Heather Pringle  27:15 Yeah. So that'd be great.   Naviere Walkewicz  27:17 How did you find out, so talk about just I think that's such a wonderful opportunity to like you said, you know, chance of a lifetime. How did you find out when you were selected for that?   Gen. Heather Pringle  27:26 Oh, I don't even remember. It was probably a blur. I was pretty incredulous though. I'll say this when I graduated in 1991. So last century, I never would have dreamed that I would have had such an opportunity or such a wonderful, yeah, opportunity to be a part of a team like that. So, as I said, my trajectory or my path may have been weaving, and I got so lucky to be there. And now they're doing great things. I just remember trying to relish every moment and trying to relate to the team that what they did mattered. And they're in it for the long haul. So, when they're solving problems, it's not a two-day problem. It's a problem for 10 years from now. So, it can be a little discouraging, but that's where you kind of have to have that you're in it for the long game. So, I don't really remember it was kind of a blur.   Naviere Walkewicz  28:33 Just the whole experience was itself just amazing. Yeah.   Gen. Heather Pringle  28:37 And it was also COVID. So that was a bit of a tricky wicket to navigate and figure out, well, how are you going to lead a distributed, diverse organization like that?   Naviere Walkewicz  28:57 Yeah, that's cool. That is, was there a particular capability that under your leadership, and with the team with you that you could, you know, just share about that you're proud of that kind of was accomplished during your tenure?   Gen. Heather Pringle  29:08 Well, they did it all. So, all the credit goes to the 10,000 professionals who do all that problem solving. They were focused on everything from, oh, the Battle Network, JADC to, to all this space technologies which are so exciting, and also the collaborative combat aircraft was a big one. And the other thing, I'll mention it here, too, even in that organization, it was important to think about who else is contributing to that mission. So, all of those technologies were collaborative efforts with acquirers and Air Force Materiel Command and the program offices with the warfighters, who were helping us understand what is needed on the battlefield and everyone in between. So, none of that work gets done without the whole team contributing.   Naviere Walkewicz  30:16 Was there any moments that you remember that you were surprised? Were there any particular people that just really kind of stood out to you that you were just so incredibly happy that you were able to be a part of their team? While you're there?   Gen. Heather Pringle  30:29 I used to say that if I, if I'm not surprised every single day, then the Air Force Research Lab isn't doing its job. Over the course of a couple years, there were plenty of surprises and lots of opportunities to learn, right? Say that in quotes. So, you were asking before the show, what are unicorns? Yeah, and I may have overused the phrase, but I always thought of the team at the research lab as unicorns because each one was unique. We had opera singers and fiction writers and band players. And, by the way, the world record for pumpkin chucking in a trebuchet is held by an AFRL team. Everyone had a unique story, they came from such amazing backgrounds, and here they were dedicated to serving the nation through technology.   Naviere Walkewicz  31:30 So that is how you catch unicorns? Well, let's talk a little bit about your transition from the military side to the civilian sector and nonprofit work. What does that been like for you?   Gen. Heather Pringle  31:42 Well, it was, it was hard to say goodbye to the team. And but, you know, like all things, you know, life goes on, and they're doing amazing, which is, I'm so proud of them, and so happy for them. And that's what you love to see. And that's truly the beauty of the military. And coming to being a retired person I love being called Heather. So that's probably, and mom, actually, I love mom first. And I get that a lot more than, you know, when I was full time military. And I have found that a lot of the things that you learned those gifts that you pick up through your military career are valued by the civilian sector. So having a mission focus, thinking about, you know, what is it you're trying to accomplish, and then focusing all your efforts on that. And you can't forget, it all starts with the team and who they are and the leadership that permeates everything. So, no mission gets accomplished, without the team there behind it. So, I've spent time getting to know this new team, that I'm a part of learning their unique contributions and understanding what the mission is. And then again, relying on that whole external teamwork, that external group of partners and stakeholders who also want success for that mission, and you find it's not lonely, you're not alone in accomplishing that, that so many people want you to succeed. And that's, that's what I want for your listeners. I want them to go conquer the world, make it better, you know, sweep up all that broken glass that me and my troubled classmates made and it's a little change, you know, you I'll say I have more to give and so that spirit of service before self, if that isn't in my blood, I'm, I am really hoping to continue to serve my family, my community, and my team and so I've got more to give and the Academy gave me those foundational skills to give more.   Naviere Walkewicz  34:18 I mean, well, starting with your family to your time as a cadet to your time in the military, and now the civilian, this new journey. What are some of the most important lessons that you've learned? Maybe in leadership and maybe just in you know, being a successful servant?   Gen. Heather Pringle  34:35 Oh, well, you know, and it's not always success. It's going through setbacks, learning more and trying to be more honest and sometimes those learnings are hard, too. And I had to, I had, there were times when I had to think long and hard about okay, what does this really mean? Am I being truly honest with myself and uh, you know, I'm not, I'm far from perfect. But, you know, I guess just, you know, being the best person that you are. Own whatever unique story that you are. Don't try and be something you're not. You know, I'm from Idaho, you're from Nebraska, we can do that. And it makes the solution so much better. And the more we help each other, the more successful our world will be. I guess the one thing I haven't mentioned really is take time to be with your family and know that they're making your service possible. And now I'm giving back to them.   Naviere Walkewicz  35:46 I mean, you've given so many incredible nuggets about yourself, and I think that people can really relate to that are listening. What's something that you really want them to remember about you?   Gen. Heather Pringle  35:57 I would just say, don't think about me, you know, just go for it. And if you need help, call me. So that's it, that I just said, go for it. There's nothing should be stopping you. And you know, every challenge is an opportunity to learn and I bet you are so much better than you even know that you are. So go for it.   Naviere Walkewicz  36:21 I think that was a great boil down nugget there. Well, I do want to just make sure we're there anything that I didn't ask you that you would really love for our listeners to hear?   Gen. Heather Pringle  36:32 No, I just want to say thanks for having me. I hope it's been an enjoy. It's I've enjoyed the conversation. So very much. Yeah. You know, it's it's important to be part of this community and give back and thanks for doing these kinds of podcasts to spread the word and get people excited. Yes, about coming to the academy and serving our Air Force in our space force. There is so much out there to do really is and we need great people and there's a lot of us out there rooting for you.   Naviere Walkewicz  37:11 Thank you very much. Thanks so much and Heather you have a wonderful day.   Gen. Heather Pringle  You as well.     KEYWORDS team, Academy, cadet, great, Air Force, mission, Air Force Academy, work, military, love, leadership, unique, amazing, Idaho, serving, challenge, learn, opportunity, Heather, mother, mom, leader, succeed       The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation

During this episode of the LNO Fireside Chat, we spoke with Dakota Belcher and Joshua Nash, distinguished innovators and driving forces behind the AFWERX programs and PACAF SPARK cells, respectively. Through their perspectives, we explored the transformative impact of Tesseract on their initiatives, shedding light on the ways it has supported and refined their innovative efforts. Throughout our discussion, Dakota and Joshua shared their insights into the challenges they have faced, the milestones they have achieved, and the goals they have set for the future within the innovation ecosystem. Join us as we uncover the behind-the-scenes challenges and aspirations driving the evolution of military innovation, pushing the boundaries!

Mohamed Abdel-Kader, Chief Innovation Officer at USAID and Alexis Bonnell, Former Chief Innovation Officer at USAID, discussed the impact of AI and other machine learning tools. They explored the balance between the risks and rewards associated with these tools, reaching a consensus that AI can revolutionize USAID's impact when appropriately developed and utilized. The discussion emphasized the importance of developing AI to benefit all countries where USAID is active, not just English-speaking nations. Recognizing the rapid advancement of machine learning, the speakers stressed the need for precision and thoughtfulness in posing questions to AI, given its evolving nature. They also addressed issues of localization, pointing out the challenges when native languages are overlooked or when communities lack access to computers. Mike highlighted upcoming events for those interested in collaborating with USAID. On February 15th, SID-US will host its annual career fair, followed by the annual conference on April 26th in Washington, DC. He expressed his belief that this conference is a must-attend event of the year. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:53] Mike Shanley introduces today's guests and shares their backgrounds. [02:53] Mohamed describes his role at USAID as Chief Innovation Officer and talks about how technology is advancing with the advent of machine learning tools. [6:30] Mohamed touches on some of the early-use cases that he's seen of AI applications or other technologies. [12:47] Mohamed reflects on the potential risks AI presents and whether the good outweighs the bad.  [17:04] Alexis comments that we are navigating at a different rate of change in technology; therefore, we need to be intentional about how we use AI, and she provides an example of an experiment she led.  [26:08] Mohamed discusses the ethical development of AI, strengthening policies and systems that govern AI and accessing computing power in parts of the world where it's cost-prohibitive.  [31:38] Alexis discusses how the cultures and identities of different countries impact how you work with them. She describes a sector who asked themselves if they have been as innovative as they think they have been and how AI revealed a surprising result to their question. [38:42] Mohamad discusses the significance of localization in AI, emphasizing the interconnected nature of our world and the necessity of incorporating it into our AI tools. He notes that numerous countries are enthusiastic about AI, viewing it as a tool to propel their advancement. [46:00] Alexis says that there's a gold mine for all of the entities to bring unique applications to USAID, suggesting you can recycle or reuse proposals.  [52:34] The panelists leave advice to the listeners.  KEY TAKEAWAYS: Led by Mohamed Abdel-Kader, USAID's Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub, formerly known as the Global Development Lab, team is behind cutting edge tech development and approaches within the digital space. USAID strives to reach more people through innovative and cost effective approaches from cybersecurity, to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, digital finance, digital inclusion, and digital literacy. AI is an extremely powerful tool that is evolving and changing daily. With this, comes the risk that a lot of people will be left behind. But there's also tremendous opportunity in the AI space. USAID actively works to intentionally shape this technology to be useful for everyone, while exploring the practicalities of how they might achieve this goal.  USAID plays a unique role in fostering the ethical development of AI and other tools through various approaches. Mohamed and his team focus on utilizing the powerful tool of AI responsibly in environments where there are a lot of vulnerable people. USAID takes an ecosystem approach to discern how AI as a tool sits in the broader digital ecosystem within USAID's partner countries and how USAID can support the responsible use of AI and continue to shape that global agenda. They do this by strengthening the underlying policies and systems and civil society environment that shapes how AI is designed, developed, and deployed in partner countries, including the quality and representative data sets that are used to build these particular tools. RESOURCES: Aid Market Podcast Aid Market Podcast YouTube Mike Shanley - LinkedIn Mohamed Abdel-Kader LinkedIn Alexis Bonnell LinkedIn Co-host Society for International Development-US USAID_Digital Twitter USAID Twitter USAID Innovates Twitter BIOGRAPHIES: Mohamed Abdel-Kader serves as USAID's Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of the Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub. In these roles, he oversees various Agency mechanisms to promote the application of innovation, technology, and research for greater aid effectiveness within USAID and the inter-agency, and with our partners in the international development community, private sector, and civil society. Prior to USAID, Mohamed advised companies, leading NGOs and multilateral organizations, foundations and educational institutions, and government agencies in addressing their most pressing challenges. He served in the Obama administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Foreign Language Education in the U.S. Department of Education and later led the Aspen Institute's Stevens Initiative, an international ed-tech program. He has also served several postsecondary institutions in international strategy and major gift fundraising roles. A speaker of fluent Arabic and basic Spanish, Mohamed is a Truman National Security Fellow, an Eisenhower Fellow, and the author of a children's book about stereotypes. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Clemson University, a Master's degree in Higher Education from Vanderbilt University, and an MBA from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. He is also a trustee of the Longview Foundation for International Education & World Affairs.   Alexis Bonnell is the Chief Information Officer and Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. She is responsible for developing and executing the AFRL Information Technology strategy, leading the strategic development of highly advanced next generation technologies and platforms for AFRL. Her focus includes catalyzing the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for air, space, and cyberspace forces via digital capabilities, IT infrastructure and technological innovation across the lab's operations and culture. She was one of the first employees of the Internet Trade Association, contributing to the early development and growth of the digital landscape. She has served in challenging environments, including warzones with the United Nations to support over $1B of critical DOD operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and many other operational theaters. She has contributed to dual-use technology and innovation culture across the DOD Innovation community including: AFWERX, AFRL, Kessel Run, NavalX, Marine Innovation Unit, Army Futures Command, DIU, Army Software Factory, DARPA and more. Prior to her current position, she was the Emerging Technology Evangelist at Google, driving the use of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, cyber security/zero trust, API First, Big Data, Cloud Computing, and others to drive efficiency and innovation within government organizations, including tackling digital transformation in defense, healthcare, education, COVID response, natural disasters, supply chain, system/process modernization, hybrid workforce and more. Bonnell co-founded the Global Development Lab, the premier innovation lab of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), leveraging Global Allied Nation partnerships in Science, Technology, and Innovation, reviewing over 25,000 game changing innovations and technologies, funding 1,200 of them. She served as USAID's Chief Innovation Officer, receiving the first 10/10 for innovation in the Results For America Rankings. She was named in the Fed 100 in 2020. She also assisted with major platform and technology transitions, drove hybrid work adoption, countering malign nation initiatives and global cyber security programming.

Lt. Gray Chynoweth, Deputy Director for Strategy & Engagement at NavalX stopped by the Pittsburgh Technology Council's offices to address a standing room-only crowd as part of its effort to identify relevant solutions from small business, start-ups and academia to address some of the Navy's most pressing challenges and operational needs. Gray stepped up to the One Mic Stand to give us more detail on NavalX and what has him stoked about Pittsburgh. NavalX is similar to other DOD organizations such as AFWERX, SPACEWERX and the Army Applications Lab.  Established in 2019, Naval X engages the small business community through several key programs and initiatives. As one example, the team at Naval X manages the Navy's Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program, which plays a key role in advancing dual-use and other critical technologies. Consisting of nearly $300 million in annual awards, the SBIR program helps to address major challenges facing major Navy commands such as: NAVSEA, NAVAIR and the Marine Corps Systems Command. 

Today's Story: Autonomous Flight Demonstration

Viable electric aircraft have been on the horizon for a while now. But it looks like the first customer might well be the United States Air Force. We'll talk with a pioneer in the field, Kyle Clark, the head of Beta Technologies, whose Alia eVTOL plane just concluded testing with AFWERX and is in line for procurement. Plus headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

Today's Story: Global Strike Command Innovation

This week, Bonnie is joined by Major Victor “SALSA” Lopez, Chief of Autonomy Operations for AFWERX, to discuss how to push past bureaucracy to enable rapid experimentation in the DoD. He shares his insights on leading through innovation, creating a team culture built on psychological safety, speeding up software implementation, and cutting through contracting red tape. Tune in for an in-depth exploration into the world of defense experimentation and ingenuity. TIMESTAMPS: (2:29) Transitioning from piloting to military tech (4:28) Why “SALSA” & where call signs come from (7:38) How to enable airmen to innovate effectively (13:31) Practical ways to facilitate widespread experimentation (15:05) How to balance leadership, growth, and autonomy (20:20) Why DoD fails at advertising (21:59) How to improve lack of incentives for tech utilization (25:56) The “team of teams” approach (30:39) Contracting cheat codes (33:07) Why we need experimentation in warfare LINKS: Follow SALSA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-l-541512a2/ Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/ AFWERX: https://afwerx.com/ Alexis Bonnell episode: https://www.defensemavericks.com/bridging-the-human-tech-divide-with-alexis-bonnell/

NASA is pushing back its schedule for Artemis 2 to September 2025, with the Artemis 3 mission, which will land the first humans on the moon since the 1970s, delayed to September 2026.  NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory lays off 100 contractors as part of a  cost-cutting effort. Astrobotic says there's no chance of soft landing Peregrine on the moon, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Anurita Chandola, a textile artist who has transitioned into a spacewear designer.  You can connect with Anurita on LinkedIn and learn more about her work on her website. Selected Reading More delays for NASA's astronaut moonshots, with crew landing off until 2026 Questions about NASA's Mars Sample Return mission put JPL jobs in jeopardy - Los Angeles Times News & Press | Astrobotic Technology Voyager Space and Airbus Finalize Starlab Space LLC Joint Venture Rocket Lab Makes its Defense Prime Debut with $0.5 Billion Contract to Design and Build Satellite Constellation for Space Development Agency- Business Wire Army Space Vision  Venus Aerospace Partners With Nasa's Marshall Space Flight Center On New Engine Technology Muon Space Selected by AFWERX for SBIR Phase I Contract ESA - Einstein Probe lifts off on a mission to monitor the X-ray sky Arka Shines and Rudra Roars NASA TechLeap Prize: Universal Payload Interface Challenge Space Force taps Microsoft to build cloud-based, simulated space environment- DefenseScoop T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © 2023 N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's Story: AFWERX Fellowship

Welcome back to the Somewhat Frank Podcast! In this episode, Frank Gruber (@FrankGruber), John Guidos (@JohnGuidos), and Jen Consalvo (@Noreaster) explore a range of fascinating topics and events, from innovation summits to the changing landscape of social media, and even some exciting product recommendations. Join us on this journey of discovery as we navigate through these diverse subjects.   We kick off the episode by discussing the Innovation Ecosystem Summit, set to take place on December 13-14. Link to event. We also chat about the upcoming AFWERX virtual event titled “Wargaming & AI'' which is set to take place on December 12th (link to event) and the CTA Foundation Pitch Competition that will take place at the Consumer Technology Association Foundation on January 10th. Link to event.   The Future of Truth in the Age of AI and Social Media In an era where truth can sometimes feel elusive we share our thoughts on the importance of reliable information sources and their concerns about the evolving landscape of truth.   Is social media a brainwashing machine?  We delve into this question in light of recent events on TikTok, where a surprising connection to Osama Bin Laden emerged. Links to articles. We explore how viral moments can be based on historical events and their impact on public perception.   We also consider the changing social media landscape and the declining usage of platforms by millennials, as outlined in this Wired article.   Reading:    Surge in Homeschooling Post-Pandemic Homeschooling rates in the U.S. have seen a significant surge post-pandemic, with certain states experiencing remarkable increases. We discuss the implications for public school enrollment and the demographic shifts, especially the increase in homeschooling among Black families. (Read more)   Sports QuickHits: MLB News and NBA Mid-Season Tourney Sports enthusiasts won't want to miss our quick hits on the latest MLB developments, including the introduction of the Vegas Athletics. (Read more) We also touch upon the possibility of the Chicago White Sox relocating to Nashville and the upcoming NBA Midseason Tournament Finals.   Friendly Shoutouts:  Kiki World Marketplace - We give a warm shoutout to Alex Abelin, co-founder of Kiki Milk, on the launch of the Kiki World Marketplace. This marketplace aligns with Kiki Milk's mission to help individuals navigate illness, allergies, and overall health. (Link to Kiki World Marketplace)   Entertainment Recommendations:  Jen introduces the captivating "Humans Decoded Podcast," which delves into the realms of fairies, elves, hobbits, gnomes, dwarfs, and humans. (Listen here)   Meanwhile, we chat about two engaging entertainment options: the series "Suits" on Netflix and the new Season 5 of "Fargo" on FX and Hulu.   Testing 1, 2, 3 - Product Reviews: We put some products to the test, starting with BioLift, a beverage containing ingredients like Guarana, Ginkgo Biloba, Elderberry, and Carob, aimed at boosting energy and well-being. (Learn more)   John shares his excitement about the Ninja® CREAMi® Deluxe 11-in-1 Ice Cream and Frozen Treat Maker, an innovative kitchen appliance perfect for creating a wide variety of frozen treats. (Check it out)   Final Thought: Tesla's CyberTruck Takes Center Stage We conclude the episode with a fascinating insight into Tesla's CyberTruck, which is finally hitting the streets. We reminisce about the anticipation that began in 2019 and share some incredible videos showcasing the vehicle's durability and strength.   As we wrap up, we wish you all a fantastic Holiday season and encourage you to check out our podcast for more exciting updates and discussions. Thanks for tuning in!   As always, thank you for listening and feel free to reach out and let us know what you think at: somewhatfrank@est.us   Get updates like this in your inbox before they hit the web by subscribing to the newsletter here: https://frankgruber.me/newsletter/   

Today's Story: Electric Aircraft Debut

Today's Story: Sharing Flight-Test Data

Canada's Government announces an investment of over $729 million to support the next generation of Earth observation satellites. Two of the payloads transported to orbit on the October 9th Vega VV23 flight have failed to deploy. Three German space companies have announced a new partnership to launch a joint end-to-end service called EVA for microgravity life science research and in-orbit product development, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest T-Minus is heading to ASCEND in Las Vegas next week so all week we are featuring speakers from the event. Our guest today is Nicolo Boschetti talking about his research on cybersecurity in space. You can connect with Nicolo on LinkedIn and read his paper on space architecture here. Selected Reading RADARSAT+: over $1 billion for the future of satellite Earth observation Two Vega VV23 Payloads Failed to Deploy - European Spaceflight  Three German NewSpace companies launch “EVA”, the world's first end-to-end microgravity service for biotech research and product development- PR  The UK Space Agency is Unlocking Space for Business - GOV.UK Neuraspace and Arcsec partner to detect space debris- Military Aerospace Space station by 2035, manned mission by 2040: PM Modi tells ISRO to aim high- Hindustan Times Danti Secures $1.2 Million Contract from AFWERX to Empower U.S. Space Force with AI-Powered Data Search Capabilities Scientific Systems Awarded SpaceWERX Orbital Prime Contract- PR Request for Information for Defensive Cyber Operations for Space- SAM.gov Hawkeye 360 Closes Additional $10 Million In Series D-1 Funding From Lockheed Martin Ventures And Company Insiders- PR Space industry group turns up volume on satellite vulnerabilities - SpaceNews K2 Space is building a power-rich future for space exploration based on the premise that bigger is better- TechCrunch This Indian Space Tech Startup is Building Google Maps for Space- Analytics India Mag Starting a start-up: From failing General Paper in school to building space rockets- The Straits Times Space Cybersecurity Mission Control Table Top Exercise T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © 2023 N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a hybrid event. Students are encouraged to attend in person: STEW G52(Suite 050B)As the commercial and international space community grows to reach the projected $1T for the global economy, the vast domain of space becomes increasingly congested and contested. In this Seminar the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC) and the National Cybersecurity Center (NCC) team up to share their perspectives and insights on the intersection of cyber and space, how the game is changing, and what effect this will have on government, industry and academia. This talk will discuss the technology trends in the industry, threats to space systems, and make recommendations to students and faculty about how to navigate the landscape of space domain cybersecurity over the next five years. About the speaker: Mr. Scott Sage is the Chief Operating Officer of the National Cybersecurity Center, a national-level nonprofit organization that provides collaborative cybersecurity knowledge and services to the United States. He encourages, engages, and equips others to solve worthwhile hard problems like his most recent assignment to develop a new space cybersecurity market for Peraton Inc. He also recently developed a complicated IR sensor development from a blank sheet of paper to launch and operation in under 24 months, and his prior conception and execution of an Insider Threat and Information Warfare Behavior Based Analytics R&D project that generated 2 patents and increased interest from DoD and Intelligence Community customers. Past accomplishments include: ·      Automated Mission Impact Assessment of Network Disruptions - Patent 8347145 ·      Concept to Low Earth Orbit IR Sensor for Space Development Agency < 2 years ·      Northrop Grumman Sector Cyber and Information Operations Strategy Development ·      Industry-leading technology development for scalability in satellite C2 automation ·      Increased worldwide frequency access for Low Earth Orbit satellite communications ·      House Armed Services Committee praise for highly classified space advocacy plan ·      Conceptualized, researched and constructed unique DoD Space Order of Battle Annex ·      Highly praised Master of Science thesis addressing satellite radiation effects Before devoting his work full time to visionary growth development for Peraton, Scott managed counter- hypersonics development for Northrop Grumman, advanced cyber defense systems development for AT&T, and advanced space operations programs for aerospace companies and the US Navy. Scott has published international export material on cybersecurity issues associated with virtualization and cloud computing and developed a nation-wide R&D network for Northrop Grumman that allowed critical technologies to be brought online for use on high priority captures worth over $8.6B in future revenue. Scott has also been a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Homeland Security Expert since going to work after completing 15 years of US Navy service as a Commander. Scott volunteered as the co-chair of the Space ISAC Information Sharing Working Group and co-chair for the DHS CISA Future of Space Working Group and has volunteered at Penrose hospital and the Colorado Springs Rescue Mission, along with being a leader at his church. Formal degrees include a M.S., Space Systems Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, B.S., Nuclear Engineering & B.A., Journalism & Mass Communication from Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Ms. Erin M. Miller is the Executive Director of the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC). Space ISAC serves as the primary focal point for the global space industry for "all threats and all hazards." Stood up at the direction of the White House in 2019, Erin led the Space ISAC to open its operational Watch Center, alongside its Cyber Malware and Analysis Vulnerability Laboratory in Colorado Springs, CO, USA. Under Erin's leadership, Space ISAC's headquarters facility is already serving several countries to achieve its mission of security and resilience for the global space industry. Each year Space ISAC puts on the Value of Space Summit (VOSS), co-hosted with The Aerospace Corporation at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Erin has over a decade of experience building meaningful tech collaborations and has formed hundreds of formal partnerships between government, industry and academia to solve problems for war fighters and national security. As a serial entrepreneur in the non-profit space, she thrives in launching new programs and new organizations from stand up through building and scaling operations. Erin was the Managing Director of the Center for Technology, Research and Commercialization(C-TRAC) and brought three USAF-funded programs to bear at the Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation (www.catalystcampus.org). Her expertise in brokering unique partnerships using non-FAR type agreements led to the standup of the Air Force's first cyber focused (#securebydesign) design studio,AFCyberWorx at the USAF Academy, and the first space accelerator, Catalyst Accelerator, at Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs - in partnership with Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX. In 2020 Erin was a recipient of the Woman of Influence award. In 2018 Erin was recognized by the Mayor of Colorado Springs as Mayor's Young Leader (MYL) of the Year Award for Technology. She is also the recipient of Southern Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce Award for Young Female Leader in 2018. In her previous roles she developed and managed intellectual property portfolios, technology transfer strategies, export control/ITAR, secure facilities, and rapid prototyping collaborations. Erin serves on the advisory board of CyberSatGov, CyberLEO and is a board member for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce & EDC. She has guest lectured at Georgetown University, United States Air Force Academy, University of Colorado at Boulder, and Johns Hopkins University. She is frequently found public speaking at notable events like, Defense Security Institute's Summits, CyberSatGov, State of the Space Industrial Base, and other forum focused on security and space resiliency and critical infrastructure.

Today's Story: Advancing Air Mobility

Zoe and Natalya are joined this week by Joey Arora, partner at the Outpost, where he supports companies in securing government contracts in defense, and a former co-founder of AFWERX. They talk about Joey's path from the Air Force to entrepreneurship, trends in defense tech investing, and what every founder should know before trying to secure a government contract. If you are under 40 and interested in being featured on the podcast, be sure to fill out this form: https://airtable.com/shr5IpK32opINN5e9.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a new survey! What new product/feature do you think we should work on next? Here's the link to give us your feedback. Now back to your regularly scheduled show notes. EOS Space Systems warns Chinese surveillance satellites were and are keeping a keen eye on two military exercises held in Australia. The Japanese Coast Guard says that North Korea is planning a space launch as early as Thursday. The head of Russia's Space Agency says that the Luna 25 crash was caused after the spacecraft's engines failed to shut down correctly, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on Twitter and LinkedIn. T-Minus Guest Our guests today are Trudy Kortes, Director of NASA STMD Technology Demonstrations, and Greg Richardson, Director of COSMIC, about the NASA-created consortium for space mobility and ISAM capabilities. You can connect with Trudy on LinkedIn and find out more about COSMIC on their website. Selected Reading China's Constant Spying On Australian Drills From Space A Sign Of Shifting Orbital Balance- The Drive World's first high-orbit synthetic aperture radar satellite enters operational orbit- CGTN New 'AI-brained' Chinese satellite has just been launched- Interesting Engineering  North Korea's space launch program and long-range missile projects- Reuters HKUST Launches Hong Kong's First Higher Ed Satellite- Pr Newswire Russian space agency chief blames decades of inactivity for Luna-25 lander's crash on the moon- AP Hughes Awarded Space Force IDIQ Contract for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Services- PR Newswire Space Development Agency taps Mynaric for optical ground station project- Mynaric Umbra Selected by AFWERX for SBIR Phase II Contract- PR Newswire Ecuador Minister and CNT Inaugurate O3b mPOWER Terminals in the Galapagos- Via Satellite Quant Data & Analytics to Leverage Satellogic Imagery in Saudi Arabia - Via Satellite CSA Awards $1.03 Million for Industry-Academia Collaborative Research including for Quantum Technology - SpaceQ  Russia's Moon Crash 'Speaks Volumes': A Storied Space Program Falls Short. Again.- RFE Despite the Luna-25 failure, Russia is not a declining space power  The failure of Luna 25 cements Putin's role as a disastrous space leader | Ars Technica  The New Race to Reach the Moon—and Find Water - WSJ  We need to get our space junk problem under control- The Washington Post Why Your NASA T-Shirt Is Behind the Curve- Newsweek LA Company Squid3 Space Develops Camouflage for Satellites - Parabolic Arc  T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © 2023 N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zoe and Natalya are joined this week by Joey Arora, partner at the Outpost, where he supports companies in securing government contracts in defense, and a former co-founder of AFWERX. They talk about Joey's path from the Air Force to entrepreneurship, trends in defense tech investing, and what every founder should know before trying to secure a government contract. If you are under 40 and interested in being featured on the podcast, be sure to fill out this form: https://airtable.com/shr5IpK32opINN5e9.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zoe and Natalya are joined this week by Joey Arora, partner at the Outpost, where he supports companies in securing government contracts in defense, and a former co-founder of AFWERX. They talk about Joey's path from the Air Force to entrepreneurship, trends in defense tech investing, and what every founder should know before trying to secure a government contract. If you are under 40 and interested in being featured on the podcast, be sure to fill out this form: https://airtable.com/shr5IpK32opINN5e9.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's Story: Applications for Fall Fellowship

Alex is a Managing Partner at J2 Ventures. His diverse career has seen him build the enterprise venture investing arm at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, serve as a Military Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, and contribute to national security through his work at the Defense Innovation Unit and AFWERX. As a reservist he managed the DIU's investment efforts in deep tech through its early-stage funding vehicle, National Security Innovation Capital. Alex has a B.A. from Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

The Air Force was among the earliest agencies to organize around the need for innovation. Its approach, known as AFWERX, got started back in 2017 and became a model for many other agencies. The idea man behind AFWERX is now a finalist in this year's Service to America Medals program. He's the first of a series of finalists Federal Drive Tom Temin will be talking to through October. He's Mark Ingram, the Chief Strategy Officer of the Air Force Integrated Capabilities Directorate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Air Force was among the earliest agencies to organize around the need for innovation. Its approach, known as AFWERX, got started back in 2017 and became a model for many other agencies. The idea man behind AFWERX is now a finalist in this year's Service to America Medals program. He's the first of a series of finalists Federal Drive Tom Temin will be talking to through October. He's Mark Ingram, the Chief Strategy Officer of the Air Force Integrated Capabilities Directorate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With shortages from production down through the supply chain, the Pentagon's acquisition leadership wants to close the gap by purchasing more commercially available products. To make that work, contracting officers must overcome not just buying issues but budget and planning issues.Military acquisition professionals speaking at the Acquisition Research Symposium in Monterey, California said Thursday they need better ways to get commercial products, particularly those involving advanced technology, into the hands of service members. Some initiatives are helping move Defense acquisition toward commercial products, but more needs to be done.“What you're seeing now are organizations springing up in order to try to fill that gap. Whether that's AFWERX in the Air Force, or the unmanned task force that the Navy has played with, or the Office of Strategic Capital now trying to make some effort with money seeding,” said Navy Vice Adm. Francis Morley, military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With shortages from production down through the supply chain, the Pentagon's acquisition leadership wants to close the gap by purchasing more commercially available products. To make that work, contracting officers must overcome not just buying issues but budget and planning issues. Military acquisition professionals speaking at the Acquisition Research Symposium in Monterey, California said Thursday they need better ways to get commercial products, particularly those involving advanced technology, into the hands of service members. Some initiatives are helping move Defense acquisition toward commercial products, but more needs to be done. “What you're seeing now are organizations springing up in order to try to fill that gap. Whether that's AFWERX in the Air Force, or the unmanned task force that the Navy has played with, or the Office of Strategic Capital now trying to make some effort with money seeding,” said Navy Vice Adm. Francis Morley, military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of AI Proficiency: Turning Tomorrow into Today, we are joined by Vince Pecoraro, Lead Program Manager of DAF Digital Transformation Office. Vince's journey as an innovator was inspired by navigating roadblocks and creating the necessary tools to access software and other resources in the Air Force and with AFWERX. Stay tuned to hear more about the impact of defining the parameters within the AI space in order to support new projects and create lasting change. CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewind AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/ ATARC: https://atarc.org/

U.S. Air Force Colonel (sel) Tom "WCMD" Meagher and former U.S. Navy Lieutenant Beau "Stewie" Griffith describe how advancements in technology, electric propulsion, and government / industry partnerships are accelerating development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.Learn more about AFWERX here: https://www.afwerx.af.mil/Agility Prime: https://afwerx.com/agility-prime/Sponsored by National University. To find out more, visit nu.edu.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fighter-pilot-podcast/donations

In this episode Sjueesh Krishnan CEO of Kinnami walks us through his amazing journey developing critical technologies for the DoD, the benefits of AFWERX and why he looks to the US military as his first source for venture capital. You can reach Sjujeesh at Sujeesh@Kinnami.com Website: www.kinnami.com If you want to learn more about selling to the federal government you can learn more at https://www.dodcontract.com

In this episode, Brandon starts off by telling us about his unique aviation background, before going into detail about the reasons behind setting up Horizon Aircraft. We talk about the company's Cavorite X5 and the technical side of its design, as well as the current roadmap towards certification, Horizon Aircraft's working partnership with AFWERX and its latest financing round.

“Crossing the Valley of Death” has become a buzz phrase across the Department of Defense Acquisitions community. Join Chris Benson, a co-founder of AFWERX, as he shares his story on how he helped create what is now known and the SBIR Open Topic and the AFWERX Accelerator Program for the United States Air Force. Key advice Chris also shares is: “Don't manage your time, manage your motivation.” He has since left the air force but is still doing great things across industry. You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn to learn more and stay tuned to his career and journey.

On this episode Joey and I talk about his experience expanding AFWERX, some of the challenges that accompany DoD innovation, and he enlightens me on just how quickly the DoD can onboard products when needed. We also talk about some very cool products that are breaking the molds that have been in place for many years.If you would like to contact Joey you can reach him here:Joey@theoutpost.cloud(720)235-8045If you want to contact us reach out to:info@kodiakshack.comor visit our websitekodiakshack.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/kodiak-shack-podcast/donations

Chad is the Commandant for the Edwards Airman Leadership School at Edwards AFB and gives us his top 5 lessons learned running the schoolhouse. He spent 14 years and 2 special duties in the security forces and enlisted professional military education communities. Currently, he develop's entry level supervisors through a five week leadership development course. Additionally, he's grown a passion for driving digital transformation through the education lenses while building an innovation eco-system across the Air Force within the educational community. He's managed many initiatives focused on human performance, talent management and emerging technologies with tech industry. Since 2016, he has worked with multiple universities and industry partners nationwide to address education challenges across the Air Force. His work with AFWERX has spurred multiple solutions that have scaled across the U.S Air Force and Army. Chad's efforts have also launched many products and prototypes focused on human capital and micro-transportation. Chad lives in Lancaster, California with his wife and soon to be first child on the way, and also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sports & Health Science. Conversation Talking Points: 0:00 - Intro 2:03 - Who would play you in a movie? 3:23 - What book should every Airman read? 6:05 - How did your mentor help you find your ‘why'? 7:18 - “Being ME got me HERE” 8:41 - Top 5 Lessons learned from Airman Leadership School 13:58 - Lesson 1: Talk less and listen more.Act on what Airmen tell you. 16:20 - Leveraging SMEs “I don't want to help everybody, I want to give everybody the opportunity to help others” 18:07 - Lesson 2: Be authentic! Being authentic is more inspiring than the process. 21:25 - Were you ever uncomfortable being your authentic self? 23:06 - Why leadership takes courage. 24:13 - Lesson 3: I'm OK…You're OK. Start from the position that everyone is doing the best they can. Learn to encourage and support, which is more rewarding than finding fault. 28:53 - Lesson 4: Being right isn't enough. Make Airmen's ideas a reality. 31:05 - Having a “good idea” is only half the battle - Getting it supported is the other half. 34:16 - Lesson 5: Everyone has a story - Find a way for Airmen to tell their story in a way they understand. 40:28 - Not sharing ideas and resources and how this mentality will put us behind. 41:36 - The advantage of risk taking. 47:18 - Why I love Chad so much and AF Quarantine University.

Today's Unlimited Partner is Tony Perez from Peregrine Capital Group. He's been in the United States Air Force for 16 years, and has started projects like Spark for AFWERX which helps tie together many moving parts of the AF. He's a proven leader with experience leading cross-functional teams in dynamic and complex environments. Able to bridge an organization's strategic objectives with tactical-level execution. Rapidly analyzes information, prioritizes competing interest, and makes decisive decisions. Recognized leader who provides mentorship to subordinates and honest feedback to superiors. Builds disruptive organizations by leveraging proven mythologies. Communicates complex information succinctly to small and large groups. Topics include: History in the Air Force as a KC10 pilot Being the best John Stockton in the world (Getting the assists) AFWERX Spark Starting Peregrine Capital Dual-use technology (a solution that can generate revenue in commercial and national security markets) Collaborating with commercial enterprises Types of contracts within the military How Peregrine Capital is setup to win Sponsors: Tegus Research My Marketplace Builder Links: Thomas McGannon LinkedIn Follow us on social media: Like and subscribe and all that stuff...stay in touch as we will have exciting updates and content soon... @uppodpod Twitter @uppodpod Instagram UP YouTube Channel up-pod.com Email us: show@up-pod.com,

The Defense Department has several small innovation storefronts like the Defense Innovation Unit, SOFWERX and AFWERX. They partner with non-traditional vendors to find solutions to some of DoD's toughest challenges. For years, DoD has focused on building the infrastructure to find these innovations, but now it's turning its focus to the next step in this process: the so-called “Valley of Death.” Federal News Network's Daisy Thornton joins me with details.

In this episode of Startup Hustle, Lauren Conaway and Helena Krusec, Deputy Engagement Lead of AFWERX, talk about dual-use technologies and how to access non-dilutive funding. Learn all about how you can bring innovative products that can be useful for the military and your intended target market.   Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: https://gigb.co/l/YEh5   This episode is sponsored by URA: https://universalregisteredagents.com/startuphustle/   Learn more about AFWERX: https://afwerx.com/   Learn more about InnovateHER KC: https://www.innovateherkc.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 2: Episode 6 of The DisruptiveAF Podcast meets the WINNER of Spark Tank 2022: Brent Kenney and his Project ARCWATER along with its Innovation Mentor Matthew Connelly from the 52nd Fighter Wing. Winning Spark Tank is so much more than just a good idea, it takes the drive, vision, support, funding, and foresight to see what is, what can be, and what must be done to get to the finish line of implementation and sustainment. Join us as we learn from Brent and Matthew just what the path the Victory truly takes! Subscribe now to never miss an episode on the edge of innovation with The DisruptiveAF Podcast! Watch the Video of this Podcast on the Morpheus Youtube Channel below! Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOxzCqwMHkyQyeDf8GGhgeA Connect with us! Website - www.morpheusaf.com LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/morpheusaf Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Morpheusairforce Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morpheusaf/ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disruptiveaf-podcast/id1517079235 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4DjjQ6JwZbEZ9dZDtv8ltn Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/32d9da97-b7fd-4e21-a06e-7643ecef768c/the-disruptiveaf-podcast

Season 2: Episode 5 of The DisruptiveAF Podcast gets Intelligent with SrA Noah Morales from Robins AFB and his game changing integration of the Intelligent Locker. What started as potential fix to an everyday problem through a simple “how would we do that?” led to the establishment of a brand new rapid package delivery capability for our Airmen across the Air Force. No more waiting 9 days for your Amazon package to arrive on base, thanks so SrA Morales and the efforts of his team-life was just made even better! Join us as TRIGGER Jordan and SrA Noah Morales on this episode of Intelligence as we learn how Noah made it happen! Subscribe now to never miss an episode on the edge of innovation with The DisruptiveAF Podcast! Watch the Video of this Podcast on the Morpheus Youtube Channel below! Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOxzCqwMHkyQyeDf8GGhgeA Connect with us! Website - www.morpheusaf.com LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/morpheusaf Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Morpheusairforce Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morpheusaf/ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disruptiveaf-podcast/id1517079235 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4DjjQ6JwZbEZ9dZDtv8ltn Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/32d9da97-b7fd-4e21-a06e-7643ecef768c/the-disruptiveaf-podcast

Season 2: Episode 4 of The DisruptiveAF Podcast steps into the Future with Detachment 62 Commander, Col. Don “Stryker” Haley. Through AFWERX's Agility Prime EVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) initiative, Col. Haley and his DET 62 team are launching an industry through the research and development of EVTOL capabilities and training. Join us as TRIGGER Jordan and Stryker Haley explore the ecosystem and the challenges around growing an Industry from scratch on this Future unfolding episode! Subscribe now to never miss an episode on the edge of innovation with The DisruptiveAF Podcast! Watch the Video of this Podcast on the Morpheus Youtube Channel below! Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOxzCqwMHkyQyeDf8GGhgeA Connect with us! Website - www.morpheusaf.com LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/morpheusaf Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Morpheusairforce Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/morpheusaf/ Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-disruptiveaf-podcast/id1517079235 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4DjjQ6JwZbEZ9dZDtv8ltn Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/32d9da97-b7fd-4e21-a06e-7643ecef768c/the-disruptiveaf-podcast

Shownotes (0:55) Introduction -Colonel Jennifer JJ snow is the Chief Technology Officer at the United States Air Force. AFWERX is a United States Air Force program with the goal of fostering a culture of innovation within the service. It is intended to engage inter and extra service innovators and entrepreneurs in the operations of the United States Air Force.Jennifer serves as the government representative for technology outreach, and engagement on behalf of the command and 756 interagency action officers spanning 40 different government agencies. Snow has over 23 years of experience of successful federal civil, civilian and military leadership and management experience.She's a top innovative and focused individual recognized for the ability to consistently overcome obstacles in the defense and intelligence community. Jennifer's background is in counter prolexic approach can pronounce that counter proliferation. And that counterterrorism operations, which includes tours and deployments with Air Force, Special Operations Command special tactics, Joint Special Operations Command, the 17th training wing National Security Agency, which is known as NSA generally, junior officer crypto cryptologic, career programme, serving seventh intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance. JJ's work has been presented to the members of the National Security Council and the White House and key senior leaders across the department Department of Defence, intelligence community, and interagency to inform and highlight emerging risks and opportunities in involving technology, and technology influence environments. In our current role at AFWERX.JJ serves as the military representative for technology outreach and engagement, bridging the gap between government and various technology communities to improve collaboration and communications, foster a culture of innovation, identify smart solutions to wicked problems, and guide the development of future technologies to benefit the US Air Force Department of Defence, interagency and allied partners. JJ truly believes that anyone can be an innovator no matter their age or background. According to her, the best innovation stories exude passion, vision, and cross-cutting impact. The interview-(4:03)1. Can you tell us about your journey? I mean, you started off as a science fiction writer, you were doing so many things and now you're pushing the boundaries of technology for the United States Air Force and innovating. All these amazing things. So please help us get to know you better.(4:28) I actually started off with Fish and Wildlife Service as a wildland firefighter and a park ranger. Five years and my love of technology came through there. I was using radio telemetry to track endangered squirrel populations on the Delmarva Peninsula, sturgeons, up and down the Chesapeake Bay to study their migration. So a lot of the technologies that I started to play around with started in the Fish and Wildlife Service, and then I joined the Air Force.They were a part of the plan to pay for a master's degree and actually go back to the FBI, which is a completely different story. But doing that, I decided that, hey, I really love this and I want to stay on board as an intelligence officer where I'm looking at different types of technologies. What are the risks that they pose? What are some of the opportunities that they bring? And then how do we bring that together, you know, on behalf of national security, and then that led to my cuSupport the show (https://tetranoodle.com)