Episodes
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)
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
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...
Jason Rathje, Director Office of Strategic Capital - DoD
In this episode of Building the Base , Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome back Jason Rathje, Director of the Department of Defense's Office of Strategic Capital (OSC), as the first-ever repeat guest. Jason shares his personal journey from an early passion for technology and innovation to leadin...
Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
DoD Minseries : Maintaining The Edge Research and Engineering; Part 1 of 4 In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Bess Dopkeen, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (DoD R&E). Broadcasting live from the Penta...
Evan Smith, CEO Altana AI
In this episode of Building The Base , hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Evan Smith, co-founder and CEO of Altana AI. Together, they explore how emerging technologies, particularly in artificial intelligence, are revolutionizing global supply chains and advancing national security. Eva...
Balancing Risk with Reward, with VADM(Ret) Mike Moran, NatSec Advisor and former Navy PEO
In this episode of "Building the Base," Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with VADM (Ret) Mike Moran, a distinguished leader in military acquisition and naval aviation. Admiral Moran shares his journey from an operational career in the Navy to leading transformative acquisition processes, off...
Buy Wins Not Products with Justin Fanelli, CTO of The United States Navy
In this episode of Building the Base, our hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Guerts dive in with Justin Fanelli CTO of the United States Navy. The conversation revolved around the defense industry, digital transformation in government, and the importance of professional curiosity and humility in private...
Cybersecurity Is National Security with Dmitri Alperovitch
In this episode of "Building the Base," hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur Dmitri Alperovitch. Dmitri shares his journey from immigrating to the United States from Russia to co-founding CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company. He discusses ...