Emerging Tech Horizons

Dr. Arun Seraphin

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.

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Wednesday · 33 min
Securing Critical Minerals: Building a Strategic Reserve for U.S. Industry
Critical minerals form the foundation of modern defense and commercial technologies, from fighter aircraft and missile systems to satellites, batteries, and advanced electronics. As global supply chains remain vulnerable to disruption and critical mineral processing remains concentrated overseas, securing reliable access to these materials has become an increasingly important challenge for the U.S. industrial base. In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Dr. Arun Seraphin speaks with Brett Lambert, Executive Chairman of VaultCo and Managing Director of the Densmore Group, about the effort to strengthen U.S. access to critical minerals. They discuss Lambert’s experience shaping manufacturing and industrial policy at the Pentagon, the creation of Project Vault and VaultCo, and how a public-private approach can help address vulnerabilities across critical mineral supply chains. Key topics include: - How critical mineral dependencies can create vulnerabilities across the defense and commercial industrial base. - How VaultCo’s demand-driven model is designed to create a strategic “stock buffer” of critical minerals and connect industry demand with available supply. - The differences between VaultCo’s approach and traditional government stockpiles, and how it complements other federal efforts to strengthen critical mineral supply chains. - Why expanding domestic and allied processing capacity will be essential to building a more resilient industrial base, and how government and private-sector investments can work together to address these challenges. NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute: https://www.ndiaeti.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 #CriticalMinerals #DefenseIndustrialBase #SupplyChain #NationalSecurity #EmergingTechnology
September 9 · 43 min
Modernizing Shipbuilding: Technology, Innovation, and the Future of the Maritime Industrial Base
Emerging technology is reshaping how ships are designed, built, maintained, and sustained across the U.S. maritime industrial base. As the U.S. Navy works to modernize its fleet and increase shipbuilding production, shipbuilders are turning to digital engineering, advanced manufacturing, robotics, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and new approaches to acquisition and workforce development to deliver more capable ships faster and more efficiently. In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Dr. Arun Seraphin speaks with Admiral Rick Hunt, President of Fincantieri Marinette Marine and a member of NDIA’s Board of Directors, about the emerging technologies, digital engineering practices, advanced manufacturing processes, and workforce challengesshaping the future of American shipbuilding. Drawing on his 37 years of Navy experience and leadership in industry, Hunt discusses how emerging technology, robotics, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities can strengthen the U.S. maritime industrial base and accelerate the delivery of future naval capabilities. Key Topics Include: - Why increasing production speed and designing future warships for producibility must become priorities in modern shipbuilding. - The role of robotic welding, collaborative robots, automated panel lines, and other advanced manufacturing technologies in improving efficiency, safety, quality, and production capacity. - How digital ship design, digital engineering, and model-based engineering can improve consistency, maintainability, and collaboration across shipyards and manufacturing locations. - The importance of designing ships for readiness, maintainability, sustainability, and flexibility so they can adapt to emerging technologies, evolving missions, and future capability requirements. - How commercial shipbuilding practices and dual-use emerging technologies can inform innovation across the defense industrial base. - The changing relationship between traditional shipbuilders and non-traditional companies, particularly in the rapidly evolving unmanned maritime and autonomous systems sector. - How acquisition reform, multi-year contracting, and stronger demand signals could encourage industry investment in emerging technology and advanced shipbuilding capabilities and expand shipbuilding capacity. - The challenges facing the maritime workforce, from shortages of welders and skilled tradespeople to the need for more naval architects, engineers, and workers with digital engineering and advanced technology skills. Listen to this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons to explore how emerging technology, digital engineering, robotics, and artificial intelligence are transforming the future of American shipbuilding and the U.S. maritime industrial base. 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 #EmergingTechnology #DigitalEngineering #Robotics #Shipbuilding #USNavy #DefenseInnovation #AdvancedManufacturing #MaritimeIndustry #DefenseIndustrialBase
September 2 · 34 min
The Future of Unmanned Systems: Scaling Drone Autonomy for Defense
Emerging technology is rapidly transforming unmanned systems, aviation, and defense operations. As autonomous technologies evolve from prototypes into systems that can be produced and deployed at scale, industry is rethinking how these platforms are designed, manufactured, and integrated into next-generation defense technology and mission capabilities. In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Dr. Arun Seraphin speaks with Paul Fermo, President of Robinson Unmanned, a recently introduced business unit of Robinson Helicopter Company and previously known as Ascent AeroSystems, about the rapidly evolving world of unmanned aviation and autonomous drone technology. Drawing on his experience as a naval aviator, requirements developer, and industry leader, Fermo discusses how autonomous systems are evolving the relationship between manned and unmanned platforms and what it will take to deliver reliable defense capabilities at scale. Key topics include: How smaller unmanned aircraft and drone systems are accelerating the pace of emerging technology development and creating new demands for agile manufacturing and production. The role of commercial and dual-use platforms in driving defense technology innovation, expanding applications, and creating opportunities to achieve greater production scale. How drones and unmanned aviation systems can support missions ranging from surveillance, search and rescue, and medical transport to contested logistics and casualty evacuation. The importance of modular, reliable, and upgradable unmanned platforms that allow operators to integrate new hardware and software as defense technologies evolve. How the Drone Dominance Program and advanced market commitments are helping push industry from emerging technology innovation toward industrialization, greater production capacity, and scalable drone capabilities. The convergence of artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, advanced materials, communications, and data exploitation in next-generation unmanned aviation and defense technology. The future of integrated, collaborative drone and autonomous systems in which multiple platforms work together and AI-enabled technologies help operators make faster, more informed decisions. Why multi-year purchasing signals could help industry make the long-term investments needed to build scalable unmanned aviation, drone, and defense capabilities. 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 #RobinsonUnmanned #sUAS #UASEcosystem #DroneIndustrialBase #UnmannedSystems #AutonomousSystems #DefenseTechnology #EmergingTechnology
August 26 · 36 min
Turning Emerging Technology Into Capability: ETC 2026 Preview
That challenge is at the center of the 2026 Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference & Exhibition (ETC), taking place September 8–10 in Washington, D.C. In this special episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, NDIA's Jen Walsh, Director of Divisions, and Rachel Sutherland, Director of Public Relations and Communications, provide a preview of what attendees can expect at this year's conference. From senior Department of Defense leadership and combatant commands to industry innovators, engineers, acquisition professionals, and researchers, NDIA ETC brings together the organizations responsible for developing, integrating, funding, and fielding defense technology and next-generation capabilities. The episode also features Dr. Suzette Johnson, Chair of NDIA's Systems Engineering Division, who discusses how mission engineering, systems integration, digital engineering, and agile practices help transform emerging technology into mission-ready solutions that advance national security. This year's event features: Keynote presentations from senior defense leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior officials from Research & Engineering and Acquisition & Sustainment. A classified program on September 8, bringing together experts to discuss emerging technology and national security challenges in a secure environment. The Global Defense Hackathon, where teams from government, industry, and academia collaborate on real-world defense innovation challenges. A new co-location with the Society of Defense Financial Management's Data Analytics and Decision Support Conference, connecting defense technology development with the acquisition and financial frameworks needed to field capabilities. Conference Registration: https://www.ndiatechexpo.org/registration NDIA: https://www.ndia.org Emerging Tech Horizons Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5oQnv75FK5aCB0IeYAWVPon0C7Xa75sr&si=bLmHXoFhuLhA5WnM 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 #EmergingTechETI #ETC #DefenseInnovation #NationalSecurity #DefenseTechnology
August 19 · 48 min
Reimagining the Defense Innovation Ecosystem: From Labs to the Warfighter
The U.S. has no shortage of Emerging Technology and Defense Technology innovation, but getting that innovation into the hands of the Warfighter remains a challenge. As the pace of technological change accelerates, the Department of Defense (DoD) is rethinking how its research, development, and laboratory ecosystem can move faster and better connect Emerging Technology with operational needs and National Security priorities. In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, Arun Seraphin sits down with Jacob Glassman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies, to discuss the future of the defense innovation ecosystem and the role of the Department's laboratories in accelerating Defense Technology transition. Glassman shares insights from a recent review of the defense lab enterprise, including efforts to break down barriers to innovation, improve collaboration across laboratories, and get promising Emerging Technology to the Warfighter faster. Link to study: https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Defense-Research-Enterprise-Review.pdf Key topics include: Why the Department needs to move beyond simply out-innovating adversaries and learn to continuously innovate faster than the pace of change on the battlefield, strengthening National Security. How government laboratories, FFRDCs, and university research centers can serve as critical bridges between Emerging Technology, industry, acquisition programs, and the Warfighter. The barriers preventing promising Defense Technology from moving from prototypes to scalable capabilities—and why the Department is strong at prototyping but struggles with scaling. How lowering barriers to entry can create opportunities for startups, entrepreneurs, and non-traditional innovators to work with defense laboratories and bring new Defense Technology and Emerging Technology into the National Security ecosystem. The untapped value of government intellectual property, advanced facilities, and technical expertise—and how better access and collaboration could generate greater returns on those investments and strengthen National Security. Workforce challenges facing the defense laboratory enterprise and the need to create new opportunities for younger technical talent to contribute to the future of Defense Technology and National Security. Glassman's "sprint" approach to solving problems through rapid experimentation, learning by doing, and quickly deciding whether to kill, pivot, or scale an effort. How initiatives such as LabFinder could improve access to government laboratory facilities, lower barriers for industry, and provide better data on facility utilization, helping accelerate Emerging Technology and Defense Technology development. 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 #Warfighter #EmergingTechnology #Departmentofdefense #DefenseTechnology #NationalSecurity
August 12 · 35 min
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
August 5 · 41 min
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: 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 #Cybersecurity #ArtificialIntelligence #QuantumComputing #DefenseIndustrialBase #EmergingTechnology
July 31 · 37 min
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: 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 #DefenseInnovation #SupplyChains #EmergingTechnology #DefenseIndustrialBase #NationalSecurity keywords: - Defense technology - Supply chains - Emerging technology - Acquisition reform
July 29 · 35 min
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: 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 #DefenseInnovation #DoD #DefenseIndustrialBase #NationalSecurity #EmergingTech Keywords: - National Security - Defense innovation - Defense industrial base - Department of Defense (DoD) - Emerging technology
July 22 · 37 min
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: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up 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 #DefenseInnovation #DefenseIndustrialBase #Departmentofdefense #DefenseMarket #EmergingTechnology Keywords: - Defense Industrial Base - Department of Defense (DOD) - Defense Market - Emerging Technology
July 15 · 58 min
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 biotechnologyinnovations. 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 ": https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/-/media/ndia-eti/reports/food-biomanufacturing/eti_foodbiomanufacturing_report_final.pdf 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: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up 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
July 8 · 52 min
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: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up REGISTER: 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 8-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: https://www.ndiatechexpo.org/ Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eti-emerging-technologies-institute Twitter: https://x.com/EmergingTechETI Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmergingTechETI/ And for more podcasts, articles, & publications on emerging technology, check out our website at: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/ #DefenseInnovation #IndustrialBase #Autonomy #FutureForce #DefenseTech
July 1 · 48 min
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": https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/-/media/ndia-eti/reports/mobilizing-capital-for-defense/mobilizingcapitalreport_2026_final.pdf. For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up 2026 NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition September 8-10, 2026, at the Walter E. Washington DC Convention Center: 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 on emerging technology, check out our website at: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/ #DefenseInnovation #PrivateCapital #Acquisition #NationalSecurity
June 24 · 51 min
From Detection to Decision: Dr. Marc Mendonca on Closing the Radiation Response Gap
You can detect radiation in seconds. Understanding what it does to the human body can take far longer. This gap defines a leading challenge of radiation biology, the field that studies how radiation interacts with living systems. In this episode, Dr. Marc Mendonca, Associate Vice President of Research at the University of Central Florida, joins host Dr. Arun Seraphin to discuss what problems radiobiologists are attempting to solve, and how these problems shape the realities of warfighters, first responders, cancer patients, astronauts, and civilians. The conversation highlights persistent limits in assessing how much radiation an individual has actually absorbed, how their body will respond, and why so many sectors rely on better understanding these effects. It also examines the operational strain created by the “walking well” in mass exposure scenarios. Mendonca outlines key research gaps in the field, including radiation’s influence on the immune system, the mechanisms behind radiation-induced cancer, the need for effective post-exposure mitigation, and the development of faster, field-ready diagnostic tools. Watch ETI’s “Tech 101: Radiation Biology” seminar: https://www.ndia.org/events/2026/5/19/tech-101-radiation-biology For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up 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 on emerging technology, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org #RadiationBiology #EmergingTech #PublicHealth #EmergencyResponse
June 17 · 38 min
Wearables for Warfighters: How WHOOP is Powering Human Performance in National Security
Two of WHOOP's first 100 paying customers were LeBron James and Michael Phelps. The device built to optimize elite athletic performance is now finding a second calling in national security — and the story of how it got there says as much about military institutions as it does about the technology. Todd Stiefler, VP of Enterprise and Public Sector at WHOOP, joins Dr. Arun Seraphin at Emerging Tech Horizons to explain how a consumer fitness wearable became a force readiness tool, and what's still standing in the way of adoption at scale. Learn more about WHOOP here: https://www.whoop.com/us/en/ 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: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1 #ETI #EmergingTech #WearableTech
June 10 · 59 min
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: https://hackathon.ndia.org/browse?status=upcoming Read ETI’s brief on Hackathons as a defense acquisition tool: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/brief-series/competing-for-capability 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 #DefenseHackathon #DefenseInnovation #EmergingTechnologies #NationalSecurity
June 3 · 43 min
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
May 27 · 45 min
Fight the Base: Military Infrastructure Resilience Against Cyberattacks in a Contested Battlespace
Military bases are no longer guaranteed sanctuaries. As cyberattacks, drones, long-range missiles, and space-based threats expand the battlefield, U.S. installations must be treated as operational assets, not just support infrastructure. In this episode, Brian Stites, ETI Visiting Fellow and Chair of NDIA’s Cyber Warfare Division, speaks with Brig. Gen. Guy Walsh, USAF (Ret.), Executive Vice President and COO of National Defense Industrial Association, and Daryl Haegley, Technical Director for Control Systems Cyber Resiliency for the Department of the Air Force, about what it means to “fight the base.” The conversation examines how military infrastructure is moving beyond static compliance and audit reporting toward real-time resilience, operational readiness, and validated assessment under duress. The discussion also explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technology can help identify vulnerabilities, support resilience planning, and improve decision-making for installation commanders facing increasingly complex threats. Additionally, the episode highlights why vendors, operators, engineers, and cyber professionals must work together to maintain mission readiness when critical infrastructure is degraded. Read ETI’s related White Paper “FIGHT THE BASE: UNIFIED CONSTRUCT FOR USAF INSTALLATIONS AS FORWARD OPERATING WEAPONS PLATFORMS”: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/brief-series/fight-the-base For updates on our content, sign up for our weekly mailer: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up 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 on emerging technology, check out our website at: ndiaeti.org #EmergingTech #CyberResilience #CyberAttacks #CriticalInfrastructure #DefenseInnovation
May 20 · 40 min
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: https://www.govini.com/ Read Govini's related framework piece, "From Factory to Fight: A Modern Framework for Defense Logistics": https://www.govini.com/blog/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: 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 #DefenseAcquisition #SupplyChains #NationalSecurity
May 13 · 36 min
Start in Elementary School: Building America’s Defense STEM Pipeline
Start in Elementary School: Building America’s National Security STEM Pipeline YouTube Description: America’s next generation of emerging technology will not be built without the workforce to design, manufacture, operate, and sustain it. Jeremy Anderson, CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), argues that K–12 STEM education is a national security priority, and the pipeline has to begin long before college or career decisions. Anderson explains NMSI’s “train the trainers” model, which equips teachers, school leaders, counselors, and media specialists to help students build confidence, rigor, and a stronger STEM identity. According to Anderson, students who have at least one NMSI-trained teacher are far more likely to pursue a STEM degree or credential in fields tied to emerging technology and innovation. Industry cannot rely only on late-stage internships or higher education programs. Companies can help grow the future workforce by supporting teacher externships, connecting classrooms to real jobs, and investing earlier in tomorrow’s STEM talent to strengthen America’s national security and leadership in emerging technology. National Math & Science Initiative https://www.nms.org/ 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, 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: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1 #emergingtech #STEM #NationalSecurity

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