Building The Base

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts speak with Gina Sims, Director of the DoD's SBIR/STTR office, about revolutionizing defense innovation. Sims shares her journey from Air Force acquisition to leading the $3 billion small business innovation program, discussing how she's breaking down barriers for new entrants, streamlining processes, and fostering collaboration between government and industry. The conversation explores successful strategies for connecting small business technology with warfighter needs, the evolution of the SBIR program, and the critical role of human networking in defense innovation. Key Takeaways: 1. The DoD's SBIR/STTR program provides $3 billion annually in non-dilutive funding for small businesses. 2. SBIR Phase Three offers valuable sole-source contracting authority, allowing acquisition officers to bypass traditional competition.  3. Success in the SBIR program requires small businesses to clearly connect their technology solutions to specific DoD requirements. 4. The Air Force's "open topic" approach has broadened the defense industrial base by allowing companies to propose innovative commercial technologies that could benefit the DoD in ways not yet identified. 5. Effective program management requires breaking down silos through human networking and collaboration across DoD.

In this episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, currently performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities, to share insights on modernizing defense technology acquisition. Drawing from his experience as a fighter pilot and DARPA innovator, Browning discusses programs like RAIDER, APFIT, and Replicator, explaining how these initiatives are bridging capability gaps and accelerating the delivery of new technologies to warfighters while fostering closer collaboration between industry, operators, and acquisition teams. 5 Key Takeaways: 1. The "valley of death" in defense technology is primarily an information challenge rather than a fiscal one, requiring better communication of needs and capabilities across stakeholders. 2. Success in defense innovation requires understanding that the true customer includes not just end users, but also the requirements writers and acquisition professionals who enable procurement. 3. The DoD is creating new frameworks like the Technology Modernization Transition Review (TMTR) to better align requirements, acquisition, and capability development across services. 4. Effective transition of new technologies requires "relentless engagement" and creating a compelling body of evidence to justify rapid acquisition and deployment. 5. The future of defense acquisition relies on breaking down silos between technologists, operators, and acquirers while maintaining open architectures that enable integration of new capabilities.  Quotes: "Transition is a full contact sport if you really do want to take a new capability and get it into the field rapidly. It takes relentless engagement."  "Very few of the bureaucratic rules are stupid. They may be interpreted badly right now, but all of them were created over the bumps and bruises of time."

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Tracy Frost, Director of Technology Industrial Innovation Base, and Dr. Kate Sixt, Principal Director for Biotechnology at the Department of Defense. The conversation explores the revolutionary intersection of biotechnology and national security, diving into how the DoD is leveraging bio-manufacturing to strengthen domestic supply chains and innovate defense capabilities. From converting waste products into valuable materials to creating new pathways for manufacturing critical components, the discussion reveals how public-private partnerships are reshaping America's industrial base. 5 Key Takeaways: 1.  BioTechnology in defense has evolved beyond traditional military medicine to include manufacturing materials, chemicals, and specialized fuels using biological processes 2. The DoD is actively building public-private partnerships to bridge the gap between research and manufacturing, particularly through initiatives like BioMADE. 3. Bio-manufacturing offers environmental advantages over traditional chemical manufacturing, primarily through water-based rather than petroleum-based processes 4. Supply chain security is being strengthened through domestic bio-manufacturing capabilities, especially for industrial chemicals at lower tiers of the supply chain.  5. The field offers diverse career opportunities across education levels, from technical certificates to PhDs, with particular demand in supply chain modeling and precision engineering

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome back Jason Rathje, Director of the Department of Defense's Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), as the first-ever repeat guest. Jason shares his personal journey from an early passion for technology and innovation to leading OSC’s groundbreaking efforts. He highlights the progress made since his last appearance, including a major announcement of $984 million in available credit to bolster U.S. industrial capacity and national security, further bridging private capital with defense technology to maintain America's competitive edge. Five Key Takeaways: 1. OSC’s Impact: OSC has introduced a scalable financial approach, using federal credit programs to drive investment in critical technology. 2. New Funding Model: A loan and loan guarantee program, that allows private sector partners to access affordable, long-term credit. 3. First Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA): Nearly $1 billion for loan distribution to modernize, procure, and refurbish manufacturing equipment. 4. Strategic Competition: By offering longer loan terms, OSC supports companies that are vital to national security, counteracting the market's reluctance to invest in high-risk, low-return areas such as hardware technology. 5. Future Opportunities: OSC’s approach will continue to evolve, with more financial products being launched based on industry feedback. Memorable Quotes: * Jason Rathje: "Raising twins is maybe the hardest thing we’ve ever done... it’s certainly right up there with starting a brand-new organization in the Pentagon." * Jason Rathje: "This is a seismic shift in how the Department of Defense engages with our industrial base... We are offering something scalable, unlike direct government spending."

DoD Minseries : Maintaining The Edge Research and Engineering; Part 1 of 4 In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (DoD R&E). Broadcasting live from the Pentagon, this conversation launches a new miniseries focused on the groundbreaking work of DoD R&E. Bess shares her unique journey to the Pentagon, insights into the office's major initiatives—including biomanufacturing, microelectronics, and strategic capital—and the innovative programs shaping the future of defense. She also provides a behind-the-scenes look at what the DoD is doing to accelerate development, iterate faster, and strengthen the country’s technological capabilities. Key Takeaways: 1. Biomanufacturing Innovation: Over $1 billion allocated to revolutionize biomanufacturing and integrate biotechnology into defense. 2. Microelectronics Focus: $2 billion investment to advance microelectronics R&D, critical for defense strategies. 3. Strategic Capital: New financial tools like loans and guarantees to drive innovation in non-traditional sectors. 4. Faster Tech Deployment: DoD is accelerating tech development by partnering with both traditional and non-traditional contractors. 5. Bess Dopkeen's Journey: Bess shares her 19-year career path from contractor to Senior Advisor at the Pentagon.