video | 9 November 2020

The DIU-ex Podcast: Bernadette Johnson // The Role of Science in Defense Innovation

The DIU-ex Podcast is hosted by Zach Walker and features conversations with alumni from the Defense Innovation Unit (formerly known as the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx)).

Dr. Bernadette Johnson joined DIUx in May 2016 as its first (and only) Chief Science Officer on loan from MIT's prestigious Lincoln Laboratory. She discusses why it is so important for technical experts to have a say in the rapid prototyping of commercial technology, and she shares her original vision of a national network for defense innovation to leverage regional strengths in industry and academia.

The DIU-ex Podcast Episode Guide:

9 JULY 2020

Episode # 1: Raj Shah // DIUx 1.0 to 2.0

Raj Shah joined DIUx in May 2016 as its second Director. Raj goes into detail about his considerations for taking the job and what it was like to lead a hand-picked team charged with transforming the DoD and reporting to the Secretary of Defense.

Watch this episode (29 min)


9 JULY 2020

Episode #2: Enrique Oti // From Prototype to Kessel Run

Colonel Enrique Oti commands the Air Force's Kessel Run software development organization, which started a DIUx prototype project. Enrique goes into details about how the project got its start and what success looks like in transitioning to a major Air Force program.

Watch this episode (32min)


9 JULY 2020

Episode # 3: Tom Wester // The Junior Officer Perspective

Ensign (at the time) Tom Wester joined DIUx in 2016 as a Project Manager in the Space Portfolio. He worked on several efforts ranging from small satellites, to rapid space launch, to space situational awareness. Simultaneously, he attended Stanford University and earned a Master’s of Science in Management Science and Engineering. Now a Lieutenant Junior Grade, Tom has completed one tour of duty on the USS HOWARD (DDG 83) and is preparing to return as a Navigator. He talks about what it was like to work in DIUx as a newly commissioned officer, as well as how time in DIUx influenced his next tour in the Navy.

Watch this episode (18min)


9 JULY 2020

Episode # 4: David Schiff // Scaling Agility with NavalX

David Schiff arrived to DIUx as part of a Navy executive fellowship program. He's now at NavalX, the Department of Navy's workforce "super-connector," focused on scaling non-traditional agility methods across the Navy workforce. David shares his experiences in DIUx and how he has carried this work over into NavalX.

Watch this episode (22min)


9 JULY 2020

Episode #5: Lauren Dailey & David Rothzeid // HACQing Acquisition Pathways

Lauren Dailey and David Rothzeid led the DIUx "Pathways" team, responsible for thinking critically about how the DoD could do a better job of working with the best commercial companies in the world. Learn how they implemented the Commercial Solutions Opening and transformed the DoD into a competitive customer.

Watch this episode (39min)


9 JULY 2020

Episode #6: Mark Jacobsen // Going Rogue with Rogue Squadron

Lt Col Mark Jacobsen co-founded and led the DIUx Rogue Squadron team, which delivered unprecedented Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and Counter-UAS capabilities to the highest levels of the United States government. Learn how they built their hardware and software solutions on a foundation of trust and with a bias for action.

Watch this episode (24min)


16 JULY 2020

Episode #7: Chris Kirchhoff // Laying the Foundation for DIUx

Dr. Chris Kirchhoff joined DIUx in May 2016 as a Partner, but his involvement with what we know as "defense innovation" started with a Silicon Valley visit from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2012. Chris goes into detail about the years of groundwork that resulted in DIUx.

Watch this episode (25min)


7 AUGUST 2020

Episode #8: Allison Lazarus & Richard Kuzma // The Cambridge Project

The Cambridge Project leverages the amazing talents of military graduate students in the Boston area to augment DIU’s mission of accelerating commercial technology for national security. Allison Lazarus and Richard Kuzma share the history of the Cambridge Project and explain why this talent pool should be leveraged to benefit the DoD.

Watch this episode (25min)


8 SEPTEMBER 2020

Episode #9: Ryan Kappedal // Transforming DoD with AI

MBA or PhD? Dr. Ryan Kappedal has both, and across a career in the Air Force he delivered data solutions rooted in academic rigor. Ryan goes into detail about his history and shares a 3-step process for making sure that the DoD takes on the right problems where Artificial Intelligence is a valid solution.

Watch this episode (36min)


13 OCTOBER 2020

Episode #10: Vishaal "V8" Hariprasad // Upgrading the DoD

Vishaal 'V8' Hariprasad joined DIUx in May 2016 as a Partner. V8 goes into detail about how and why he was driven to join the DIUx leadership team and upgrading the DoD in terms of technology and ways of thinking. He shares some interesting anecdotes about what it was like to lead a small team charged with changing the way DoD does business.

Watch this episode (26min)


19 OCTOBER 2020

Episode #11: Isaac Taylor // Faster, Better, Cheaper (Pick 3)

Isaac Taylor joined DIUx in May 2016 as a Partner with over 15 years of experience in developing cutting-edge exponential technology at Google. Isaac goes into detail about his motivations for leaving the private sector to join the DIUx leadership team. He speaks to what the future may hold for both defense innovation and the nation, and he suggests that we should look to the past to guide our actions for the future.

Watch this episode (1hr 19min)


9 NOVEMBER 2020

Episode #12: Bernadette Johnson // The Role of Science in Defense Innovation

Dr. Bernadette Johnson joined DIUx in May 2016 as its first (and only) Chief Science Officer on loan from MIT's prestigious Lincoln Laboratory. She discusses why it is so important for technical experts to have a say in the rapid prototyping of commercial technology, and she shares her original vision of a national network for defense innovation to leverage regional strengths in industry and academia.

Watch this episode (32min)


4 DECEMBER 2020

Episode #13: Sean Singleton // Doing Deals that Matter

Sean Singleton joined DIUx in 2016 as its first Director of Business Development and Engagement, now known as Strategic Engagement. Sean describes the strategic context in which the DoD operates and suggests an organization like DIU isn't successful just by doing deals -- it has to do deals that matter.

Watch this episode (31min)


A Defense Innovation Unit podcast.