Defense Mavericks Bonnie Evangelista | Tradewinds × CDAO

This week, Bonnie joins the GovExec’s AI Spotlight Series hosted by George Jackson for a roundtable discussion on the DoD’s role in AI with Tyler Sweatt from Second Front Systems, Jason Preisser from DARPA, and Alexis Bonnell from AFRL. Together, they explore the transformative potential of AI, focusing on AI adoption, process innovation, and the cultural shifts that need to happen within the DoD to leverage AI capabilities. Tune in for an insightful conversation on how AI can revolutionize the defense space, if we let it.

TIMESTAMPS:

(4:25) How do we increase acquisition speed?

(6:02) The unsexy reality of government’s use of AI

(8:49) Why the department still operates from an industrial age approach

(12:13) How to cheat time in procurement

(18:10) Why we need to focus on governance and attention as a currency

(20:05) Three key decision-making traits to push innovation forward

(27:22) Integrating AI with mission and people at scale

(30:20) Why the DoD needs to guide industry

LINKS:

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

Follow Tyler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylersweatt/

Follow Alexis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexisbonnell/

Follow Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-r-preisser-05878220/

Follow George: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-jackson-70b37b2a2/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

GovExec: https://govexec.com/

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/

This week, Bonnie sits down with Casey Perley, Director of Army Applications Lab, to talk about how to accelerate tech transfer and innovation within the military. Casey shares her insights on the challenges and opportunities in transitioning commercial technologies to benefit our soldiers. From the importance of collaboration and cross-functional teams to the pressing need for speed in accessing new tech, this episode dives into the strategies and approaches to drive impactful change. Tune in for a deep dive into military innovation and problem-solving.

TIMESTAMPS:

(3:15) Lessons learned from DIU 1.0

(6:48) Why cross-functional teams are a must for successful tech transfer

(10:22) Navigating funding sources for innovation and acquisitions

(14:50) Balancing end user needs with budget constraints

(18:37) How Catalyst Pathfinder is empowering soldiers with low-cost solutions

(22:19) How to build relationships with transition partners

(25:56) Measuring success in tech innovation projects

(30:10) Why listening to both soldiers and industry is key

LINKS:

Follow Casey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseyperley/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Army Applications Laboratory: https://aal.army/

This week, Bonnie sits down with Emma Bates, founder of PaaS tool Cachai and a veteran DoD strategy thinker, live from South by Southwest 2024. Emma shares her journey from a DIU fellow to founding Cachai, driven by her mission to tackle complex coordination challenges in computer systems for national defense. They dive into the significance of human connections, the reality behind SBIR STTRs for dual-use companies, and the importance of clear communication when working with the DoD. Tune in for a great discussion on modernizing technology in defense and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.

TIMESTAMPS:

(3:28) The bottleneck in state management for distributed systems

(9:17) How the name “Cachai” came to be

(15:25) Why dual-use startups should not focus on government first

(18:23) The challenge of translating military requirements into tech terms

(23:31) The missing piece from DoD that could streamline private sector innovation

(30:15) Why most transition funds are unusable

(35:25) How collaboration empowers clear next steps for innovation

LINKS:

Follow Emma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmasophiabates/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Cachai: https://cachai.io/

This week, Bonnie is joined by Will Roper, CEO of Istari and former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, to talk about the future of military technology and innovation. Will shares his journey from theoretical physicist to defense acquisition leader and what it took to drive innovation along the way. He dives into the impact of digital engineering, the role of software and data in modern warfare, and the importance of adapting to rapidly evolving technological landscapes. Tune in to learn more about how the defense sector can effectively compete on a global scale.

TIMESTAMPS:

(2:39) How a theoretical physicist revolutionized military procurement

(3:20) Why software factories are the Air Force's new frontier

(8:45) Will’s playbook for innovation & sustainable enterprise change

(12:30) The secret to successful digital engineering

(17:15) What’s next for AI operationalization?

(24:49) Advice for current and future acquisition professionals

(29:24) The key to scaling innovation and moving past the “planting of seeds”

(31:13) Underestimated difficulty of creating digital engineering platforms

(34:03) Formula One and federal acquisitions—parallels and lessons

LINKS:

Follow Will: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamroper/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Istari: https://www.istaridigital.com/

This week, Bonnie is joined by Brennan Townley, CEO of Collaboration.AI to dive into the world of government contracting, innovative teamwork, and the impact of technology in defense collaboration. Brennan shares his unexpected journey into the DoD, highlighting the nuances of navigating government contracts and the power of connecting the right people to the right problems. Tune in to learn how storytelling and human-centered collaboration are shaping the future of tech in government.

TIMESTAMPS:

(1:30) Solving the government's hairiest problems

(5:16) How to succeed despite continuous government turnover

(7:41) Why a startup mentality helps you test & iterate faster

(12:37) Transitioning from SBIR phase II to III

(16:23) Struggling to define customer personas

(20:31) How to connecting the right people for collaboration opportunities

(26:17) Linking non-traditional contractors to military programs

(28:13) Connecting with people beyond transactional relationships

LINKS:

Follow Brennan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennantownley/

Follow Bonnie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-evangelista-520747231/

CDAO: https://www.ai.mil/

Tradewinds AI: https://www.tradewindai.com/

Collaboration.AI: https://collaboration.ai/