Emerging Tech Horizons

ETI provides research and analyses to inform the development and integration of emerging technologies into the defense industrial base. This podcast will feature topics and speakers focusing on emerging technologies.

How Faster Systems Integration Can Transform Defense Innovation 08/12/2026

How Faster Systems Integration Can Transform Defense Innovation Modern warfare depends on the ability to rapidly integrate emerging technology, sensors, software, and autonomous systems into existing military platforms. Yet despite years of modernization efforts, systems integration and interoperability remain some of the Department of Defense's greatest challenges, slowing defense innovation and making it difficult to keep pace with rapidly evolving threats. In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Dr. Arun Seraphin speaks with Travis Lambourne, Head of Sales at Skayl, about how new approaches to digital engineering and digital integration are helping the Defense Department modernize at the speed of need. They explore how reusable integration infrastructure, open architecture, and machine-readable data models can dramatically reduce integration timelines, lower costs, and enable warfighters to rapidly field new capabilities without relying on lengthy development cycles. Key topics include: Why systems integration remains one of the biggest obstacles to defense modernization and defense innovation—and how it affects innovation across the Defense Industrial Base. How reusable integration technologies can reduce integration time by up to 85%, eliminate repetitive hand coding, and make upgrades faster and more predictable. How new sensors and emerging technology can be integrated in minutes instead of weeks, enabling technology insertion at the speed of operational need. Why interoperability, open standards, open architecture, and modular system architectures are essential for extending the lifespan of military platforms while accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies. The policy, acquisition, and budgeting reforms needed to make integration a "first-class citizen" across the Department of Defense and fully realize the promise of MOSA and modern digital engineering. NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute: https://www.ndiaeti.org NDIA Emerging Technologies Conference: https://www.ndiatechexpo.org Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0 Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3 Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications covering all things emerging tech, visit: ndiaeti.org #MOSA #DefenseInnovation #DigitalEngineering #DefenseIndustrialBase #EmergingTechnology /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/42402415

How AI and Quantum Computing Are Transforming Defense Cybersecurity 08/05/2026

How AI and Quantum Computing Are Transforming Defense Cybersecurity Cybersecurity has become one of the most pressing challenges facing the Defense Industrial Base. As advanced cyber threats, next-generation technologies, and evolving digital warfare reshape the security landscape, organizations must move beyond traditional approaches and adopt new strategies to protect critical defense technologies, critical infrastructure, and supply chains. In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Dr. Arun Seraphin speaks with Vince Crisler, Chief Information Security Officer at Celerium, about the future of defense cybersecurity. They discuss how emerging cyber capabilities are changing both offensive and defensive operations, why community-based defense is emerging as a powerful model for protecting the Defense Industrial Base, and how organizations can prepare for the next generation of cyber threats. Key topics include: How machine-speed technologies are transforming cyber attacks and cyber defense, and why organizations must rethink cybersecurity at machine speed. Why community-based defense can help protect small and medium-sized defense contractors while strengthening the entire Defense Industrial Base. The cybersecurity implications of next-generation computing technologies and why organizations should begin preparing for post-quantum cryptography today. How automation and advanced analytics are reshaping the cybersecurity workforce by reducing repetitive work, improving threat analysis, and empowering professionals to focus on higher-value missions. NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute: NDIA Emerging Technologies Conference: Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: And for more podcasts, articles, & publications covering all things emerging tech, visit: ndiaeti.org #Cybersecurity #ArtificialIntelligence #QuantumComputing #DefenseIndustrialBase #EmergingTechnology /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/42317495

The Future of Defense Technology: Part 2 on NDAA 2027 07/31/2026

The Future of Defense Technology: Part 2 on NDAA 2027 The FY27 National Defense Authorization Act reaches far beyond acquisition reform. It also reflects how Congress is shaping the future of defense technology, emerging technology, supply chains, and the federal workforce responsible for delivering the next generation of national security capabilities. In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Arun Seraphin continues his conversation with acquisition policy expert Moshe Schwartz, President of Etherton and Associates, for part two of a two-part discussion on the FY27 NDAA. Together, they examine how lawmakers are advancing defense technology, emerging technology, workforce modernization, and supply chains to strengthen the Defense Industrial Base and shape the future of U.S. national security. Key topics include: How Congress is approaching robotics, autonomous systems, and other emerging technology priorities, and what new legislative language could mean for future defense technology capabilities. Supply chains and Defense Industrial Base provisions aimed at strengthening resilience, improving visibility, and reducing vulnerabilities across critical defense manufacturing networks. Quantum computing initiatives and how Congress is positioning the Department of Defense to maintain its defense technology advantage in a rapidly evolving field of emerging technology. Federal workforce reforms designed to improve talent recruitment, retention, and the government's ability to support acquisition reform while keeping pace with emerging technology innovation. NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute: NDIA Emerging Technologies Conference: Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: And for more podcasts, articles, & publications covering all things emerging tech, visit: ndiaeti.org #DefenseInnovation #SupplyChains #EmergingTechnology #DefenseIndustrialBase #NationalSecurity keywords: - Defense technology - Supply chains - Emerging technology - Acquisition reform /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/42268565

The Future of Defense Innovation and National Security: Part 1 on the NDAA 2027 07/29/2026

The Future of Defense Innovation and National Security: Part 1 on the NDAA 2027 The fight over the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is about far more than acquisition policy. It is a debate about who controls intellectual property, how the Defense Industrial Base deploys capital, and whether the Department of Defense (DoD) can attract the commercial innovators driving defense innovation and emerging technology. In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Arun Seraphin sits down with acquisition policy expert Moshe Schwartz, President of Etherton and Associates, to break down the most consequential Defense Industrial Base provisions moving through Congress in Part 1 of a two-part discussion on the NDAA 2027. As lawmakers continue pushing reforms aimed at accelerating defense innovation, strengthening national security, and expanding the Defense Industrial Base, many of the biggest questions center on implementation and unintended consequences. Key topics include: Why Congress is pressuring the Department of Defense (DoD) to finally implement commercial acquisition reforms passed in previous NDAAs to accelerate defense innovation. New intellectual property provisions that could significantly expand government-purpose rights and reshape how commercial firms, startups, and subcontractors engage with the Department of Defense (DoD). Senate proposals restricting stock buybacks and dividends, and what they reveal about Congress's growing interest in shaping corporate investment decisions across the Defense Industrial Base. The rise of strategic capital, equity investments, adversarial capital oversight, and new institutions designed to strengthen national security by accelerating emerging technology adoption and economic competition in defense policymaking. NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute: NDIA Emerging Technologies Conference: Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: And for more podcasts, articles, & publications covering all things emerging tech, visit: ndiaeti.org #DefenseInnovation #DoD #DefenseIndustrialBase #NationalSecurity #EmergingTech Keywords: - National Security - Defense innovation - Defense industrial base - Department of Defense (DoD) - Emerging technology /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/42247405

From Startup to Defense Supplier: Building a Stronger Defense Industrial Base 07/22/2026

From Startup to Defense Supplier: Building a Stronger Defense Industrial Base The Department of Defense (DoD) has spent decades building programs to attract innovative small businesses and accelerate emerging technology into the defense market. Yet according to former Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs Director Farooq Mitha, the department was still losing 3 to 5 percent of its small business Defense Industrial Base each year. The challenge facing defense innovation is no longer simply finding promising technologies. It's creating pathways that allow innovative companies to grow, compete, and remain part of the Defense Industrial Base. In this episode, host Dr. Arun Seraphin sits down with Mitha, now CEO of the Imbue Group, to discuss the evolving role of small businesses in Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition, emerging technology, and innovation. Drawing on more than a decade of experience inside the Pentagon, Mitha reflects on efforts to expand small business participation, modernize programs such as Mentor-Protégé, and strengthen pathways for emerging companies to compete in the defense market while supporting the Defense Industrial Base. Seraphin and Mitha also examine the growing role of venture capital in national security, emerging technology investment, and the Pentagon's efforts to connect private investment with defense priorities. As Mitha notes, "the government cannot out-invest the private sector," but attracting capital is only part of the challenge. The harder task is creating the demand signals, acquisition pathways, and growth opportunities that allow innovative firms to become enduring players in the Defense Industrial Base, strengthening the Department of Defense (DoD) innovation ecosystem and the broader defense market. For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 9-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: And for more podcasts, articles, & publications on emerging technology, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org #DefenseInnovation #DefenseIndustrialBase #Departmentofdefense #DefenseMarket #EmergingTechnology Keywords: - Defense Industrial Base - Department of Defense (DOD) - Defense Market - Emerging Technology /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/42174790

Could Biotechnology paired with Biomanufacturing Be the Next Emerging Technology for National Security? 07/15/2026

Could Biotechnology paired with Biomanufacturing Be the Next Emerging Technology for National Security? In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Dr. Arun Seraphin speaks with Bruce Friedrich, CEO and Co-founder of the Good Food Institute, about why alternative proteins and food biomanufacturing are emerging as strategic biotechnology innovations. As biotechnology reshapes industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to manufacturing, advances in cultivated meat, precision fermentation, and plant-based proteins could strengthen military logistics, improve supply chain resilience, and reinforce America's technological competitiveness through emerging technology. The conversation explores how food biomanufacturing could reduce dependence on vulnerable supply chains by enabling deployable food production, from remote operating bases to submarines and even future space missions. Bruce also explains how these biotechnology innovations are progressing from scientific breakthroughs to scalable biomanufacturing, while highlighting the policy and investment challenges that remain. The discussion also examines the growing international competition in biotechnology, particularly China's investments in food biomanufacturing, and why maintaining U.S. leadership in emerging technology will require sustained innovation, workforce development, commercialization support, and continued investment in biotechnology. Read ETI’s Report "Food Biomanufacturing for National Security: Growing a New Segment of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base ": Read Bruce Friedrich’s book, Meat: https://meatbook.org/ Learn more about the Good Food Institute: https://gfi.org/ For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0 Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3 Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications on emerging technologies, visit ndiaeti.org. #Biotechnology #NationalSecurity #Biomanufacturing #EmergingTech Keywords: - Biotechnology - Biomanufacturing - Emerging Technology /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/42039155

Inside Future Force Capabilities 2026: Scaling Speed, Production, and the Next Generation Force 07/08/2026

Inside Future Force Capabilities 2026: Scaling Speed, Production, and the Next Generation Force Warfare is entering a new phase—where innovation happens in real time, and emerging technologies move from concept to deployment at unprecedented speed. At the 2026 Future Force Capabilities Conference, leaders across defense and industry explore what it takes to keep pace. Recorded live at the conference, Mary-Edens McAbee speaks with conference organizers and technology leaders working across munitions, autonomy, and manufacturing. She is joined by Nick Perry, Jeff Janey, Pete Paulin, Chris Millson, and John Williams to examine how emerging priorities are accelerating the development of next-generation capabilities while placing new demands on the industrial base, acquisition processes, and the workforce responsible for operating them. A central theme throughout the conversation is the growing importance of speed—not only in how technologies are developed, but in how quickly they can be produced, integrated, and put into use. Speakers return repeatedly to the idea that many of the necessary capabilities already exist, but the challenge now is scaling them effectively and getting them into the hands of operators. Drawing on observations from current conflicts, including Ukraine, the episode underscores how rapidly evolving operational environments are reshaping expectations for development timelines and feedback loops between operators and industry. For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: REGISTER: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 8-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: And for more podcasts, articles, & publications on emerging technology, check out our website at: #DefenseInnovation #IndustrialBase #Autonomy #FutureForce #DefenseTech /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/41742175

Mobilizing Private Capital on Aligning Private Investment with DoD Needs 07/01/2026

Mobilizing Private Capital on Aligning Private Investment with DoD Needs Private capital is playing an increasingly visible role in the defense industrial base, but its impact depends less on the amount of money flowing in than on how effectively government demand shapes investment decisions. The central question for policymakers is not whether capital is available, but whether the system converts that capital into deployable capability. In this episode, host Dr. Arun Seraphin is joined by Sam Moyer, Research Fellow at NDIA’s Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI), to discuss ETI’s recent work on mobilizing private capital for defense. The conversation examines how different forms of private capital, including venture, private equity, and internal investment, interact with the Department of Defense acquisition system, and why investors ultimately respond to credible signals of future demand. Moyer outlines a framework for understanding what drives investment into the defense sector: demand signaling, catalytic capital tools, and the broader business environment. He explains how mechanisms such as acquisition roadmaps, long-term purchase commitments, and communication between government and industry can reduce uncertainty and lower the cost of capital. The discussion also addresses newer policy tools, including federal equity investments and loan programs, and the governance and oversight challenges they introduce. The episode highlights a key constraint on defense innovation: investment is already present, but its effectiveness depends on whether the system is legible and predictable to investors. Improving clarity and alignment, not simply increasing funding, will shape the next phase of growth in the defense industrial base. Read ETI’s White Paper " Mobilizing Private Capital for Defense: Tactics and Recommendations": For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 8-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: And for more podcasts, articles, & publications on emerging technology, check out our website at: #DefenseInnovation #PrivateCapital #Acquisition #NationalSecurity /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/41744650

From Detection to Decision: Dr. Marc Mendonca on Closing the Radiation Response Gap 06/24/2026

Wearables for Warfighters: How WHOOP is Powering Human Performance in National Security 06/17/2026

Inside NDIA’s Defense Hackathon: How Collaboration, Learning, and Rapid Problem Solving Come Together 06/10/2026

Inside NDIA’s Defense Hackathon: How Collaboration, Learning, and Rapid Problem Solving Come Together Hackathons are becoming an increasingly important tool in the defense innovation ecosystem. When designed intentionally, hackathons can work for everyone involved in defense innovation. In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Dr. Arun Seraphin is joined by Nick Lanham, Chair of NDIA’s Data Analytics and Enterprise Platforms Division and Senior Data & AI Analyst at Kairos, and Charles Ott, Vice President and Solution Strategist at Maximus, to discuss NDIA’s hackathon model and what makes it effective. The conversation offers a practical look at how this hackathon works: bringing together technologists, industry leaders, and government users for a focused, time‑boxed effort to tackle real defense problems. Rather than operating as a competition or a coding exercise, the hackathon is designed as a collaborative learning environment—one where participants share knowledge, test ideas, and better understand both user needs and institutional constraints. Lanham and Ott explain why this approach benefits everyone involved. Across the board, participants leave with a clearer picture of the problem space and stronger connections across the defense innovation community. The episode looks back at NDIA’s inaugural hackathon, highlights what worked, and previews what’s planned for the upcoming event at the Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference. More broadly, it explains why thoughtfully designed hackathons are emerging as a valuable complement to traditional acquisition and innovation processes. Learn more and get involved with this year’s NDIA Hackathon: Read ETI’s brief on Hackathons as a defense acquisition tool: SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 8-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org/ Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org #DefenseHackathon #DefenseInnovation #EmergingTechnologies #NationalSecurity /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/41579350

Beyond Attrition: Integrating Drone and Unmanned Systems into the Future of U.S. Warfare 06/03/2026

Beyond Attrition: Integrating Drone and Unmanned Systems into the Future of U.S. Warfare After more than four years of conflict, the war in Ukraine has produced an unprecedented body of data on rapid innovation, emerging technology, and the evolving role of drone warfare and unmanned systems on the modern battlefield. The pressing question for U.S. defense planners is which of those lessons can be translated to the U.S. way of war, and which, if applied too directly, risk misdirecting future force development. In this episode, host Dr. Arun Seraphin is joined by Anna Kim, Associate Research Fellow at the Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI), and Matt Dooley, President and CEO of Fidelium and Chair of the NDIA Robotics Division, to discuss their ETI white paper, "Beyond Attrition: Interpreting the Limits of Lessons from Ukraine for Future US Force Development." The paper examines what full integration of drone technologies, autonomous systems, and emerging military technologies into the U.S. Joint Force would actually require. The conversation explores why Ukraine's battlefield innovation and drone-driven "iteration under fire" model cannot be copied wholesale into the U.S. statutory and industrial environment, the enduring importance of combined arms warfare, and why the future force depends on integrating attritable unmanned systems with legacy maneuver platforms rather than choosing between them. Kim and Dooley also discuss the Army's Transformation in Contact (TiC) and Human Machine Integrated Formation (HMIF) initiatives, Project Convergence, and the Pentagon's Drone Dominance program, along with the production, sustainment, and training challenges of fielding robotic, autonomous, and emerging technology-enabled warfare capabilities at the scale a future fight will demand. Read ETI’s White Paper "Beyond Attrition: Interpreting the Limits of Lessons from Ukraine for Future US Force Development": https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/brief-series/beyond-attrition Learn more about NDIA's Robotics Division: https://www.ndia.org/divisions/robotics For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Future Force Capabilities Conference & Exhibition, June 8–10, 2026, at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, NV — where Anna and Matt will continue the conversation: https://ndiaffc.org 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 9-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0 Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3 Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications on emerging technology, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/41493590

Fight the Base: Military Infrastructure Resilience Against Cyberattacks in a Contested Battlespace 05/27/2026

Connecting the Factory to the Fight: AI-Enabled Software and Proactive Defense Supply Chains 05/20/2026

Connecting the Factory to the Fight: AI-Enabled Software and Proactive Defense Supply Chains The Department of War manages trillions of dollars in capabilities through an acquisition system that has not kept pace with the technologies it is meant to deliver. As readiness rates decline and supply chains grow more contested, modernizing how the defense enterprise uses data has become a national security imperative, and AI-enabled software is at the center of that effort. In this episode, host Dr. Arun Seraphin sits down with Dr. Jen Gebhardt, Director of Research at Govini, to discuss how AI and advanced data analysis are transforming defense acquisition, sustainment, and contested logistics. Drawing on Govini's work with Project Convergence and Air Force sustainment programs, Gebhardt explains how the shift from a reactive to a proactive supply chain can compress resupply planning into under an hour and connect the factory to the fight in near real time. The conversation also covers sub-tier supply chain visibility and the "illusion of diversity" in critical industrial bases like solid rocket motors, the role of AI in identifying financial fragility and foreign ownership risks, and how government access to technical data correlates directly with readiness. Gebhardt also previews her upcoming paper "Sustaining the Fight," to be presented at the Naval Postgraduate School's Acquisition Research Symposium. Learn more about Govini: Read Govini's related framework piece, "From Factory to Fight: A Modern Framework for Defense Logistics": SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 8-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org/ Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/41356295

Start in Elementary School: Building America’s Defense STEM Pipeline 05/13/2026

Beyond the Battlefield: Emerging Technology, AI, and the Future Force of War 05/06/2026

Human Systems at the Speed of Acquisition: How Defense Innovation Is Reshaping the Workforce 04/29/2026

Human Systems at the Speed of Acquisition: How Defense Innovation Is Reshaping the Workforce The Department of War (DoW) is moving faster than ever—embracing commercial technology, autonomous systems, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled capabilities. But this acceleration raises a critical question: what happens to the human in the loop? Recorded at the NDIA Human Systems Conference, Arun Seraphin speaks with four leaders working at the intersection of technology, personnel, and defense innovation: Dr. Eric Sikorski, Stuart Michelson, Jenn McNamara, and Jesse Flint. Together, they examine how evolving priorities within the Department of War (DoW) are accelerating adoption of autonomous systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI), while placing new demands on the workforce responsible for operating them. The discussion reveals that rapid defense innovation often outpaces workforce readiness and can create challenges in training, integration, and scalability. This episode highlights how NDIA members across industry, academia, and government are advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, and human performance strategies to ensure the Department of Defense (DoD) workforce can effectively support next-generation missions at speed. See here for more information on NDIA's Human Systems Division: For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 8-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org #EmergingTechnologies #DefenseInnovation #ArtificialIntelligence #DefenseAcquisition Keywords: - Defense innovation - autonomous systems - Artificial intelligence (AI) - Department of Defense (DoD) /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/41051165

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Multi-Agent Systems in Defense Policy Modeling 04/22/2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Multi-Agent Systems in Defense Policy Modeling For decades, the U.S. government has tested weapons systems before deployment, but not the policies that govern them. That gap is starting to close through artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced modeling techniques. In this episode, Dr. Arun Seraphin sits down with Dr. David Metcalf and Dr. Doug Buettner to explore how AI, multi-agent systems, and simulation technologies are transforming how defense policy can be designed, tested, and implemented. What emerges is a new paradigm: policy that can be modeled and refined before it ever reaches the real world. The conversation explores how AI-powered multi-agent systems can simulate complex environments with multiple stakeholders, enabling policymakers to run thousands of “what if” scenarios in real time. As these systems scale, questions of bias, validation, and trust become central to whether artificial intelligence-driven insights can inform high-stakes decisions. Looking ahead, the challenge is no longer technical feasibility—it is whether institutions can adopt AI and multi-agent systems, build the right validation frameworks, and ensure that AI-driven policy decision-making remains accountable. NDIA ETI Brief -- “Using Data for Defense: Integrating Modeling & Simulation for Policymaking”: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/brief-series/policy-and-modeling NDIA ETI Brief -- “Using Data for Defense: Integrating Modeling & Simulation for Policymaking”: Navigating Uncertainty: Simulation as a Tool for Policy Innovation SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 8-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org/ Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0 Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3 Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org #EmergingTech #ArtificialIntelligence #PublicPolicy #DefenseInnovation /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/40886910

Microelectronics & Semiconductors: Strengthening Supply Chains for U.S. National Security 04/15/2026

Microelectronics & Semiconductors: Strengthening Supply Chains for U.S. National Security Over the past decade, microelectronics and semiconductors have become a cornerstone of U.S. national security and supply chain resilience, moving beyond a purely technical issue to a central focus of economic and defense policy in Washington. In this episode, host Dr. Arun Seraphin sits down with Grant Meyer, chair of the National Defense Industrial Association Electronics Division, to discuss the evolving role of the electronics industrial base in supporting U.S. defense capabilities and securing critical supply chains. The conversation explores how rising geopolitical competition and legislation such as the CHIPS and Science Act have accelerated federal attention on semiconductor manufacturing, microelectronics innovation, and resilient supply chains. Seraphin and Meyer also dive into the challenges of building a coherent national electronics strategy, including fragmented priorities across the industrial base and commercial technology sector, and the difficulty of aligning long-term defense acquisition timelines with fast-moving commercial cycles. Meyer draws on his extensive experience in defense electronics to explain why microelectronics and semiconductors are foundational to modern military systems and national security infrastructure. Check out Meyer’s NDIA division here: NDIA ETI Report – “Modernizing Defense Microelectronics: Challenges and Opportunities”: ETH Podcast on Report: ETH Podcast CHIPS Act and Microelectronics - Tech 101 Webinar: Microelectronics - Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: Twitter: Facebook: And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org #ETI #EmergingTech #SupplyChains #Microelectronics #Semiconductors /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/40520725

James Chew of Intel on How Commercial Microelectronics Can Reshape the Defense Industry 04/08/2026

Inside the New DoD Appropriations Reality: Defense Industrial Base, Munitions, & Golden Dome Signals 04/01/2026

Optimizing the Warfighter: Can the Military Turn Data into Decisions at the Edge 03/25/2026

Optimizing the Warfighter: Can the Military Turn Data into Decisions at the Edge The U.S. military has spent decades optimizing platforms while largely underinvesting in the system that actually operates them: the warfighter. As body-worn technologies mature, that imbalance is becoming harder to justify. In this episode, Sonya Rahmani, Warfighter Performance Lead at Booz Allen, joins Dr. Arun Seraphin to argue that the future of military advantage lies in treating the warfighter as an integrated system—one that spans cognitive, physiological, and tactical domains. The challenge is no longer collecting data but transforming it into actionable insights using Defense AI Technology. The conversation explores why the real bottlenecks are not just in AI or sensing, but in power management, system integration, and cybersecurity. Warfighters cannot manage fragmented devices, incompatible batteries, or constant data streams. The burden must shift from the individual to the system—through automation, edge computing, and intelligent filtering powered by Defense AI Technology. Rahmani also explains why commercial wearable technologies, while essential, are insufficient on their own. Devices built for connected, civilian environments must be fundamentally reengineered for disconnected operations, cybersecurity risks, and mission-specific demands in modern defense environments. Learn more about Booz Allen’s Defense Technology: https://www.boozallen.com/defense SAVE THE DATE: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 9-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: ndiatechexpo.org/ Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0 Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3 Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org /episode/index/show/ndiaeti/id/40561310

The Grid at War: Power Grid Risks to National Security 03/18/2026

Reshaping Defense Technology Innovation: Inside the Pentagon’s New 2026 Innovation Memo 02/22/2026

Reshaping Aerodynamics: Rise of Adaptive Morphing Control Surfaces in Aerospace & Defense Industry 02/11/2026

FY26 NDAA Acquisition Reform: What Changed, What Didn’t and What Comes Next 02/06/2026

Mapping Pentagon Leadership Backgrounds: Analysis of Senior Civilian STEM Workforce in Emerging Tech 01/29/2026

Different Reforms, Same Problems: Common Threads in Defense Acquisition Reform (Part 2) 01/21/2026

Different Reforms, Same Problems: Common Threads in Defense Acquisition Reform 01/14/2026

I/ITSEC and the Future of Defense Training Technologies 12/24/2025

Emerging Tech Horizons

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