Pioneering Progress Part 2: An American Industrial Innovation Policy
Release Date: 01/15/2025
Building the Future of Maritime Mobility
Emerging Tech Horizons
In this episode, we are joined by Tom Huntley, who is Vice President of Government Relations and Defense at REGENT, to discuss the future of advanced maritime mobility. We discuss the technological breakthroughs that have allowed for recent developments in Seagliders and the current state of play in the maritime industry. Additionally, Huntley lays out the potential commercial, homeland security, and defense missions that seagliders are well-suited for. For more information on REGENT, visit their website: To view the first flight of REGENT’s quarter-scale seaglider, watch this...
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Replacing the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System
Emerging Tech Horizons
In this episode, we are joined by William C. Greenwalt, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), to evaluate the state of the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDs). Drawing on the release of his new report, “Required to Fail | Beyond Documents: Accelerating Joint Advantage through Direct Resourcing and Experimentation,” Greenwalt discusses the need to reform JCIDs to ensure military capabilities serve joint force needs rather than individual services, driving interoperability across services, and connecting strategy to acquisition by validating the...
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Grading the U.S. National Security Innovation Base
Emerging Tech Horizons
In March, the Ronald Reagan Institute published its third annual National Security Innovation Base (NSIB) Report Card, a scorecard that uses 10 indicators such as 'Manufacturing Capacity and Industrial Base' and 'Innovation Capital' to measure the effectiveness and resilience of the U.S. defense innovation base. Join Rachel Hoff, Policy Director at the Reagan Institute, and Eric Snelgrove, CEO of Revere Federal Strategies, as they discuss how the scorecard is produced and indicators are chosen, why the private sector received higher grades than the government in key areas, which indicators are...
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Defense Budget Reforms: An Appropriators Perspective
Emerging Tech Horizons
In this episode, we sit down with Kate Käufer, former Majority Clerk of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and founder of KMK Global Strategies, to review past attempts at financial management reform within the Department of Defense. Kaufer discusses the successes and lessons learned from past attempts at acquisitions, PPBE, and requirements reform, and shares her recommendations for future attempts at change. Additionally, Kaufer highlights the relationship between the DOD and Congress in the quest for more efficient budgeting and appropriations systems. Check out our recent...
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The State of Defense Appropriations
Emerging Tech Horizons
In this episode, we sit down with Kate Käufer, former Majority Clerk of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and founder of KMK Global Strategies, to unpack the complexities of the current state of play in defense funding – including the FY25 continuing resolution, budget reconciliation, and impending FY26 budget processes. Käufer shares insights from over two decades on the Hill, highlighting how defense programs will be affected by the CR and expected funding actions by Congress, and what the potential impacts will be for defense and commercial industry. To receive updates...
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5 Years Later: How is DoD's Adaptive Acquisition Framework Working?
Emerging Tech Horizons
In 2020, the DoD adopted the Adaptive Acquisition Framework (AAF), a major shift aiming to make DoD procurement faster, more flexible, and closer to commercial innovation models. Five years in, what progress has been made? Join GAO’s Shelby Oakley and Robert Bullock as they break down the results of a new GAO study, covering how “iterative” acquisition is actually playing out, and the importance of modular contracts, agile funding, and digital support tools. To receive updates about the NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition on August 27-29, 2025 at the...
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Building and Integrating Capabilities Using Modular Open Systems Architecture
Emerging Tech Horizons
Our guests, Dr. Evan Fortunato (President & CEO, Apogee Research), Kirk McConnell (retired Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee), and Robert “Otis” Winkler (Vice President, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions) join the podcast for a discussion on Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA). During this episode, they cover the operational advantages and acquisition risks, how recent legislation affects the Department of Defense’s adoption of MOSA practices, and how to think about standards as a barrier or enabler of modular and open systems. The podcast...
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Understanding Modular Open Systems Approach and Why it Matters for DoD
Emerging Tech Horizons
How is the Department of Defense faring with incorporating Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) into its technology development processes? Recent legislation requires acquisition programs to implement a MOSA to the maximum extent practicable. Anne McDonough, Assistant Director at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), joins the podcast to describe what MOSA is, who owns the MOSA approach on a program, and what the benefits and risks are as well as how policy can affect implementation. In this episode, Anne covers a recent GAO report that evaluates the extent to which DoD is able to...
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Hypersonic Aircraft—Accelerating Toward the Future
Emerging Tech Horizons
Hermeus Corporation is a venture-backed aerospace company developing reusable hypersonic aircraft for defense and commercial flight. Join Zach Shore, Chief Revenue Officer, to explore how Hermeus is overcoming technical, regulatory, and funding hurdles to advance U.S. leadership in reusable hypersonic flight. To receive updates about the conference please join our mailing list here: http://emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org https://www.facebook.com/EmergingTechETI https://www.linkedin.com/company/ndia-eti-emerging-technologies-institute https://www.twitter.com/EmergingTechETI
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Analyzing Unidentified Aerial Phenomena
Emerging Tech Horizons
Recent government and public imagery of unidentified flying objects (UFO) has lead to increased Congressional and Pentagon interest in the analysis of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). Dr. Buettner describes the Pentagon's role in UAP analysis under the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), describes some recent incidents that have captures the media's attention, and discusses possible explanations for UAP. Is this just a problem with our sensors? Is it experimental aircraft or commercial drones? Join a discussion of how these kinds of incidents can be technically analyzed to try to...
info_outlineJoin MIT's Bill Bonvillian, author of the new book "Pioneering Progress: American Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy," as he describes the elements of an effective industrial innovation policy to support national defense and other missions. What role did the government play in successful technology ventures like Tesla's electric vehicles and Operation Warp Speed? How can an industrial innovation policy steer clear of the mistakes of the past? How should policy be tailored in a world of VC investors? What should the new Congress do to shape new industrial policies?
Pioneering Progress: https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5865/Pioneering-ProgressAmerican-Science-Technology-and
https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262549448/pioneering-progress/ (click Open Access)
NDIA ETI report on Rapid Technology Capability Adoption (including Operation Warp Speed):
To receive updates about the upcoming 2025 NDIA Emerging Technologies Conference and Exhibition please join our mailing list here:
https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up
http://emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org https://www.facebook.com/EmergingTechETI https://www.linkedin.com/company/ndia-eti-emerging-technologies-institute https://www.twitter.com/EmergingTechETI