Building The Base

The ultimate podcast at the nexus of entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, and our National Security

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New Miniseries:  Maintaining the Edge in the DoD

We are proud to be hosting a new miniseries with the leaders in the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD-R&E) team.  In this multi-part miniseries, you'll hear from leaders in the DoD research and engineering community discuss the innovative ways they are leveraging new tools to ensure DoD can maintain the edge in development and deploying war winning technologies.

Our first episode in this series features Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for R&E.  Listen in as she frames the vision for this series at the top of this episode, and  follows with some keen insights in the important work going on within the Department to more quickly adopt new technologies from wherever it comes from.

Leveraging America's Capital Advantage to Enhance National Security 

In this episode of Building The Base our Host Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts dive into a compelling conversation with Dr Jason Rathje, Director of the DoD Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) as part of our mini-series with DoD's Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering team.   In this episode Jason discusses the recent stand up of the first direct credit program in the DoD, and the availability of nearly $1B in available credit to support  competitiveness of our US industrial base. On the show he notesm "And we're starting to see the market shift in ways already, just by the announcement today, of folks responding with eagerness to be able to receive a loan to expand the production equipment that's required to grow industrial capacity in areas that they weren't able to grow prior to OSC’s existence.”





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Latest Episodes

Gina Sims, Director of DoD SBIR/STTR Program
December 03, 2024
60
00:33:4931.03 MB

Gina Sims, Director of DoD SBIR/STTR Program

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts speak with Gina Sims, Director of the DoD's SBIR/STTR office, about revolutionizing defense innovation. Sims shares her journey from Air Force acquisition to leading the $3 billion small business innovation program, discussing how...

Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities (ASD(MC)) OUSD(R&E)
November 26, 2024
59
00:38:4335.52 MB

Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities (ASD(MC)) OUSD(R&E)

In this episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, currently performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities, to share insights on modernizing defense technology acquisition. Drawing from his experience as...

Tracy Frost and Dr. Kate Sixt, DoD Research and Engineering OUSD
October 29, 2024
58
00:31:3528.94 MB

Tracy Frost and Dr. Kate Sixt, DoD Research and Engineering OUSD

In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Tracy Frost, Director of Technology Industrial Innovation Base, and Dr. Kate Sixt, Principal Director for Biotechnology at the Department of Defense. The conversation explores the revolutionary intersection of biotec...

The Top Episodes

Featured Episodes

Gina Sims, Director of DoD SBIR/STTR Program

Gina Sims, Director of DoD SBIR/STTR Program

Gina Sims, Director of DoD SBIR/STTR Program
Gina Sims, Director of DoD SBIR/STTR Program
00:33:49
Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities (ASD(MC)) OUSD(R&E)
Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities (ASD(MC)) OUSD(R&E)
00:38:43
Tracy Frost and Dr. Kate Sixt, DoD Research and Engineering OUSD
Tracy Frost and Dr. Kate Sixt, DoD Research and Engineering OUSD
00:31:35
Jason Rathje, Director Office of Strategic Capital - DoD
Jason Rathje, Director Office of Strategic Capital - DoD
00:36:49
Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
00:46:27
Evan Smith, CEO Altana AI
Evan Smith, CEO Altana AI
00:36:23
Balancing Risk with Reward, with VADM(Ret) Mike Moran, NatSec Advisor and former Navy PEO
Balancing Risk with Reward, with VADM(Ret) Mike Moran, NatSec Advisor and former Navy PEO
00:41:00
Buy Wins Not Products with Justin Fanelli, CTO of The United States Navy
Buy Wins Not Products with Justin Fanelli, CTO of The United States Navy
00:41:39
Cybersecurity Is National Security with Dmitri Alperovitch
Cybersecurity Is National Security with Dmitri Alperovitch
00:40:04
Venture Meets Mission with Arun Gupta
Venture Meets Mission with Arun Gupta
00:45:36

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Apple Podcasts
One of a kind!

An amazing dialogue with some of the most interesting guests in technology and national security. A must listen for entrepreneurs, innovators, government leaders, and anyone who wants to learn more about how technology will impact our future security and prosperity

Apple Podcasts
Best Podcast re: NatSec / Defense tech innovation

Lauren & Hondo co-host the best Podcast that I’ve been exposed to re: National Security & Defense technology innovation (and Gov / Defense acquisition reform). Well done Lauren, Hondo, all the Podcast guests, and Business Executives for National Security (BENS) for producing this valuable series.

Apple Podcasts
More discussion of this topic needed

The hosts do a excellent job of bringing important topics in national security and technology to the forefront, in both an interesting and informative way. Keep it coming.

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