Disruptive by Design, A SIGNAL Media Podcast, AFCEA Emerging Leaders

SIGNAL Media's Disruptive by Design: Autonomy: Balancing Machine Speed and Human Judgment in the Great Power War (Special Intel Edition)

In this special episode of Disruptive by Design: Intelligence Edition, guest host Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Bob Ashley, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and current member of AFCEA's Intelligence Committee, leads a candid, high-level conversation on one of the most consequential shifts in modern warfare: the rise of autonomy and artificial intelligence.Joined by two leading voices in the field, Paul Scharre, executive vice president at CNAS and author of Four Battlegrounds, and retired Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, former director of the Pentagon’s Joint AI Center, the discussion cuts through hype to explore what autonomy really means on the battlefield today—and where it’s headed.Grounded in real operational experience and policy insight, this special episode offers a sober, nuanced look at how AI is transforming the character of war—and why getting the human-machine balance right will define the future of global security.Stay tuned for the third and final episode in this series released on June 29.

SIGNAL Media’s Disruptive by Design: Quantum at the Tipping Point (Special Intel Edition)

AFCEA International’s Intelligence Committee takes over the Disruptive by Design podcast for a special intelligence 3-part series exploring the technologies and challenges shaping national security. In this first episode, guest host Ret. Lt. Gen. Bob Ashley, former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, dives into the rapidly evolving world of quantum technology and its implications for intelligence, defense and global competition. We've heard on repeat that AI is going to change everything, but we haven't heard too much conversation about quantum. Quantum is no longer theoretical—it’s approaching a tipping point. Ashley sits down with two leading experts to unpack what quantum really means for national security, from breaking encryption to reshaping warfare. As breakthroughs accelerate and that global competition—especially with China—intensifies, the panel explores why the next 3–5 years could define who leads in this high‑stakes technology race, and what happens if the United States falls behind. Tune in as Ashley is joined by Dr. Costanza Vidal Bustamante, fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, and Dr. Mihir Bhaskar, senior vice president for global research and development at IonQ.

SIGNAL Media’s Disruptive by Design: DISA’s Stanton on Winning with Zero Trust, MPE and Cyber Talent

In this special #DisruptivebyDesign episode, SIGNAL Media reporters Evan Lynch and Nuray Taylor sit down with Lt. Gen. Paul Stanton, Director of DISA and Commander of the Department of War Cyber Defense Command. Stanton discusses the latest developments coming out of his agency, ranging from recruitment and retention to the mission network as a service rollout. Stanton is scheduled to speak at AFCEA International’s TechNet Cyber, taking place June 2-4 in Baltimore, MD. Join us at TechNet Cyber: https://events.afcea.org/afceacyber26/Public/enter.aspx [https://events.afcea.org/afceacyber26/Public/enter.aspx] Reporters Evan Lynch - elynch@afcea.org  Nuray Taylor - ntaylor@afcea.org  Contributing Reporters George I. Seffers Kimberly Underwood Producer Sandra Jontz Editor Lydia Antonio-Vila

SIGNAL Media’s Disruptive by Design: The Importance of Relationship Building

In this episode of Disruptive by Design, we bring you a compelling panel discussion from the AFCEA Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium (RMCS26), centered on a critical yet often overlooked driver of mission success: relationship building. Moderated by Maj. Gen. John W. Maluda, USAF (Ret.), the panel brings together a diverse group of leaders, including David Stickley, Former Services Executive at DISA and National Guard Bureau Advisor, U.S. Cyber Command; Col. Hansang Bae, USA (Ret.); Col. Von Gardner, USAF (Ret.) and Cadet Emile Olivier, USAF Academy. Featuring an introduction by Alisha Kelly Faulkner, Program Chair, RMCS 2026 and VP of Membership, AFCEA Rocky Mountain Chapter.

SIGNAL Media’s Disruptive by Design: Emerging Leaders Mentorship Webinar

In this recorded webinar from January 2026, hear directly from Emerging Leaders (EL) panelists representing AFCEA’s Alamo, Bethesda, Bonn, Hawaii and San Diego chapters as they discuss their personal journeys, lessons learned and how mentorship has shaped their professional paths. Learn more about AFCEA’s EL program: https://www.afcea.org/emerging-leaders [https://www.afcea.org/emerging-leaders]