Women in Defense 2025: Exploring Planetary Protection
Release Date: 10/10/2025
Reshaping Aerodynamics: Rise of Adaptive Morphing Control Surfaces in Aerospace & Defense Industry
Emerging Tech Horizons
Join Dr. Arun Seraphin for a conversation with Dr. Sridhar Kota and Hal Chrisman of FlexSys exploring how adaptive morphing control surfaces are transforming aerodynamics across the aerospace industry and defense industry. The discussion centers on this engineering breakthrough and its potential to reshape future DoD platforms and missions. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in the aerospace and defense industry, Dr. Kota and Chrisman explain how this adaptive technology can improve lift-to-drag ratios, reduce fuel consumption and noise, and eliminate the need for conventional...
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FY26 NDAA Acquisition Reform: What Changed, What Didn’t and What Comes Next
Emerging Tech Horizons
Another cycle of NDAA-driven Acquisition Reform has concluded, beginning with the introduction of the FoRGED Act and SPEED Act and culminating in the enactment of the FY26 NDAA. Join Dr. Arun Seraphin and Moshe Schwartz for a detailed discussion of NDAA acquisition reforms and why this legislation could represent one of the most significant defense acquisition reform packages in decades. Drawing on Moshe’s deep defense acquisition expertise, the conversation breaks down what changes to acquisition policy were enacted, what did not make it into law, and how Congress and the Department of...
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Mapping Pentagon Leadership Backgrounds: Analysis of Senior Civilian STEM Workforce in Emerging Tech
Emerging Tech Horizons
Join Dr. Arun Seraphin and Dr. Jae Yu for a conversation that explores new data on Pentagon senior civilian leadership, illuminating the backgrounds of individuals serving in STEM leadership roles focused on Emerging Technologies. This discussion draws on the NDIA ETI report published by Dr. Yu, “Mapping Government Officials in Emerging Technologies Roles,” which examines how STEM education and prior STEM experience shape career pathways within the Pentagon. The report and conversation analyze leadership backgrounds across the 14 critical technology areas identified by the Under Secretary...
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Different Reforms, Same Problems: Common Threads in Defense Acquisition Reform (Part 2)
Emerging Tech Horizons
In part two of this conversation, Dr. Arun Seraphin is joined again by HON. David Berteau to examine how Defense Acquisition and Acquisition Reform in the Defense Industry evolved after the end of the Cold War. Berteau reflects on why Defense Acquisition Reform has remained a persistent challenge and highlights the need for a balanced approach that weighs both mission success and financial outcomes across the Defense Industry. The conversation explores how Defense Acquisition challenges unfolded over time, beginning with post–Cold War budget drawdowns that accelerated consolidation within...
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Different Reforms, Same Problems: Common Threads in Defense Acquisition Reform
Emerging Tech Horizons
Join Dr. Arun Seraphin and David Berteau for a conversation exploring the common threads across major defense acquisition reform efforts since the 1980s. Drawing on decades of experience in both the public and private sectors, David offers a historical perspective on how shifting geopolitical threats have driven repeated efforts to reform the Department of Defense’s acquisition system. The discussion centers on the Carlucci Initiatives, which was a set of recommendations aimed at reducing costs, shortening acquisition timelines, and improving industry-DoD collaboration. Arun and David...
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I/ITSEC and the Future of Defense Training Technologies
Emerging Tech Horizons
Join ETI Associate Research Fellow Anna Kim for a live conversation from the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) with Bob Kleinhample, Director of the National Training and Simulation Association’s Next Big Things Initiative and CEO of Pioneer Sim. Drawing on his experience as an Army officer and longtime leader in modeling, simulation, and training, Bob shares insights on how emerging technologies are shaping the future of defense training and readiness. The discussion explores how artificial intelligence, quantum computing, human–machine...
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Industry and Innovation in the Tech Competition with China
Emerging Tech Horizons
Join host Arun Seraphin for a conversation on U.S.–China technology competition and industrial policy with Randy Shriver and Mike Kuiken of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Drawing from the Commission’s 2025 report, this episode examines how China uses state-directed industrial policy to accelerate innovation across critical sectors such as aerospace, biotechnology, semiconductors, and quantum computing—and what that means for U.S. economic and national security. Randy and Mike share insights from the Commission’s bipartisan work with Congress, highlighting...
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The Research Security Tightrope: Openness vs. Protection
Emerging Tech Horizons
Join host Dr. Arun Seraphin for a deep dive into the evolving challenges of research security in national security R&D with guest Dr. Shanni Silberberg of Lewis-Burke Associates. Dr. Silberberg discusses the need to balance global scientific collaboration with national security protections, as well as the practical challenges of implementation and assessing research risks. The conversation also includes examining the proposed SAFE Research Act, which appeared in the House version of the FY 2026 NDAA but was not included in the final bill. The legislation would have limited federal funding...
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Following the Money: Inside Pentagon Tech Funding
Emerging Tech Horizons
Join host Arun Seraphin for a discussion into the complexities of tracking Pentagon funding for emerging technologies with experts Bess Dopkeen, founder of Keen Edge Strategies and former senior advisor to former Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu, and Andy Vanlandingham, Director of Strategic Outreach at Draper and former Senate Appropriations Committee Professional Staff Member. This conversation covers the full lifecycle of defense funding, from the President’s budget request, through congressional appropriations, all the way to contract execution and...
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Countering the Drone Threat: Inside the Evolving CsUAS Battlespace
Emerging Tech Horizons
Join host Arun Seraphin for an in-depth exploration of countering small unmanned aerial systems (CsUAS) technologies with Booz Allen Hamilton experts Todd Krakowski, Director of the Defense Technology Group, and Kelley Norton, Systems Engineer and Software Project Lead of the Small Unmanned Aircraft Detection System (SUADS) program. This conversation dives into the rapidly evolving drone warfare landscape and the expanding drone threat, tracing how counter-drone technologies have developed from conflict zones like Ukraine and cutting-edge development efforts in the U.S. Krakowski and Norton...
info_outlineJoin host Arun Seraphin at the 2025 Women in Defense Conference for a conversation with PhD Candidate Adrienne Rudolph and Professor Brent Barbee of the University of Maryland. Together, they discuss the importance of gender solidarity in the defense sector while sharing their expertise in planetary defense systems. Highlighting the need for asteroid and meteoroid deterrence capabilities, they also review the roles of key government agencies and the technologies currently engaged in this mission.
Learn More:
https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-defense/
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