I was pleased to have Pete Newell back on the Acquisition Talk podcast to discuss the urgency of getting innovative defense prototypes into the field and working with partner nations. Pete is founder and CEO of BMNT Inc., a global technology advisory firm, co-founder of Hacking 4 Defense, and a retired Army Colonel who ran the Rapid Equipping Force that fielded hundreds of products into Iraq and Afghanistan.

1:05 - The problem with the National Defense Strategy
2:55 - Hacking for Allies program
5:30 - Doing DOTMLPF in six months instead of six years
7:50 - Congress will have to drive change
10:00 - Acquisition risk reduction increases warfighter risk
12:25 - Joint assignments for innovation
14:40 - Ukraine's speed to incorporate new tech
16:30 - Story of heroic tech transition at the REF
23:30 - Turning saboteurs into advocates
28:00 - Program Manager personal networks
32:50 - What to do in 3-5 years to deter China
35:00 - How to fix Defense Innovation Unit
40:00 - Office of Strategic Capital

This podcast was produced by Eric Lofgren. You can follow me on Twitter @AcqTalk and find more information at https://AcquisitionTalk.com

No time to waste in defense innovation with BMNT's Pete Newell

Despite the clear and present danger of threats from China and elsewhere, there’s no agreement on what types of adversaries we’ll face; how we’ll fight, organize, and train; and what weapons or systems we’ll need for future fights. Instead, developing a new doctrine to deal with these new issues is fraught with disagreements, differing objectives, and incumbents who defend the status quo. Yet change in military doctrine is coming. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks is navigating the tightrope of competing interests to make it happen – hopefully in time.

Steve Blank Podcast

The Department of Defense Is Getting Its Innovation Act Together – But More Can Be Done

Silicon Valley emerged from work in World War II led by Stanford professor Fred Terman developing microwave and electronics for Electronic Warfare systems. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, spurred on by Terman, Silicon Valley was selling microwave components and systems to the Defense Department, and the first fledging chip companies (Shockley, Fairchild, National, Rheem, Signetics…) were in their infancy. But there were no computer companies. Silicon Valley wouldn’t have a computer company until 1966 when Hewlett Packard shipped the HP 2116 minicomputer.

Clearshore - Steve Blank

The Secret History of Minnesota Part 1: Engineering Research Associates

We just wrapped up the third year of our Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition class –part of Stanford’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.
Joe Felter, Mike Brown and I teach the class to:
Give our students an appreciation of the challenges and opportunities for the United States in its enduring strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China, Russia and other rivals.
Offer insights on how commercial technology (AI, autonomy, cyber, quantum, semiconductors, access to space, biotech, hypersonics, and others) are radically changing how we will compete across all the elements of national power e.g. diplomatic, informational, military, economic, financial, intelligence and law enforcement (our influence and footprint on the world stage).
Expose students to experiential learning on policy questions. Students formed teams, got out of the classroom and talked to the stakeholders and developed policy recommendations.

Technology, Innovation, and Great Power Competition – 2023 Wrap Up

If you haven’t been paying attention Apple has started shipping its Apple Vision Pro, its take on a headset that combines Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). The product is an amazing technical tour de force. But the product/market fit of this first iteration is a swing and a miss.

Apple Vision Pro – Tech in the Search of a Market

Capitalism has been good to me. After serving in the military during Vietnam, I came home and had a career in eight startups. I got to retire when I was 45. Over the last quarter century, in my third career, I helped create the methods entrepreneurs use to build new startups, while teaching 1,000’s of students how to start new ventures.

Is a $100 Million Enough?

One of the most exciting things a startup CEO in a business-to-business market can hear from a potential customer is, “We’re excited. When can you come back and show us a prototype?”

This can be the beginning of a profitable customer relationship or a disappointing sinkhole of wasted time, money, resources, and a demoralized engineering team.

It all depends on one question every startup CEO needs to ask.

Founders Need to Be Ruthless When Chasing Deals

The connections between the world of national security and commercial companies still has surprises.

The Secret History of Polaroid CEO Edwin Land

Kodak and Polaroid, the two most famous camera companies of the 20th century, had a great partnership for 20+ years. Then in an inexplicable turnabout Kodak decided to destroy Polaroid’s business. To this day, every story of why Kodak went to war with Polaroid is wrong.

The real reason can be found in the highly classified world of overhead reconnaissance satellites.

Here’s the real story.

Secret History – When Kodak Went to War with Polaroid

Gordon Bell passed on this month. I was a latecomer in Gordon Bell’s life.  But he made a lasting impact on mine.

Gordon Bell R.I.P.

A podcast on the management, technology, and political-economy of weapon systems acquisition.

No time to waste in defense innovation with BMNT's Pete Newell

Acquisition Talk

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