Why subscribe?
A Discipline of Seeing is a weekly publication for executives, policymakers, and builders navigating the collision of national security and emerging technology.
Each issue delivers a clear observation, the context that explains it, and the strategic implication. You’ll finish with a refined mental model or a question worth asking in your next meeting.
The work coheres into one argument I call Architectures of Resilience: the postwar structures that organized power are breaking, and the question is what replaces them.
This work requires trained attention. Seeing, real seeing, is a skill. It demands discipline.
Who Writes It
I’m Brandon Karpf.
I spent over a decade in the Navy and intelligence community learning how nation-states actually think about technology and conflict.
After leaving government, I scaled a cybersecurity media company while building an audience of over one million security professionals across 190 countries. I then cofounded a defense technology startup and grew it to $1.25M in first-year revenue. Today I evaluate dual-use defense technologies as a Venture Partner at Fulcrum Venture Group, advise multinationals on security governance and operations at NTT, and teach at the U.S. Naval Academy.
The thread connecting all of it is translation. Most organizations fail at the seams: between classified and commercial, between technical and strategic, between American and international. I write to close those gaps.
Who This Is For
You’ll find value here if you’re:
An executive responsible for security, risk, or technology strategy at scale
A policymaker shaping responses to emerging threats
A founder or investor building at the defense-commercial intersection
A practitioner who needs strategic context, not tactical checklists
This probably isn’t for you if you’re:
Seeking introductory cybersecurity education
Looking for daily threat feeds or breaking news
Expecting partisan political commentary
Wanting vendor comparisons or product reviews
What You Can Expect
Cadence: New posts arrive every two weeks.
Format: Essays and analysis (the main course), occasional briefings on time-sensitive developments, and periodic conversations with operators and builders worth learning from.
Standards: Every claim grounded in evidence. Speculation labeled clearly. Corrections made promptly and transparently.
Independence: No sponsors or paid placements. I write what I believe, what I observe, and what I learn.
Connect
Website: brandonkarpf.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brandon-karpf
For speaking inquiries, advisory engagements, or partnership discussions, reach me through the contact form on my website.
