NatSec EmTech

Laura K. Donohue
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Technology
  • Updated Biweekly

Where Innovation meets Intelligence. Every episode is a journey to the unseen, unimagined places, from Space race 2.0, AI dilemmas, crypto crackdowns, bioengineering breakthroughs to strange new weapons you’ve never heard of. Join me as I bring together experts, insiders, and surprising voices to help you understand the technologies shaping the world we all are about to live in. 🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. 💡Want more - Join the Club @ https://nationalsecurity.law.georgetown.edu/natsec-technology/ and help shape the world!

  1. Sep 17

    Edge Decision-Making: The Future of Drone Warfare with Phil Lockwood

    In this episode we explore how drones have rapidly evolved from remotely piloted tools into increasingly autonomous systems that are reshaping modern warfare and national security. Professor Laura K. Donohue speaks to Phil Lockwood, former Head of Innovation at NATO and now Managing Director at Stark International, about the convergence of artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and uncrewed systems. Lockwood explains how drones are increasingly taking on "dull, dirty, and dangerous" tasks, discusses the spectrum from human-controlled to fully autonomous weapons, and how AI could become essential for navigation, target recognition, and counter-drone operations.  Could drones and artificial intelligence become the most ethical way to conduct combat operations? Is international law sufficient to govern AI-driven warfare and is a new international treaty needed around the proliferation and implementation of these systems?  And who bears responsibility when autonomous systems make unexpected decisions. We look at these questions and much more, including the idea that the greatest near-term threat may not be super-intelligent machines, but the growing accessibility of inexpensive, highly capable drones that could be deployed at scale by both state and non-state actors, creating significant challenges for defending critical infrastructure and civilian populations.

  2. Sep 3

    21st-Century Weapons, 20th-Century Frameworks with David Jonas

    In this episode of NatSec EmTech, Professor Laura K. Donohue speaks with Professor David Jonas, a leading expert on nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, and international treaty law about the evolution of the global nuclear order and the growing challenges it faces today. He explains the original purpose of nuclear arms control treaties following World War II, the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in monitoring nuclear programs.  Prior to his civilian service, David Jonas was a career Marine Corps officer where he held a wide variety of command and staff billets. He served as nuclear nonproliferation planner for the Joint Chiefs of Staff negotiating multiple international agreements and has worked extensively with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Conference on Disarmament, and the United Nations. We delve into the implications of states like India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea existing outside the traditional NPT framework, and the legal complexities surrounding treaties such as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Also exploring today's increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape, examining the expiration of New START, the collapse of meaningful arms control negotiations, the lessons of the Budapest Memorandum and the war in Ukraine, and the risks posed by renewed great-power competition with Russia and China.  And finally we ask, what keeps a leading nuclear nonproliferation expert up at night?

  3. Aug 20

    The Codes Behind the Coin, Part 2 with Alan Cohn

    This episode of NatSec EmTech continues the conversation with Alan Cohn, Chair of the Financial Innovation and Regulation Practice at Steptoe, by examining the complex legal and regulatory framework governing cryptocurrencies and digital assets. The discussion explores how anti-money laundering (AML) rules, sanctions, and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements apply to blockchain-based financial systems, explaining why cryptocurrency presents both unique challenges and unique investigative advantages. Alan describes how blockchain analytics allow law enforcement to trace transactions, identify patterns of illicit activity, and follow the provenance of funds, making cryptocurrencies fundamentally different, and not necessarily more anonymous, than traditional financial systems. The conversation also continues to explore the evolving regulatory landscape in the United States, including the roles of the SEC, CFTC, state regulators, and Congress in determining how digital assets should be classified and governed. Alan explains the ongoing debate over whether cryptocurrencies should be treated as securities or commodities, the shift away from "regulation by enforcement" toward clearer legislative frameworks, and the impact of recent proposals on the future of the industry. Finally, Professor Donohue and Mr. Cohn look at cryptocurrency through a national security lens, discussing ransomware, nation-state cyberattacks, sanctions enforcement, and how governments are adapting their regulatory and investigative tools to address emerging threats while fostering innovation.

  4. Aug 6

    The Codes Behind the Coin, Part 1 with Alan Cohn

    Understanding both the Technical and Legal Code behind Crypto and Blockchain: This episode of NatSec EmTech is the first of a two-part conversation with Alan Cohn, who is Chair of the Financial Innovation and Regulation Practice, and a Partner, at Steptoe, exploring the fundamentals of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Alan explains how cryptocurrencies were designed to solve key challenges in traditional financial systems, breaking down how blockchain's distributed ledger functions, how Bitcoin mining works, and the fundamental differences between Bitcoin and Ethereum. Along the way, he demystifies concepts such as smart contracts, oracles, and decentralization, while examining why Bitcoin has remained the most widely recognized and resilient cryptocurrency despite years of technical, financial, and political scrutiny. The conversation also explores the rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies and digital assets. Alan discusses the growing tension between the original vision of decentralized finance and its increasing adoption by mainstream financial institutions, while explaining how governments, regulators, and the banking industry are adapting to this transformative technology.

  5. Jul 23

    The Woomera Manual: Mapping the Rules of Space with Prof. David Koplow

    The episode explores the rapidly evolving field of space law through a conversation with  Professor David Koplow, co-editor of the Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military  Space Activities. The discussion examines whether today's legal framework, primarily the 1967  Outer Space Treaty, is equipped to govern modern space exploration, commercialization, and  military competition. Koplow argues that the treaty's core principles remain sound but are no  longer sufficient, leaving major legal gray areas around lunar settlements, resource extraction,  private companies like SpaceX, and the increasing role  of commercial actors. He emphasizes that humanity is not facing a lawless frontier in space, but rather a law-deficient one that urgently requires more detailed international agreements.  The conversation also tackles the growing security challenges posed by space. Koplow and host Professor Laura K. Donohue discuss the militarization of space, the ambiguity surrounding "peaceful purposes," the legal limits on nuclear weapons in orbit, the risks of anti-satellite warfare, intelligence gathering from space, and the potential for miscalculation during future conflicts.  They also explore emerging issues such as orbital debris, privacy concerns created by  increasingly powerful surveillance technologies, and the difficulties of enforcing arms-control  agreements in space.

  6. Jul 9

    Navigating the Law of Spectrum with Christian Hatten, Associate, Jenner & Block

    This episode explores the increasingly critical role of radio spectrum in space, telecommunications, and national security. Professor Laura K. Donohue speaks with space and telecommunications attorney Christian Hatten about how the finite spectrum, which enables every wireless communication, is regulated. Of note, the value, and the legal and technical challenges created by the rapid growth of satellite networks, are discussed. Their conversation explains how emerging technologies in connectivity could help close important gaps while introducing new challenges around interference, licensing, and spectrum allocation.

  7. Jun 25

    Systemic Shock: All Matters AI with Dr. Wayne Chung, Chief Technology Officer, Virtru

    In this episode, Professor Laura K. Donohue sits down with Dr. Wayne Chung, Chief Technology Officer at Virtru, to explore what AI really is and how rapid changes in the industry could reshape cybersecurity and why the United States faces an urgent but delicate challenge in regulating AI without surrendering technological leadership.  Dr. Chung shares his thinking on where the industry is at right now - in a way that is thoughtful, technically grounded, and cautious rather than sensationalist, but he does warn that society is moving very quickly into a world where AI systems can act autonomously, manipulate information, and interact with the real world in ways that existing laws and institutions are not prepared to handle.

  8. Jun 11

    Disarmament in Deep Space: Preventing the Next Arms Race with Almudena Azcárate Ortega

    As humanity's presence in space expands, so do the questions surrounding security, responsibility, and the future of international law. Is outer space still a peaceful domain, or has the weaponization of space already begun? In this episode of NatSec EmTech's Space Law series, Professor Laura K. Donohue sits down with Almudena Azcárate Ortega, Senior Program Analyst at Secure World Foundation and former fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDR). Together, they explore the evolving reality of weaponization of outer space. While international treaties prohibit certain activities in space, there are still incidents of populating space with weapons including potential repurposing of a benign device into something that could be used to harm. As more nations and private actors enter the space domain, where should the line be drawn between peaceful use and hostile action? What happens when current capabilities such as direct descent, jamming, spoofing, or cyber operations, blur this distinction?  The conversation also revisits the Reagan Administration's Strategic Defense Initiative, better known as "Star Wars" and examines how a vision once associated with science fiction continues to shape contemporary debates about missile defense, space security, and strategic deterrence. Beyond conflict in orbit, we discuss a challenge that receives far less attention: what comes back down. Space launch vehicles do not always remain in space, and the risks created by falling rocket stages and debris are not shared equally. Why do the consequences of reentry often fall disproportionately on nations and communities far removed from the benefits of space activity? And who bears responsibility when objects launched into space return to Earth in unexpected places? From nuclear weapons in orbit to the growing militarization of space infrastructure, this episode examines how existing legal frameworks confront the realities of an increasingly contested space environment. Join us as we explore the legal, political, and strategic challenges shaping the future of security in outer space. Disclaimer: Almudena Azcárate Ortega is no longer affiliated with UNIDR. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the guest and should not, under any circumstances, be attributed to UNIDR, Secure World Foundation, NatSec EmTech, the Center on National Security, or Georgetown Law.

See All (13)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Where Innovation meets Intelligence. Every episode is a journey to the unseen, unimagined places, from Space race 2.0, AI dilemmas, crypto crackdowns, bioengineering breakthroughs to strange new weapons you’ve never heard of. Join me as I bring together experts, insiders, and surprising voices to help you understand the technologies shaping the world we all are about to live in. 🎧 Listen now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. 💡Want more - Join the Club @ https://nationalsecurity.law.georgetown.edu/natsec-technology/ and help shape the world!

Information

  • Creator
    Laura K. Donohue
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Laura K. Donohue
  • Show Website
    NatSec EmTech

You Might Also Like