DIB Innovators

RADICL

The DIB Innovators podcast celebrates the brilliant minds behind innovation within the Defense Industrial Base. In each episode, host and co-founder of RADICL, David Graff will speak with DIB leaders who are driving technological advancements, championing our nation’s security, and shaping the future of defense technology. Brought to you by RADICL — Cybersecurity-as-a-Service purpose-built for small and mid-sized businesses in the Defense Industrial Base. Starting your CMMC journey? RADICL guides and accelerates your compliance—while reducing ransomware and other cyber risks—with a transparent, turn-key solution. www.radicl.com/cmmc_solved

  1. EP 74 — Roger's Jill Castilla on Building Fee-Free Banking for Under-18 Military Recruits

    2D AGO

    EP 74 — Roger's Jill Castilla on Building Fee-Free Banking for Under-18 Military Recruits

    Roger fills gaps other military banks ignore: free credit score monitoring that typically costs $20 monthly, 2% yield on checking with savings rates reaching 5.25% during peak periods, and zero overdraft fees while competitors generate significant revenue from service member overdrafts. Jill Castilla, President & CEO of Roger Bank/Citizens Bank of Edmond, walks through how the platform's fraud detection handles the reality that 75% of account opening attempts come from bots, while allowing legitimate zero-balance accounts to remain open for a year pre-enlistment.    All Roger staff have military experience and provide 24/7 access for financial mentoring, addressing the recruiter-reported problem of family members committing fraud on young service members' accounts during training. Jill also compressed Citizens Bank's VA loan timeline to match conventional loan speeds after experiencing discrimination firsthand, eliminating the realtor objection that VA loans "take too long" and preventing service members from competing for homes.   Topics discussed:   Creating pre-filled CEO-signed direct deposit forms that eliminate missed training days and delayed paychecks for new recruits. Allowing under-18 account opening with any enlistment-accepted ID, a capability unavailable at other military banks for online accounts. Detecting fraud at scale where 75% of account opening attempts come from bots rather than real people. Providing free credit score monitoring, 2% checking yields, and zero overdraft fees while competitors profit from service member overdrafts. Partnering with Mark Cuban to deliver COVID stimulus solutions in 72 hours and PPP forgiveness platform in 10 days. Compressing VA loan timelines to match conventional speeds, eliminating realtor discrimination against service members in competitive housing markets. Proposing CRA credit incentives for banks offering small-dollar loans to compete with 200%+ interest payday lenders around bases.

    45 min
  2. EP 73 — Ethos's Sasha Seymore on Training Warfighters at the Speed of Weapons Innovation

    OCT 17

    EP 73 — Ethos's Sasha Seymore on Training Warfighters at the Speed of Weapons Innovation

    Sasha Seymore, Co-founder & President at Ethos, walked onto the UNC basketball team as a senior, struggled with outdated playbook training, and turned that frustration into a company that cuts military schoolhouse failure rates by two-thirds while saving millions per location. His co-founder Andrew was student body president studying active learning pedagogy, and together they built a platform that measures knowledge gaps impacting performance rather than just tracking completion.    The dual-use approach serves defense, life sciences, manufacturing, and retail customers with one unifying principle: accelerating time to competency on critical knowledge that directly affects performance outcomes. Sasha's experience as a Navy reservist with the Defense Innovation Unit gives him essential customer empathy and insight into institutional problems that outsiders miss. The five-year vision centers on becoming the comprehensive training and readiness platform as new weapon systems roll out faster than traditional training can accommodate.   Topics discussed:   The parallel training methodologies between championship athletic programs and military operational readiness that focus on measuring knowledge gaps before performance day. The transition from SBIR Phase 2 directed funding through AFWERX and Naval X to 20-25 Phase 3 contracts by demonstrating measurable cost savings and readiness improvements. How Navy reservist experience with the Defense Innovation Unit provides essential customer empathy and insight into institutional problems that pure technologists miss. The strategic decision to focus on operational readiness tools rather than compliance platforms by prioritizing critical knowledge that directly impacts performance outcomes. The dual-use platform strategy that serves defense, life sciences, manufacturing, and retail customers while maintaining product focus on performance-critical training. How AI-powered content authoring converts physical playbooks and subject matter expert knowledge into interactive training modules in days rather than months. Why readiness dashboards that surface knowledge gaps in real-time enable instructors to correct misconceptions before exams. The challenge of training soldiers on new weapon systems at the speed of technological advancement when passive learning models cannot close the gap. Why diverse team composition combining military veterans and private-sector technologists creates better products than homogeneous backgrounds focused solely on either domain.

    40 min
  3. EP 72 — Zone 5's Thomas Akers on Why Production-Focused Requirements Beat Performance Goals

    OCT 2

    EP 72 — Zone 5's Thomas Akers on Why Production-Focused Requirements Beat Performance Goals

    Zone 5 Technologies cut cruise missile costs from $1.5 million to $200,000 by rethinking not just the engineering, but how you build the supply chain and factory floor around cost targets from day one. Thomas Akers, CEO, shares how his team goes from contract award to weapon flight in 4 months by keeping engineers right next to the production line, writing all their own software, and doing machining in-house. When a problem hits the shop floor, an engineer can be there in a minute.   The real insight is what he calls their "production-focused requirement set." Instead of designing for maximum performance and then figuring out how to build it, they start with manufacturing rate targets and work backward. Every design decision serves the question: how fast can we make this weapon at scale?   Topics discussed:   Reducing cruise missile costs from $1.5 million to $200,000 through production-focused design and vertical manufacturing integration. Achieving contract-to-flight timelines of 4 months by co-locating engineers with production staff and maintaining tight feedback loops. Implementing "production-focused requirement sets" that prioritize manufacturing rate targets over maximum performance optimization in weapon design. Building affordable mass missiles using turbojet propulsion at 0.7 Mach and 25,000 feet for 500-nautical-mile range capabilities. Operating as a bootstrap company for 14 years without outside investors to maintain long-term strategic flexibility and control. Leveraging America's existing machine shop network instead of competing for capacity at specialized defense manufacturing facilities. Navigating government acquisition through OTA contracts while maintaining proprietary software development and avoiding open-source security risks.

    41 min
  4. EP 71 — Skydio’s Mark Valentine on How Sanctions Freed Them from Supply Chain Dependence

    AUG 26

    EP 71 — Skydio’s Mark Valentine on How Sanctions Freed Them from Supply Chain Dependence

    What happens when China sanctions your drone company? For Skydio, it became the catalyst for complete supply chain independence and battle-tested technology that now guides Ukrainian artillery strikes. Mark Valentine, Global Head of National Security Strategy, breaks down the story for Dave: when their drones in Ukraine failed due to single-band radios and GPS dependence, his team made 36 field visits over two years, embedded Ukrainian engineers, and developed Asimov software enabling complete GPS-jammed operation with frequency-hopping radios.    But the real revelation isn't military, it's civilian. While the DoD debates drone strategy, law enforcement has already cracked the code. New York City operates 600 dock-based drones integrated with ShotSpotter and domain awareness systems. Single operators supervise unlimited robots through connected systems and dock-based persistence — capabilities the military avoids due to connectivity phobia.   Mark also offers his leadership framework, distilled from Microsoft's Satya Nadella, centers on distinguishing "two-way door" decisions (reversible, move fast) from "one-way door" decisions (irreversible, deliberate carefully). This becomes critical in startups where you're making calls alone without institutional backup: speed depends entirely on recognizing which type of decision you're facing.   Topics discussed:   Building GPS-denied navigation capabilities and frequency-hopping radios after Ukraine deployment failures exposed drone limitations. Implementing two-way door versus one-way door decision framework for rapid startup execution without institutional backup support. Deploying 600 dock-based drones integrated with ShotSpotter systems for 28-second autonomous response in New York City. Creating platform extensibility through four USB-C hardpoints enabling third-party sensors from grenade droppers to life preservers. Achieving complete supply chain independence from Chinese suppliers after sanctions targeting Taiwan fire department support. Enabling single-operator supervision of unlimited drones through connected systems versus the military's disconnected one-to-one approach. Developing obstacle avoidance AI using six fisheye cameras and eight-layer neural networks for autonomous flight capabilities.

    49 min
  5. EP 70 — A-LIGN's Matt Bruggeman on External Service Provider Scope Issues That Kill CMMC

    JUL 3

    EP 70 — A-LIGN's Matt Bruggeman on External Service Provider Scope Issues That Kill CMMC

    Defense contractors assume they understand CMMC assessments, but Matt Bruggeman, Director of GTM Federal at A-LIGN, has a harsh reality check for them: organizations consistently arrive for certification without basic documentation like authorization boundaries or data flow diagrams. The gap between CMMC perception and assessment reality is creating a compliance crisis, he tells Dave.   A-LIGN operates as a top-3 FedRAMP assessor and C3PAO, giving Matt unique visibility into federal compliance across multiple frameworks. His unconventional background combining electrical engineering from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with professional improv comedy shaped his approach to explaining complex technical requirements through clear communication.   Topics discussed:   The assessment methodology uses NIST 800-171A that evaluates 320 assessment objectives rather than just 110 controls, requiring organizations to prove compliance across significantly more granular requirements. External service provider scope issues that consistently trip up organizations during assessments, particularly around MSP, MSSP, and cloud service relationships that require FedRAMP authorization or equivalent. C3PAO backlog management and timing strategies, with smaller assessors facing 3-9 month delays while larger firms like A-LIGN maintain shorter timelines through strategic CCA and CCP resource investments. The three-bucket cost structure of CMMC compliance covering infrastructure changes, readiness process management, and assessment fees ranging from $40,000-$80,000 depending on scope complexity. Phase 1 documentation review failures where organizations arrive without basic elements like system security plans, authorization boundaries, or data flow diagrams for CUI handling. Readiness partner selection criteria and the risks of attempting internal-only compliance approaches that result in failed assessments and doubled costs for remediation. The relationship between compliance frameworks and actual security posture, including how feedback during public comment periods can influence framework development and practical implementation. FedRAMP equivalency requirements for cloud service providers handling CUI, including the December 2023 DoD memo defining the single pathway through 3PAO assessment against FedRAMP moderate baseline. Early C3PAO engagement advantages including assessment planning coordination, partner network efficiencies, and pricing benefits for organizations working with vetted readiness partners.

    43 min
  6. EP 69 — Venus Aerospace's Sassie Duggleby on Mach 5 Flight With No Moving Parts

    JUN 26

    EP 69 — Venus Aerospace's Sassie Duggleby on Mach 5 Flight With No Moving Parts

    Venus Aerospace achieved the first flight of a high-thrust rotating detonation rocket engine, proving that decades of theoretical research can translate into breakthrough propulsion technology. Sassie Duggleby, CEO & Co-founder,  tells Dave about conducting eight engine tests per day while maintaining manufacturing, mission control, and testing in the same facility compressed development timelines from decades into four years.   The breakthrough enables rockets to operate with 67% propellant instead of the industry standard 90%, creating massive payload advantages for defense applications. Sassie shares their strategic pivot from commercial hypersonic travel to defense applications as geopolitical realities shifted, and how combining detonation technology with ramjet systems creates single engines capable of accelerating from takeoff to Mach 5 with no moving parts. She also addresses advanced fundraising strategies for deep tech companies and regulatory challenges including FAA limitations that forced them to throttle capable systems during testing.   Topics discussed: The technical breakthrough of rotating detonation rocket engines that achieve supersonic combustion while reducing propellant requirements from 90% to 67% of total system weight. Rapid iteration methodologies that enable eight engine tests per day through integrated manufacturing, mission control, and testing facilities at Houston Spaceport. Proprietary thermal management solutions that prevent detonation engines from melting during sustained operation at supersonic combustion temperatures. Strategic pivoting from commercial hypersonic travel applications to defense programs including missiles, drones, and orbital transfer vehicles as market conditions evolved. Combined detonation-ramjet engine systems that enable single powerplants to accelerate from takeoff to Mach 5 with no moving parts. Deep tech fundraising strategies for transitioning from R&D-focused companies to production-scale operations while maintaining investor confidence during market downturns. Regulatory navigation challenges in hypersonic flight testing, including FAA speed limitations and the development of commercial test ranges for advanced propulsion systems. The formation and operation of support networks for female aerospace founders in an industry where women represent only 10-11% of the workforce. Scaling challenges for breakthrough propulsion technologies, including IP protection strategies and the transition from academic research to commercial applications.

    33 min
  7. EP 68 — Nooks' Sean Blackman on Classified Infrastructure as a Service Model

    JUN 19

    EP 68 — Nooks' Sean Blackman on Classified Infrastructure as a Service Model

    America's defense innovation pipeline has a massive bottleneck that most people don't even realize exists: the infrastructure access problem that prevents our best technology companies and cleared talent from working on classified programs. Sean Blackman, Co-founder & CEO at Nooks, experienced this firsthand as a Navy F-18 pilot trying to get non-traditional companies onto classified contracts, only to discover the catch-22 that has plagued defense innovation for decades. His solution is treating classified infrastructure like cloud computing rather than requiring bespoke facilities   Sean's journey from the cockpit to Meta's anti-misinformation team to highlights why traditional approaches to classified work infrastructure are failing at scale. With 5 million Americans now holding security clearances compared to hundreds of thousands decades ago, the old model of one company, one contract, one SCIF simply doesn't work anymore. The conversation with Dave explores how Nooks is building a network of shared classified facilities that companies can access for $500 per user per month — less than the cost of flying across the country to use traditional SCIFs.    Topics discussed: The fundamental chicken-and-egg problem preventing non-traditional defense companies from accessing classified work due to SCIF requirements versus contract prerequisites. How the shift from hundreds of thousands to 5 million Americans with security clearances has broken the traditional bespoke infrastructure model that worked for smaller cleared populations. The strategic application of fractional biotech lab models to classified infrastructure, creating shared facilities that accelerate innovation through increased access and reduced barriers. Why 60-70% of existing SCIFs face obsolescence under new government standards, creating an unprecedented recapitalization crisis across the defense and intelligence community. The operational complexity of integrating over 1,000 different classified networks across agencies that historically avoided collaboration by building separate systems. The dual-use business model that serves both government agencies facing return-to-office challenges and private companies needing classified access without bespoke facility investments. Mobile SCIF deployment capabilities that can establish classified work environments anywhere in the United States within eight hours, fundamentally changing geographic constraints. The security advantages of consolidating classified work into professionally managed facilities with dedicated security focus versus thousands of companies interpreting security policy individually. Why treating security as a revenue center rather than cost center enables investment in advanced protective technologies that exceed traditional facility capabilities.

    41 min
  8. EP 67 — Vatn’s Nelson Mills on the Three Pillars Every Defense Startup Must Master

    JUN 12

    EP 67 — Vatn’s Nelson Mills on the Three Pillars Every Defense Startup Must Master

    The underwater domain has become central to great power competition, yet existing autonomous underwater vehicles cost $500,000+ and require teams of specialists to operate single units. Nelson Mills, CEO & Founder of Vatn Systems, and his team have flipped this equation, building vehicles that travel 30+ knots underwater while enabling one operator to deploy hundreds of units with minimal training.    Nelson's experience as an investor proved invaluable not just for fundraising connections, but for understanding what investors seek in defense companies and how to structure deals effectively. His focus on user experience draws from consumer technology principles, recognizing that ease of use and intuitive operation create force multiplication effects that traditional defense contractors often overlook.    Topics discussed: The three-pillar defense sales framework encompassing operator advocacy, program office relationships, and congressional support. Patent-pending modularity architecture that enables mass production of 2,000+ units annually while supporting diverse payload configurations. Strategic focus decisions between dual-use applications versus concentrated government market penetration, including resource allocation considerations. In-house navigation system development to overcome cost constraints of existing high-end solutions while maintaining tactical utility and performance standards. User experience design principles applied to defense technology, emphasizing intuitive operation and minimal training requirements for force multiplication effects. Manufacturing digitization through Palantir partnership to identify bottlenecks, supply chain issues, and optimization opportunities in real-time production environments. Congressional engagement strategies including lobbyist utilization, NDAA language development, and appropriations advocacy as essential components of defense market access. Valley of death navigation through transitional funding programs while layering products at different technology readiness levels. Autonomous decision-making capabilities including obstacle avoidance, target recognition through sonar, and mission adaptation without constant human oversight. Commercial applications in offshore wind, cable monitoring, and energy sector operations as adjacent markets requiring minimal engineering modifications to core vehicle platforms.

    39 min
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About

The DIB Innovators podcast celebrates the brilliant minds behind innovation within the Defense Industrial Base. In each episode, host and co-founder of RADICL, David Graff will speak with DIB leaders who are driving technological advancements, championing our nation’s security, and shaping the future of defense technology. Brought to you by RADICL — Cybersecurity-as-a-Service purpose-built for small and mid-sized businesses in the Defense Industrial Base. Starting your CMMC journey? RADICL guides and accelerates your compliance—while reducing ransomware and other cyber risks—with a transparent, turn-key solution. www.radicl.com/cmmc_solved

Information

  • Creator
    RADICL
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    DIB Innovators

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