Mission possible? Navigating tech adoption in the DoD. (Source: CyberWire Special Edition)
Source: Listen to the episode
Brandon interviewed BMNT founder Pete Newell about “mission acceleration,” why defense innovation is a people problem more than a tech problem, and how to move operator-validated ideas through the Pentagon’s maze.
Key topics
Pete outlined how human-centered design and honest problem framing beat flashy prototypes when combat units need change fast.
Education gaps—especially around acquisitions and data rights—still keep many DoD teams from absorbing commercial tech.
Brandon pressed for pragmatic steps: embed venture coaches with program offices, give warfighters recurring reps articulating problems, and de-risk pilots with outcome-based metrics.