Podcast appearances and mentions of ryan connell

What if the biggest barrier to innovation in government contracting isn't bureaucracy–but mindset?In this replay episode, Ryan Connell sits down with Major General Alice Treviño, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting, to discuss how the Air Force is rethinking procurement with digital tools, leadership strategies, and streamlined processes.With over 32 years of experience, Major General Treviño shares how to lead effectively in acquisitions, delegate strategically, and foster innovation within a structured system.She highlights why patience, positivity, courage, and curiosity are essential for driving real change in contracting.From AI-powered procurement to leadership tactics, this episode is packed with insights.Let's dive in!Key Takeaways:(00:00) Introduction (00:56) Major General Treviño's background and journey in contracting(07:09) How to delegate authority in high-visibility projects(10:10) The critical role of contracting in mission success(13:15) A day in the life of a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting(19:55) Building and scaling tools across the Air Force(28:56) Advice on change agency for junior members in the Air Force(35:28) Final thoughts on leadership, positivity, and mentorshipAdditional Resources:

Military procurement is known for its slow, bureaucratic processes, but what if it didn't have to be? In this week's episode, Ryan Connell sits down with Major General Edward Vaughan to talk about how the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell (JRAC) redefines how warfighters get the tools they need—fast.With over 40 years of military experience, Major General Vaughan shares his perspectives on balancing speed and perfection in defense acquisitions.He walks us through how JRAC accelerates the procurement process, the role of Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONs), and how AI and digital tools are reshaping decision-making in defense.Tune in to learn how the Department of Defense is cutting through bureaucracy to boost innovation and efficiency in modern warfare.Let's get started!Key Takeaways:(00:00) Introduction (00:53) Major General Vaughan's background and career journey(02:24) What JRAC does and how it supports warfighters(06:13) How urgent needs get validated and funded(08:45) Why speed matters more than perfection in urgent military acquisitions(13:46) The role of iteration and AI in military procurement(17:17) How small businesses and defense startups contribute to rapid innovation(20:02) The barriers to fast-tracking military technology(22:30) How JRAC facilitates funding without direct acquisition(32:53) Final thoughtsAdditional Resources:

Would you trust AI to review your proposals?AI is now streamlining processes, improving efficiency, and reducing bureaucratic roadblocks. Yet, while 80% of industry professionals use AI to draft proposals, almost none are comfortable with AI evaluating them.In this week's episode of Defense Mavericks, host Ryan Connell lets ChatGPT take the interviewer's seat for a deep dive into AI's growing role in defense acquisitions.They unpack how AI enhances proposal evaluation, document generation, and market research—all while keeping human oversight in check.Ryan also shares his insights about the industry's double standard on AI, the biggest barriers to AI adoption, and why policies must evolve to keep up with AI-driven solutions.If you're curious about how AI is reshaping government contracting, this episode is a must-listen.Let's jump right in!Key Takeaways:(00:00) Introduction (00:42) Ryan Connell's DoD acquisition journey(01:49) Why AI is critical in modern defense contracting(04:01) Challenges in AI adoption(04:45) The truth about AI proposal evaluation(06:11) AI's evolving role in government acquisition(09:41) Long-term AI adoption in DoDAdditional Resources:

Approximately 99.5% of available data is unclassified. Yet, intelligence agencies often focus on the 0.5% that is classified. How can the U.S. government bridge this intelligence gap? In this week's episode, Ryan Connell speaks with Sammy Semwangu, CEO of Bazze, about how his startup is transforming intelligence with commercial data solutions.With over a decade of national security experience, Sammy shares his early entrepreneurial challenges and how he founded Bazze in 2019 to provide an efficient data query model for defense intelligence agencies.Today, we dive into Bazze's “super API”, the balance between privacy and security, and how shifting intelligence incentives can help close critical intelligence gaps using both classified and unclassified data.Let's dive in!Key Takeaways:(00:00) Introduction (00:50) Sammy Semwangu's entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned(04:44) How Bazze's platform queries commercial data(08:38) Challenges with the SBIR process and contracting(18:29) The future of intelligence sharing in government(22:47) Privacy and ethical concerns with data access(26:54) Incentivizing intel gaps with classified or unclassified data(29:59) The efficiency of unclassified data aggregationAdditional Resources:

Ever wonder why critical military resources get lost in the“fog of war”?In this week's episode of Defense Mavericks, Ryan Connell sits down with Beowulf's founders, Mark Hammonds and Ryan Perez, to discuss how Bulldog—a logistic and planning tool—was developed to streamline military logistics.Drawing from their firsthand experiences in Ukraine, they discuss how real-time feedback from soldiers transformed Bulldog into a game-changing tool for efficiency, accountability, and survivability on the frontlines.They also dive into the evolving role of AI in software engineering, the lessons they learned while navigating U.S. government contracting, and Beowulf's partnership with Carahsoft to deploy their solution.If you're interested in technology's role in defense or the journey of a startup tackling massive logistical problems, this episode is a must-listen.Key Takeaways:(00:00) Introduction (01:10) The story behind Beowulf's creation(05:09) Initial problem identification in Ukraine's military logistics(11:16) Real-world impact of poor inventory management(14:47) Progress and challenges with scaling Bulldog (18:28) Regulatory hurdles for small businesses contracting with the government(21:30)  AI's evolving role in software engineering(25:54) Importance of early, direct feedback from users(27:46) How to get actionable feedback from software pilots(30:19) Episode wrap-upAdditional Resources:

Balancing defense and commercial markets can be daunting, but today's guest shares how the dual-use readiness model makes it easier for startups to thrive in both worlds. In this week's episode, Ryan Connell speaks with Gene Keselman, Director of Mission Innovation Experimentation at MIT.  Gene shares how creating a shared language between startups and defense organizations, along with integrating AI tools into readiness models, can turn complex systems into practicable strategies. You'll also hear about MIT's Pro Ventures studio, the challenges startups face in these dual-use markets and why building a stronger global defense ecosystem is more critical than ever. Tune in to learn how MIT is shaping the future of defense innovation. Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: (00:00) Introduction  (00:49) Meet Gene Keselman and his work at MIT (06:01) Defining the dual-use readiness model  (08:47) The importance of shared language in defense startups (13:00) AI integration into readiness models (16:04) Commercial vs. DoD-focused tech companies (18:53) Challenges of dual-use for startups (23:49) Dual-use as a strategy, not a category (25:54) The role of non-dilutive funding (28:18) MIT's Proto Ventures studio (34:29) Strengthening global security Additional Resources:

What if the DoD could be as agile as a tech startup? In this week's episode of Defense Mavericks, Ryan Connell chats with Warren Katz, chairman of the Alliance for Commercial Technology in Government, to explore the challenges and inefficiencies in the DoD's acquisition processes. They discuss promising reforms, including the Restoring Freedom's Forge Act, and compare Ukraine's rapid adoption of commercial technologies. Warren explains why aligning incentives and creating a culture of rapid innovation is key to fixing DoD's procurement challenges. Additionally, Warren discusses the role of venture capitalists in defense innovation and real-world examples of success and failure in acquisition reform. Tune in now and discover how the DoD can become an agile, innovation-driven organization. Key Takeaways: (00:00) Introduction  (01:09) Warren Katz's advocacy for reform (07:19) The impact of DoD's outdated requirements process (12:03) Lessons from Ukraine's rapid innovation (18:09) The Restoring Freedom's Forge Act (25:37) Reforming DoD incentives for innovation (33:13) Success stories and missed opportunities (36:49) Call for leadership changes in the Pentagon Additional Resources:

The real challenge for the Department of Defense (DoD) isn't coming up with innovations. The DoD has a long history of celebrated innovators and has invested billions of dollars in research and development. So, what's holding back these innovations? In this episode of Defense Mavericks, Ryan Connell speaks with Josh Marcuse, former Defense Innovation Board leader and now with Google Public Sector, to explore this issue. Josh explains the definition of innovation and why the DoD's main hurdle isn't creating new ideas but implementing them. They discuss the role of culture in risk tolerance, how platforms like cloud computing drive AI adoption, and the importance of supporting entrepreneurial talent within the organization. Tune in now to learn how to drive change and encourage the adoption of innovation. Key Takeaways: (00:00) Introduction  (01:37) From Pentagon to Google: Josh Marcuse's career transition (03:40) Josh Marcuse's definition of innovation (05:51) The innovation adoption curve explained (08:56) Importance of focusing on early adopters over laggards (28:23) Rethinking risk and its role in innovation adoption (38:32) Challenging conventional wisdom through talent management Additional Resources:

Have you ever wondered how AI and robotics are transforming the military? This week, Ryan Connell speaks with Cathleen Rush, Deputy of the Office of ARSOF Autonomy–a newly formed office within the U.S. Army Special Operations Forces–about the intersection of technology and military operations. Cathleen shares her journey from active-duty engineer to her leadership role in Autonomy, where she combines AI, robotics, and science to enhance military efficiency. In this episode, they dive into the SOF Dev initiative, which trains soldiers to use and develop advanced tech while fulfilling their operational roles. Learn how generative AI is revolutionizing decision-making, the importance of upskilling the military workforce, and the challenges of technology adoption in a military context. Tune in now and see how AI is shaping the future of military operations. Let's dive in! Key Takeaways: (00:00) Introduction  (01:05) Cathleen Rush's role in the U.S. Army (04:01) Overview of the Office of ARSOF Autonomy (06:57) Upskilling military workforce through the SOF Dev initiative (08:29) Balancing operational and technical roles in the military (12:39) Soldiers as co-developers of tech (19:47) Building soldier-technologists (23:17) Challenges of technology adoption in the military (25:34) Generative AI's role in military operations (28:44) Importance of cross-functional teams and partnerships  Additional Resources:

With deepfakes and misinformation on the rise, distinguishing truth from lies has never been more challenging. A recent Harvard paper stated how generative AI, like ChatGPT, is increasingly showing up in academic journals, archives, and repositories. So, how can we fight back against this growing misinformation crisis? This week, Ryan Connell sits down with Nathan Manzotti, Managing Director of Data Analytics and AI Centers of Excellence at GSA, to explore groundbreaking ideas for combating misinformation using blockchain and AI. Learn how an AI training program is empowering thousands and how a government-wide AI model repository could transform federal efficiency. If you're passionate about the future of technology, truth, and public service, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now! Key Takeaways: (00:00) Introduction  (00:59) Meet Nathan Manzotti and his journey into AI (04:14) The rise of deepfakes and the misinformation crisis (06:08) How to combat deepfakes with blockchain technology (10:12) The role of personal passion in driving government innovation (15:21) Expansion of AI training program across the federal workforce (19:18) Building collaborative community platforms for progress (24:22) GSA's fee-of-service consulting model (29:58) Nate's vision for a government-backed model repository  Additional Resources:

Bro. Ryan Connell 1 Samuel 23

Can AI help you bid on more government contracts? In this week's episode, Ryan Connell sits down with Alex Cohen, an AI expert and founder of GovPro AI. Alex is on a mission to help small and medium-sized contractors streamline their proposal process. He walks us through how AI tools are transforming how proposals are submitted–making them faster and more compliant. However, Alex is clear about the limitations of AI, too. If you're ready to level up your proposal strategy without cutting corners, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now! Key Takeaways: (00:00) Introduction  (00:49) Meet Alex Cohen and his career journey (03:21) How Alex started using AI in proposal writing (07:11) AI's role in drafting proposals  (08:54) Success rates for AI-generated proposals (10:45) The limitations of AI in GovCon (21:19) Predictions for increased AI adoption in GovCon (23:21) The untapped potential of voice-interactive AI (28:49) Challenges of integrating secure AI solutions (32:11) Why human oversight is still necessary (34:55) Alex's thoughts on AI-assisted oral presentations Additional Resources:

This week, Ryan Connell is joined by Keith Scheffler from Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to discuss the role that blockchain plays in their manufacturing division. Keith dives into the evolution and broader applications of blockchain technology beyond cryptocurrency, AFRL's approach to addressing technology gaps, the integration of digital tools in modern manufacturing, and the critical interplay of cybersecurity and the supply chain. He also shares insights into the complexities of the defense industrial base and the innovative use of graph theory to predict industry trends and interconnections. Tune in to learn all about how blockchain is transforming the defense industrial base. TIMESTAMPS: (1:20) AFRL's Role in Manufacturing (3:22) How blockchain plays a role in manufacturing (6:20) Blockchain beyond crypto (8:54) How blockchain ensures data integrity and security in manufacturing (13:33) Importance of cybersecurity in defense manufacturing (17:34) Commodity parts in the defense industry and supply chain considerations (24:19) Scaling advanced manufacturing across the DoD (26:48) How to embrace innovation and break from traditional approaches LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Keith: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-scheffler-a2823920/ AFRL: https://www.afrl.af.mil/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with Therman Trotman, a.k.a. "Mr. SharePoint," to talk about the powerful ways SharePoint can transform workflows and enhance team efficiency. Therman shares his journey from the Bronx to becoming an expert in SharePoint, diving into his unique take on branding, confidence, and overcoming imposter syndrome. He breaks down practical ways to leverage SharePoint's full capabilities, discusses the importance of people-first technology, and gives his insights into building a successful career in tech, including how he started SharePoint Helpdesk. Tune in to this fun conversation on SharePoint and self-branding success. TIMESTAMPS: (1:09) Therman's journey to “Mr. SharePoint” (3:12) Building a personal brand (6:13) Overcoming imposter syndrome (9:49) What SharePoint can do today for DoD (15:04) The power of automation (17:24) Therman's “CMD” framework (20:41) Creating internal sites (22:51) Making data-driven decisions (28:49) Therman's favorite success story (29:07) Advice on confidence & branding LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Therman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therman-trotman-15790b33/ SharePoint Helpdesk: https://thesphelpdesk.com/ Freebie: https://sharepointfreebie.com/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with Scott Sanders, Chief Growth Officer of Forterra, to talk about the advancements and challenges of integrating autonomous systems in defense and industrial sectors. Scott shares his insights on the deployment of full stack and ground autonomy, balancing human and machine roles, and accounting for the diverse terrains of war zones. He also dives into the financial feasibility and operational reliability of autonomous solutions, the nuances of defense acquisitions in this space, and the importance of balancing cost, safety, and efficiency in both military and industrial applications. Tune in to learn all about the future of autonomy in defense. TIMESTAMPS: (0:43) Scott's journey from Marine Corps to Forterra (1:25) What is full end-to-end autonomy? (3:52) How to ensure reliability and safety in autonomous systems (7:17) Balancing hardware and software in autonomy (11:37) Pricing strategies for DoD vs. commercial markets (16:31) The future of autonomy and human roles (19:10) How to manage risk in autonomous system (23:51) What are the acquisition strategies in this space? (28:02) Tip for navigating defense acquisition as a small business LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottbsanders/ Forterra: https://www.forterra.com/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with Lori Wade, Chief Data Officer for the Intelligence Community, to talk about the pivotal role of quality data in driving AI and emerging technologies in the IC. Lori shares her insights on data interoperability, public-private collaboration, and the complexities of managing data across the 18 Intelligence Community elements. She also shares her journey implementing the IC Data Strategy, preparing the workforce, and achieving data readiness by 2025. Tune in for a deep dive on the challenges and opportunities the Intelligence Community faces when it comes to data and emerging tech. TIMESTAMPS: (1:03) Meet Lori Wade (4:25) Key challenges in data management (8:28) How to use Smart Data Questions (12:31) What is the role of the Chief Data Officer? (16:33) How AI plays a role in the digital c-suite (18:51) Managing data reference architecture and quality (20:47) Why mission reliance is on data (23:26) Creating end-to-end data management plans (29:19) What does the future of data in the IC look like? LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Lori: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-wade-212551221/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with cybersecurity expert Chris Hughes, CEO of Aquia, a veteran-owned cloud and cybersecurity digital services firm. Chris brings two decades of experience from the federal IT space, sharing insights on everything from AI adoption in the government to the importance of continuous ATO. Chris dives into the challenges and opportunities of experimenting with new technologies, the balance between security and usability, and the evolving landscape of cybersecurity compliance in the DoD. Whether you're a tech professional, a government contractor, or someone interested in the future of defense technology, this episode is packed with valuable perspectives and actionable takeaways. TIMESTAMPS: (0:49) Chris's journey in federal IT and cyber (2:25) Diving into cybersecurity practices (4:33) Balancing “build vs. buy” in cybersecurity (12:30) A deep dive on FedRAMP and ATO (16:45) How to leverage AI for cybersecurity (18:13) Navigating software supply chain security (20:57) How to overcome software supply chain security challenges (27:30) If Chris was king of Dod for the day, what would he change? LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Chris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/resilientcyber/ Aquia: https://www.aquia.us/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with Maj. Gen. Alice Treviño, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting in the Department of the Air Force, as she shares insights from her 32-year career. They explore the challenges of contracting, her leadership philosophy, and the evolution of AI tools within the Air Force. Major General Treviño emphasizes the importance of patience, positivity, and curiosity for change agents in contracting, and shares advice on scaling innovation across the Air Force. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on what it takes to succeed as a contracting leader. TIMESTAMPS: (1:51) General Treviño's journey to becoming a senior leader in Air Force contracting (6:49) How to delegate authority in high-visibility projects (9:41) The critical role of contracting in mission success (12:52) A day in the life of a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting (18:45) The concept of the “flight plan” and “Tools, Not Rules” (19:46) Building and scaling tools across the Air Force (27:26) Advice on change agency for junior members in the Air Force (32:55) The importance of maintaining relentless positivity as a leader LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Maj. Gen. Treviño: https://www.linkedin.com/in/major-general-alice-“ali”-t-834a6414/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell experiments with Google's cutting-edge AI tool, NotebookLM. Ryan challenges the AI to generate a podcast episode based on the Tradewinds Solution Marketplace Customer Handbook, which dives into the DoD's efforts to streamline the acquisition of advanced technologies. Listen as AI characters Andy and Ethel discuss the handbook, touch on key defense innovations, and explore how the Tradewinds Solution Marketplace is reshaping procurement in the defense sector. Look out for tangents and surprising insights that put into perspective how powerful AI can be. TIMESTAMPS: (0:30) Ryan's experiment with Google NotebookLM (1:06) Meet our fake guests “Andy & Ethel” (2:08) How Tradewinds can help the DoD acquire cutting-edge tech faster (2:50) Streamlining the contracting process (3:08) OTs explained (4:40) Involvement of Kessel Run & DARPA (5:41) Attracting the right tech talent (8:16) How Tradewinds fosters agility and innovation (9:39) The start of a new era in defense LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Google NotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with the legendary Steve Blank, adjunct professor at Stanford and co-founder of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, to discuss the need for disruptive innovation and execution in the DoD. Steve shares his insights on the importance of adopting new methodologies, creating a culture that supports rapid innovation, and challenging the frozen middle. We also learn all about Steve's experience co-founding Hacking for Defense, the Lean Startup Methodology, and the Gordian Knot Center. Tune in for an inspiring and honest conversation on the reality behind defense innovation. TIMESTAMPS: (0:47) Steve's entrepreneurial journey (1:30) What is Hacking for Defense? (3:37) Why we need to balance execution and innovation (5:30) The SpaceX case study (8:44) The state of innovation in the DoD (11:05) Why tech adoption is so difficult (15:45) The key to fast-tracking disruption in acquisitions (19:13) The problem with most senior leaders (26:31) The Lean Startup Methodology (33:20) Steve's definition of “innovation” (35:05) The purpose behind the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveblank/ Gordian Knot Center: https://gordianknot.stanford.edu/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with Alex Martin, the CEO and co-founder of Clearspeed, to discuss how they are using AI-enabled voice analytics to revolutionize risk assessment in defense. Alex shares his personal journey from the Marine Corps to tech entrepreneur and how he's aiming to solve the age-old problem of vetting individuals efficiently and at scale. He elaborates on the challenges of building a technology company in the defense and enterprise sectors, emphasizing the importance of trust, speed, and the human element in AI applications. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on startup success and the future of risk assessment. TIMESTAMPS: (1:09) Meet Alex Martin (2:22) Why Clearspeed was born out of tragedy (5:44) How to scale risk assessment (9:57) Productizing a defense engine for enterprise (12:28) How to find pockets of people with imagination (15:27) Is this an invasion of privacy? (19:02) How to balance speed and security (21:47) Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs (25:42) How to build a passionate team (30:50) Creating a purpose-driven culture (37:37) Why imagination is critical in VC LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandersmartin/ Clearspeed: https://www.clearspeed.com/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell chats with Jonathan Mostowski, author, public speaker, and president of Agile Acquisitions LLC, about the truth behind “hacking” bureaucracy in government contracting, the development and impact of agile acquisition frameworks, and his career journey from a contracting officer to an innovative leader in the field. Jonathan shares his insights into creating culture change through contracting, the importance of understanding rules and strategic risk-taking, and his experiences authoring the TechFAR handbook. Tune in for a refreshing conversation on how to look at the defense procurement process with different eyes. TIMESTAMPS: (1:19) Meet Jonathan (3:18) What is a Scaled Agile Framework? (4:08) How Jonathan created the TechFAR Handbook (7:49) The biggest challenge contractors face (10:40) Why Jonathan doesn't “hack” bureaucracy (13:35) Culture change needed in contracting (15:01) Jonathan's writing process (18:55) What would you change if you were king for a day? (22:09) Why reward systems are key to success (26:26) Are SBIRs sustainable? (32:02) The reality behind the Valley of Death LINKS: Follow Ryan: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/⁠ Follow Jonathan: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmost/ Leading Agile Acquisitions Book: https://www.agileacquisitions.com/product-page/leading-agile-acquisitions TechFAR Hub: https://techfarhub.usds.gov/ CDAO: ⁠https://www.ai.mil/⁠ Tradewinds: ⁠https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with Dr. Tom Rondeau, Principal Director of FutureG, to discuss the complexities and innovations behind wireless communications, from the defense applications of 5G to the groundbreaking potential of 6G. Tom shares his insights on the role of AI in wireless technology, the importance and challenges of interoperability within NATO, and the potential of open-source platforms in driving wireless innovation. Tune in to this eye-opening conversation on the seemingly “invisible” role this technology plays in the world of defense and beyond. TIMESTAMPS: (0:52) Meet Dr. Tom Rondeau (1:36) What is 6G? (2:23) The ins and outs of 5G technology (5:54) How 5G plays a role in military and national security (8:05) The importance of interoperability (13:22) Cybersecurity in wireless communications (16:01) AI and the future of 5G (23:45) The potential of open source and open RAN (30:09) Why this technology is critical to our everyday lives LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Dr. Tom Rondeau: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasrondeau/ FutureG: https://rt.cto.mil/futureg-home/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell discusses entrepreneurial approaches to problem-solving in defense with Pete Newell, 32-year Army veteran turned entrepreneur, educator, investor, and co-founder and CEO of BMNT. Pete dives into the inception and impact of the Hacking for Defense program and shares his insights on the importance of rapid adaptation and how ingenuity can drive mission acceleration in both government and commercial sectors. Tune in for an in-depth lesson on what it takes to win on the battlefield. TIMESTAMPS: (0:35) Meet Pete Newell (1:37) The evolution of Hacking for Defense (3:53) Problems are like fish bait in Silicon Valley (9:41) Building interdisciplinary teams (14:39) The difference between innovation and ingenuity (18:28) Important takeaways from Ukraine battlefield (20:48) Acquisitions are not the problem (32:38) How to professionalize the building of people LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Pete: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petenewell/ BMNT: https://www.bmnt.com/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell is joined by John Janek, Chief Technologist at Dev Technology Group, to talk about the critical elements of rapid acquisitions and agile budgeting in government. John shares his insights on the evolving role of technology in hiring and organizational improvements, the importance of community, the need for cross-functional collaboration, and why transparency is the ultimate value stream. Tune in for practical advice on fostering community, leveraging technology, and the impactful shift of dynamic team building. TIMESTAMPS: (0:30) Who is John Janek (1:39) The importance of community in government (6:32) The secret to rapid acquisition (9:06) How technology plays a role in problem-solving (13:18) What is systems thinking? (17:58) Will we ever achieve agile budgeting in government? (20:48) Transparency is the ultimate disinfectant (31:25) The power of sitting next to someone in meetings LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjanek/ Dev Technology: https://devtechnology.com/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell sits down with Steve Barva, federal acquisition consultant, to discuss the importance of breaking rules and cutting through red tape in the DoD. Steve shares his insights on competition in contracting, innovative solicitation practices, and the value of listening to fresh ideas from junior team members. He dives into numerous examples and insights on how to challenge norms and implement meaningful changes in acquisition practices. Tune in to this inspiring episode on how to affect change in the DoD. TIMESTAMPS: (0:29) Why every rule is meant to be broken (2:29) Finding innovative contracting solutions (3:51) How to overcome bureaucratic hurdles (6:02) Why leaders become risk averse over the years (10:40) Encouraging innovation in younger generations of procurement analysts (15:45) Are you gold-plating your requirements? (20:04) Why is it so hard to break the norm? (23:55) Leaders need to allow their teams to break the rules (28:12) If you're not disrupting, you're not trying LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-b-14459860/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell is joined by Russ Long, founder and CEO of Long Capture, to talk about the different pathways to success a defense startup can take in the DoD. Russ shares his journey from his former Air Force contracting days to now helping tech startups bridge the gap to military adoption (a.k.a. surviving the Valley of Death.) They dive deep into the importance of impactful innovation, the evolving role of programs like SBIR, and how strategic and tactical financing are driving the second wave of defense innovation. Tune in to learn all about how to drive innovation in the defense acquisition process. TIMESTAMPS: (0:57) Russ's journey from contracting officer to CEO (1:55) What is “cool” technology? (2:55) The Benefits of SBIR and CSO Programs (5:47) How TACFI and STRATFI programs work (11:03) Do you have to be a commercial-first company to survive in DoD? (14:46) What is the second wave of defense Innovation? (19:49) Why sole source authority is critical (26:47) What Russ looks for in a startup (30:20) Free ways to learn from Long Capture LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Russ: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-long/ Long Capture: https://longcapture.com/ Project Mercury: https://projectmercury.us/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

This week, Ryan Connell is joined by Dr. W. Ethan Eagle and Lieutenant Colonel Julie “Pistol” Janson to discuss the transformative impact of Project Mercury on military innovation. Together, they dive into Project Mercury's goal of building a culture of innovation, the strategic focus on problem-solving, and the importance of learning by doing. Ethan also shares his vision for the future of the program and how members of the DoD can get involved. Tune in for an insightful conversation on cultivating an innovative mindset in defense. TIMESTAMPS: (2:30) How did Project Mercury get started? (5:33) How to encourage risk-taking in innovation (7:15) Why an innovative mindset is like a muscle (12:48) The core differentiator between project management and innovation (14:50) Success stories for Project Mercury (18:43) The true benefit behind joining the program (24:47) Mentoring students in problem-solving (28:16) Why democratizing innovation is the goal (35:44) Who can join Project Mercury (43:42) Success and failure in teamwork

We have a special announcement this week! Meet our new Defense Mavericks host, Ryan Connell. Bonnie and Ryan chat about Bonnie's departure from the show and what you can expect going forward. Tune in for a short, fun listen in this official hand-off episode! TIMESTAMPS: (0:30) Why Bonnie is leaving (1:12) Ryan's vision for the podcast (2:42) Who is Ryan Connell (4:01) Future topics and potential format changes (8:49) The final grilled cheese debate LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Watch this Episode on YouTube and Subscribe

This week, Bonnie is joined by Ryan Connell from the Defense Contract Management Agency, to dissect the nuanced world of pricing for government contracts in his personal capacity. From Other Transaction (OT) pricing strategies to understanding the critical balance between cost and value, Ryan dives into the evolving landscape of defense procurement and pricing intelligence. Tune in for a masterclass conversation that challenges the acquisition status quo. TIMESTAMPS: (05:08) How to define problems vs. requirements (07:50) Using existing technology to enhance competition (12:11) The best tools for market research analysis (14:07) Why the DoD shifted from creating to buying technology (16:46) How increased competition drives down prices & speeds DoD processes (22:27) How can we bridge the pricing gap? (24:25) Price analysis techniques that are essential for valuation decisions (27:30) Challenges in transitioning to new cost-estimating (30:13) Tools all practitioners should keep their eye on LINKS: Follow Ryan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/ CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/ Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/ GovShop: https://govshop.com/ TurboInnovate: https://www.turboinnovate.com/ GAMECHANGER: https://gamechanger.advana.data.mil

Are you worried about how you are going to pay for healthcare if you retire before Medicare age? This conundrum has stumped early retirees and entrepreneurs for decades. Part of the problem is that we just plain unclear about how much healthcare coverage will cost. Lynn Frair and Ryan Connell have an answer. They have created a a healthcare calculator to help you estimate your costs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As firms are finding out, the unit economics of AI/ML is not exactly like software. It requires more manual manipulation of data than one might expect – including ingesting data, cleaning data, tuning models – and deployment doesn't scale like pure software does. Every customer has their own unique datasets. The Department of Defense has had enough trouble adapting its hardware-oriented acquisition system to buying software. Will AI/ML present an even greater challenge or does it lend itself to the traditional labor services model? The Center for Government Contracting of the George Mason University School of Business and the Wharton Aerospace Community co-hosted an important discussion on the scalability, unit economics and cost estimating methodologies of AI/ML projects with a tremendous panel including: Sheldon Fernandez, CEO of Darwin AI; Ryan Connell, DCMA Commercial Pricing; and Diego Oppenheimer, CEO with Algorithmia with his colleague Craig Perrin. The panel is moderated by Ellen Chang. This podcast was produced by Eric Lofgren. Soundtrack by urmymuse: "reflections of u". You can follow us on Twitter @AcqTalk and find more information at AcquisitionTalk.com.

Ryan Connell is a gallerist and art curator and collector. His new space, Ryan Joseph Gallery just opened up a new spot in Denver featuring an opening solo show from Andrew Davis (the guest on episode 73). In this episode we talk about Ryan's journey from selling art work for friends (for free) to opening up his own gallery here in Denver. It's an inspiring story who's moral is to follow your interests and not be so worried about making a buck. We also discuss pricing paintings, some happenings in the art world, super powers and getting in to some healthy routines. Patrons will get the in-person video featuring some of the work up at the gallery! If you're interested in becoming a patron head on over to https://www.patreon.com/artsyafpodcast and check out the tiers available, starting at just $4/month You can find Ryan and his gallery on Instagram @ryanjosephgallery and his website: https://ryan-joseph-gallery.myshopify.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/artsyaf/support

It's my favorite time of the year after a pandemic-induced hiatus last year. The NCAA Tournament is back and joining me to break down the bracket is Storming the Court's Ryan Connell. We discuss the cases that can be made for the 1 seeds this year and we sniff out potential upsets we like. Check out Ryan's college basketball podcast Storming the Court as he gives you insight and analysis on all the matchups for this year's tournament. His podcast can be found on all podcasting platforms. Subscribe to the HSP Network's YouTube Channel using this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFIiZeRbRWBPMaFnDJce6pA Follow Us on Twitter @HighSpotPodcast. My podcast is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow me on Twitter for updates on the podcast @susaraki1928 https://twitter.com/susaraki1928. Also, follow my twitch channel under the name DJBurningLove. Link here: https://www.twitch.tv/djburninglove

It's a WRHU Baseline Reunion as my producing teammate (He was the lead Producer) Ryan Connell joins me to give the rundown of the 2020 NCAA Basketball season. Before that, we discuss the shocking victory by the New York Jets over the Los Angeles Rams (1:03). Then we begin the NCAA talk with how the organization has handled navigating the pandemic (17:00), why this Gonzaga team is a legitimate title contender (27:57), why this Baylor team has a chance to win the Big 12 (44:48), and then we go across the nation covering other notable teams in the rankings and we rave about a change to Texas Coach Shaka Smart (55:46). Check out Ryan's podcast covering College Hoops called Storming the Court. He gives you weekly insight in everything that goes down in NCAA Basketball. You can listen to it on Spotify and other podcasting platforms. My podcast is on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow me on Twitter for updates on the podcast @susaraki1928 https://twitter.com/susaraki1928. Also, follow my twitch channel under the name DJBurningLove. Link here: https://www.twitch.tv/djburninglove

College Basketball season is finally underway. Ryan Connell gets you caught up on the best games from opening night and previews some of marquee games in college hoops next week. 0:00 - 15:25 Recap of Opening Night 15:26-25:10 Preview of Champions Classic & Jimmy V Classic

2020 has been a crazy year. No NCAA Tournament, a global pandemic, and a new normal. As a new season of college hoops rapidly approaches, Ryan Connell fills you in on what you need to know for a season unlike any other.

Our first podcast guest and its about the end of the world! Ryan Connell founder and author of www.theholyapostate.com shares moments from his childhood of constant fear that the world was ending and just how hard it is to manage in a world that just wont seem to die! Visit Ryan's site http://www.theholyapostate.com A special thanks to Jon Norwood for the mic upgrade and Josh Mattison for mastering this episode. Visit Josh amazing podcast at Loworbitpodcast.com For more episodes, interviews and events please visit www.spiritualptsd.com

Shirley Collier, President of Scale2Market and Ryan Connell, a DoD Contracting Professional, discuss how the Department of Defense Contracting Offices can use clauses in the FAR now to speed up the acquisition of innovation. For more information, contact us at getinfo@scale2market.com.

This episode features a live recording with Josiah Hesse, author of the Carnality series, as well as readings by Alessandra Ragusin & Ryan Connell. Josiah Hesse is an author and journalist, and author of the Carnality series. The first two books in this six book series are available now from Suspect Press. Part historical fiction, part psychological horror, Carnality: Dancing on Red Lake is the first of a six-part series chronicling the malicious mavens and pop-profiteers of America’s Evangelical movement, as remembered by a mentally ill boy who was once the biggest child star of the scene. Alessandra Ragusin comes from a long line of Southern Assemblies of God pastors, but was raised as one of God’s “Frozen Chosen”. From 1st grade through her first semester in college she attended evangelical schools. She was a regular at youth group retreats, the 30-hour Famine, international mission trips, small groups, and taught at kids’ Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and church sports and arts camps. The proud wearer of a purity ring throughout her teen years, Alessandra has since left the faith and is an out-and-proud queer poet and essayist traveling and writing on feminism, philosophy, nature, and her favorite side-project: the Devil. Read more at: greenworldwriting.com Ryan Connell is the homeschooled son of a Pentecostal pastor. He was a kid’s church puppeteer, a Junior Bible Quiz champion, a door-to-door evangelizer, a mission trip globetrotter, a tongues talking, spirit catching, fire and brimstone preacher of the word. He was an award-winning demon in the fear based evangelical outreach that was chronicled in the 2001 George Ratliff documentary Hell House (and had the funniest scene if he does say so himself). He is now a full-time vagabond writer, proud heretic, and burgeoning mystic. His life’s ambition is to be the bearded sage on top of a mountain that people seek out to find the meaning of life. Read more at: theholyapostate.com

Ryan Connell talks about his travels. You can find his writing here, and the Gofundme for The Unapologetics tour here. Jenny-Lynn Ellis reads her essay fighting woman. Her blog is here. Bear Brilliant brought the song Good Gawd Golly. Their Facebook is here, and their Bandcamp is here. Lonnie MF Allen reads his comic A … Continue reading "Episode Twenty-Seven: The Road Goes Ever On"

Ryan Connell talks about his travels. You can find his writing here, and the Gofundme for The Unapologetics tour here. Jenny-Lynn Ellis reads her essay fighting woman. Her blog is here. Bear Brilliant brought the song Good Gawd Golly. Their Facebook is here, and their Bandcamp is here. Lonnie MF Allen reads his comic A … Continue reading "Episode Twenty-Seven: The Road Goes Ever On"

Ryan Connell talks about his travels. You can find his writing here, and the Gofundme for The Unapologetics tour here. Jenny-Lynn Ellis reads her essay fighting woman. Her blog is here. Bear Brilliant brought the song Good Gawd Golly. Their Facebook is here, and their Bandcamp is here. Lonnie MF Allen reads his comic A … Continue reading "Episode Twenty-Seven: The Road Goes Ever On"

Cass Midgley talks with Ryan Connell. Cohost Bob Pondillo was not able to be there for the conversation. Ryan is an Assembly of God pastor's son and himself was in ministry and aspiring to be a pastor like his father. But his pursuit of truth and love took him to some unexpected places. Ryan is the homeschooled son of a pentecostal pastor and was himself a traveling preacher and inner city missionary. His crisis of faith caused him to dig deeper into philosophy of religion and church history, where he has spent the last thirteen years or so trying to make sense of what we were raised to believe. He is now a nomadic religious scholar and journalist, traveling the country sleeping on people's couches and guest rooms, documenting the American religious experience. He also jokingly refers to himself as a "missionary to evangelicals" as he writes a weekly contemplative blog directed to them about how to move past the more damaging aspects of their belief system while still holding on to their faith. You can check out his essays on his website theholyapostate.com that help explain his background and what he's up to now. I loved this talk and I love Ryan. He's truly a brother of a different mother. We could hang. It's all I'm saying. At one point, Ryan refers to the theodicy of divine silence and I want to address this for a second. Theodicy means the vindication or the insistence of divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil, in this case, the fact that God is silent and rather cryptic in revealing himself to his creation. The seeking and finding of a hidden God. This serves as a way for humans to feel superior to those that have not found God because of this very promise--that if you had truly sought God then you would find God. You're not humble enough. You're not desperate enough. Your pride is keeping you from seeing God. It flips upside down the old adage, "you have to see it to believe it," to "you have believe it to see it." Which conveniently puts the blame of not being able to see a non-existent god onto the unbeliever, creating guilt and deep distrust of one's self as inadequate to see the invisible. And the temptation for people in that tribe to keep pretending has little to do with their true beliefs, but rather the safety the feel in numbers. All these people can't be wrong! It's the prime environment to fake it til you make it. After all, what would we do outside this tribe? The chaotic world full of unexplainable injustices and daunting emptiness awaits us outside this tribe. At least here we all know what's going on, don't we? Please keep preaching to me week after week! Please let's go see all our friends in the tribe because we all wouldn't be coming here if it wasn't true. We wouldn't build this building or the local police wouldn't direct traffic outside our parking lot. Handel, Bach, Mozart and Beethoven wouldn't have written about God if it weren't true. Billy Graham wouldn't be invited to the White House by 11 Presidents from Truman in 1945 to George W. Bush in 2007 if it weren't true. Look at all the cathedrals around the world. Look at all the seminaries and books written about our God. Look how many times we remind ourselves, "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good." Because God is silent, because life happens exactly as it would if there were no god, we fill the silence and replace the chaos with the sounds of praises and the grand narratives of meaning, lest we lapse for just long enough to catch a glimpse of the meaninglessness, to hear the deafening silence, and actually consider that all these people and buildings and books and music and popes and general hoopla says more about our childish fears and  insecurities and our need to hide the man behind the curtain and protect God from his own scriptures than it does about the actual existence of God. Believers need things to be simple. They can't handle chaos. Life is complex. Humans are complex. The cosmos is complex. And all are chaotic. They like order and neat, clearly divided compartments where everything fits and makes sense. It's why the homophobic authors couldn't understand gayness, and why today's homophobes are fighting LGBTQ and transgender humans. We're messing up their sandcastle. Stephen Hawking, may he rest in peace, threw a wrench in their perfect, divine plan. Now, for those of us who, like the Truman show, found the edge of the soundstage and stepped through the door to the real world, found the world to be much less scary than we were told or imagined. We discovered real humans and real art and real sex and the amazing creativity and determination of science and curing diseases and understanding our universe and cultures that worshipped other gods. That our little indoctrinations were so clearly man-made. Just this week I explored a couple of YouTubers called nerdwriter1 and Casey Neistat. I celebrated the music of Joe Bonamassa and The Kinks and brilliant artists that make us think and laugh like the Coen Brothers, David Letterman, Wes Anderson, Game of Thrones, Peaky Blinders, the Netflix series Seven Seconds and all the streaming shows that stretch us like Black Mirror or documentaries that challenge us to think about what we're doing to destroy the planet. Life is happening outside the Christian bubble in depths and breadths I wouldn't allow myself to consider inside the tribal walls.   And my guest today, Ryan Connell did just that--he not only left Christianity but he loaded up his car and went on the road to better understand why humans need religion, especially Christianity. His curiousity and lack of judgment is a breath of fresh air. I believe you're going to benefit from this conversation. We taped it on March 3rd, 2018. We interview people you don’t know, about a subject no one wants to talk about. We hope to encourage people in the process of deconstructing their faith and help curb the loneliness that accompanies it. We think the world is a better place when more people live by sight, not by faith. Please subscribe to our podcast, and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Also, we offer these podcasts freely. And your support truly makes a difference. You can support us monetarily in two easy ways: you can pledge a monthly donation through Patreon. that’s www.patreon.com/eapodcast,  or leave a lump-sum donation through PayPal at our website, www.everyonesagnostic.com. Credits:"Towering Mountain of Ignorance" intro by Hank Green https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3v3S82TuxU Intro bumper "Never Know" by Jack Johnson The segue music on this episode is "Hard to Be," by David Bazan Ryan's Patreon site  

You can read more of Ryan's work at: http://www.theholyapostate.com/ And on the podcast that he is affiliated with, the Denver Orbit: http://www.denverorbit.com/ and watch the documentary "Sand Wars" here: https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2017/12/sand-wars-171213082235210.html   If you have questions for Ryan that didn't get answered here, reach out to him at: theholyapostate@gmail.com

Ryan and Josiah talk losing religion, Spells sings a song and Ryan tells us his plans A chat with Ryan and Josiah Hesse, senior editor at Suspect Press and author of Carnality. The song Deceiver by Spells sent to us from Snappy Little Numbers. An essay from Ryan Connell explaining just what he’s doing after … Continue reading "Episode Fifteen: Everybody’s Looking for Something"

Ryan and Josiah talk losing religion, Spells sings a song and Ryan tells us his plans A chat with Ryan and Josiah Hesse, senior editor at Suspect Press and author of Carnality. The song Deceiver by Spells sent to us from Snappy Little Numbers. An essay from Ryan Connell explaining just what he’s doing after … Continue reading "Episode Fifteen: Everybody’s Looking for Something"

Ryan and Josiah talk losing religion, Spells sings a song and Ryan tells us his plans A chat with Ryan and Josiah Hesse, senior editor at Suspect Press and author of Carnality. The song Deceiver by Spells sent to us from Snappy Little Numbers. An essay from Ryan Connell explaining just what he’s doing after … Continue reading "Episode Fifteen: Everybody’s Looking for Something"