Defense One Radio

A show about the technology, strategy, media and business trends defining the future of national security.

Conflicts to watch in 2026 12/18/2025

Conflicts to watch in 2026 CFR's Paul Stares unpacks the latest annual survey of foreign policy experts bracing for what might lie ahead. Guest: , General John W. Vessey senior fellow for conflict prevention and director of the Center for Preventive Action at the Council on Foreign Relations. Read the 2026 Preventive Priorities Survey results published this week at CFR . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/39460675

Paul Scharre explains the global AI arms race 12/12/2025

Paul Scharre explains the global AI arms race The former Army Ranger explores how AI might reshape drone warfare, America's tech race with China, Russia's war in Ukraine, and much more. Guest: , executive vice president at the Center for a New American Security and author of several books, including “,” and “.” /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/39388770

Rep. Rob Wittman 11/26/2025

Rep. Rob Wittman The Virginia Republican discusses the Pentagon’s acquisition reforms, the defense secretary’s legislative-affairs bottleneck, and his priorities for the upcoming spending bills. Guest: Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, in conversation with Defense One Executive Editor Bradley Peniston. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/39181935

Jon Wolfsthal and “A House of Dynamite” 11/07/2025

Jon Wolfsthal and “A House of Dynamite” A veteran of the National Security Council shares what the movie got right and wrong on U.S. missile defense and nuclear command and control. Guest: , Director of Global Risk at the Federation of American Scientists. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/38954450

Europe’s “drone wall” 10/30/2025

Europe’s “drone wall” Patrick Tucker explains what he learned during a recent trip to Eastern Europe. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/38851520

“The Wounded Generation” by David Nasaw 10/13/2025

“The Wounded Generation” by David Nasaw A celebrated historian shares years of research into the quiet and not-so-quiet struggles of millions of American veterans returning home from World War II. Guest: , historian, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and author of “.” /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/38543505

Europe's growing defense industry 09/26/2025

Europe's growing defense industry The EU's ambassador to the U.S. underscores the importance of the bloc's $910 billion defense plans known as Readiness 2030. Guest: European Union Ambassador to the United States . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/38366405

Highlights from AFA's Air, Space & Cyber Conference 09/24/2025

Highlights from AFA's Air, Space & Cyber Conference Our editors explore the vibe, the headlines, the aircraft, the drones, and the other news coming out of the Air Force Association’s big annual conference at National Harbor, Maryland. Guests: Tom Novelly, Defense One senior reporter covering air and space warfare; And Lauren C. Williams, Defense One senior editor. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/38345950

How drone warfare is changing 09/10/2025

How drone warfare is changing A researcher unpacks recent adaptations in drone technology after more than three years of Russia's ongoing Ukraine invasion. Guests: , advisor in Russia Studies at the Virginia-based research organization CNA; And Patrick Tucker, Defense One science and technology editor. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/38151130

Alpine Eagle's Jan-Hendrik Boelens 08/29/2025

Alpine Eagle's Jan-Hendrik Boelens A Munich-based developer with a new air-to-air counter-drone system shares insights into Europe's growing defense industry and recent lessons from Russia's Ukraine invasion. Guest: Jan-Hendrik Boelens, co-founder and CEO of . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/37981970

“Primal Intelligence” with Angus Fletcher 08/27/2025

“Primal Intelligence” with Angus Fletcher A researcher uses his work with U.S. special operations forces to explain a new neuroscientific approach to intuition, imagination, emotion, and common sense. Guest: , Professor of Story Science at Ohio State University’s Project Narrative. His latest book is called, "," from Penguin Random House. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/37981140

The Pentagon’s Golden Dome clampdown 08/19/2025

The Pentagon’s Golden Dome clampdown Guest: Patrick Tucker, Defense One science and technology editor. Read Tucker's recent reporting on the topic below: Related reading: “,” Tucker reported on August 14; "," former Naval War College professor Tom Nichols wrote for The Atlantic on August 8; “,” also via Tucker, reporting August 5; "," May 5, via the Congressional Budget Office with an estimated total price tag for Golden Dome somewhere between $831 billion to $542 billion; See also, "," via NPR's Geoff Brumfiel, reporting April 22. Watch the futuristic, satirical news clips from 1987's "Robocop," via YouTube, . And you can find a trailer for the 1985 film, "Real Genius," also via YouTube, . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/37869990

The U.S. military vs. drug cartels 08/12/2025

The U.S. military vs. drug cartels Guest: Journalist and writer , whose work focuses on U.S. special operations forces around the world. Read Maurer's report for Rolling Stone, “.” /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/37779565

Tech Summit talks: The venture capitalists’ perspective 08/06/2025

Tech Summit talks: The venture capitalists’ perspective Panelists: Susanne Hake, General Manager of U.S. Government Business for Maxar Intelligence; Greg Little, Senior Counselor at Palantir Technologies; Sarah Pearson, Director of Commercial Engagement at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU); David Rothzeid, Principal Investor at Shield Capital; And moderator Lauren Williams, Senior Editor at Defense One. View more of this year's Tech Summit discussions on YouTube . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/37706085

Tech Summit talks: The Space Rush 07/16/2025

Tech Summit talks: The Space Rush Panelists: Derek M. Tournear, Ph.D., Director, Space Development Agency; Bill Vass, CTO, Booz Allen; And Frank Konkel, Editor-in-Chief, Government Executive. View more of this year's Tech Summit discussions on YouTube . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/37430825

Tech Summit talks: Anduril's Chris Brose 07/10/2025

Tech Summit talks: Anduril's Chris Brose Speakers: Christian Brose, President and Chief Strategy Officer, Anduril Industries; And Patrick Tucker, Defense One’s science and technology editor. View more of this year's Tech Summit discussions (registration required) . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/37362655

Tech Summit talks: Golden Dome, hypersonics and missile defense 07/02/2025

Tech Summit talks: Golden Dome, hypersonics and missile defense Panelists: Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Piper, Deputy Director of Operations at North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD); Masao Dahlgren, fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Missile Defense Project; Doug Loverro, president of Loverro Consulting; And Patrick Tucker, Defense One’s science and technology editor. View any of this year's Tech Summit discussions (registration required) . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/37265025

Former Ukrainian defense chief Oleksii Reznikov 06/20/2025

Former Ukrainian defense chief Oleksii Reznikov Guests: Former Ukrainian Defense Minister in conversation with Defense One’s Patrick Tucker on the sidelines of the GLOBSEC 2025 conference in Prague. Defense One is media partner for this year's 20th edition of the in Prague. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/37092325

The future of NATO, with retired French Gen. Philippe Lavigne 06/09/2025

The future of NATO, with retired French Gen. Philippe Lavigne Guests: Philippe Lavigne, a retired French general, was Chief of Staff of the French Air and Space Force from 2018 to 2021, then NATO's transformation chief for three years. As media partner for this year's 20th edition of the in Prague, Defense One is sharing a series of special pre-conference interviews exploring the future of defense, technological innovation, the changing battlefield and geopolitical upheaval. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/36926680

Defense innovation with Shield AI’s Brandon Tseng 06/06/2025

Defense innovation with Shield AI’s Brandon Tseng Guests: , co-founder and president of Shield AI, in conversation with Defense One's Patrick Tucker. As media partner for this year's 20th edition of the in Prague, Defense One is sharing a series of special pre-conference interviews exploring the future of defense, technological innovation, the changing battlefield and geopolitical upheaval. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/36888525

What the Army is learning about FPV drones 06/04/2025

What the Army is learning about FPV drones Guests: Col. Joshua Gaspard, commander of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, based in Vicenza, Italy. Learn more about exercises Swift Response and African Lion 2025 and , respectively. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/36853470

The Marine Corps in the Pacific littorals 05/16/2025

The Marine Corps in the Pacific littorals Guests: Marine Lt. Gen. Roger B. Turner of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and the 3D Marine Division's Maj. Gen. Christian F. Wortman, in conversation with Defense One's . You can view our other 2025 State of Defense interviews . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/36595615

The Army’s updated fitness test 05/02/2025

The Army’s updated fitness test Guests: Command Sergeant Major , Command Senior Enlisted Leader of Army Special Operations Command, in conversation with Defense One's and Ben Watson. Related reading: "," published April 21, 2025; "," via RAND researchers, published Dec 20, 2024; And "," also via RAND, published Mar 23, 2022. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/36412470

Sea-Air-Space 2025, in review 04/18/2025

Sea-Air-Space 2025, in review Guests: Defense One's and . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/36224760

Army chief Gen. Randy George 04/04/2025

Army chief Gen. Randy George Guest: U.S. Army chief of staff Gen. Randy George, interviewed by Defense One’s Patrick Tucker. Catch our full State of Defense agenda and future events, . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/36006200

Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman 03/28/2025

Space Force Gen. Chance Saltzman Guest: U.S. Space Force commander Gen. Chance Saltzman, interviewed by Defense One’s Audrey Decker. Catch our full State of Defense agenda and future events, running through the end of March, . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/35905445

Air Force chief Gen. David Allvin 03/21/2025

Air Force chief Gen. David Allvin Guest: U.S. Air Force commander Gen. David Allvin, interviewed by Defense One’s Audrey Decker. Catch our full State of Defense agenda and future events, running through the end of March, . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/35814685

Marine Corps. Gen. Eric Smith 03/14/2025

Marine Corps. Gen. Eric Smith Our annual State of Defense interview series begins with a commandant working to balance crisis response and modernization. Learn more about that series . /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/35699675

Testing the Army’s new fighting strategy on Ukraine's doorstep 02/21/2025

Testing the Army’s new fighting strategy on Ukraine's doorstep Guest: U.S. Army Col. Joshua Glonek, commander 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. Related reading: "," from Sam Skove reporting in October; "," also via Skove, reporting from Louisiana's Fort Johnson in September; And in reruns there is "," featuring Skove speaking about his trip to Louisiana. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/35378920

The Air Force's force-design leader 02/04/2025

The Air Force's force-design leader Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel discusses his how his service's modernization strategy will shape the future of air combat in an increasingly complex security landscape. Guest: Air Force Maj. Gen. , director of Force Design, Integration and Wargaming at Air Force Futures; he's interviewed by Defense One air warfare reporter . Related viewing: "," January 28, 2025. /episode/index/show/defenseoneradio/id/35147890

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