The U.S. defense industrial base faces growing challenges, from skilled labor shortages and supply chain disruptions to shifting defense priorities and the need to rapidly integrate emerging technology. Maintaining production capacity, strengthening supply chains, and ensuring the availability of critical components are essential to keeping military systems ready for current and future threats.

In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, host Dr. Arun Seraphin speaks with Scott Davis, President of the NDIA Michigan Chapter and a former Army program executive officer, about the challenges facing the ground systems industrial base and opportunities to strengthen it. Drawing on his experience in the Army and defense industry, Davis discusses production gaps, the importance of sustaining qualified suppliers, and how traditional defense companies and commercial technology providers can work together to modernize military capabilities through emerging technology and innovation.

Topics include:

• How shifting budgets and production cuts affect defense industrial base readiness
• Maintaining critical manufacturing capacity and qualified defense supply chains
• The role of commercial emerging technology in advancing ground combat systems
• Modular vehicle architectures and faster technology upgrades
• Connecting emerging technology companies with established defense manufacturers
• Developing the next generation of defense and skilled-trades talent
• How NDIA Michigan supports industry connections, education, and workforce development to strengthen the defense industrial base

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In this special edition of Emerging Tech Horizons, recorded live from the 2026 Emerging Technologies Conference in Washington, DC, Mark Lewis and Stephanie Halcrow explore how emerging technologies move from research and development into practical defense applications.Mark speaks with Yi Chao, the founder and CEO of Seatrec, about ocean-powered underwater sensors and vehicles, tracing the technology’s journey from Navy-funded research and SBIR/STTR support to operational experimentation and production. Stephanie speaks with Price DeSanctis, a model-based systems engineer at Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI), about implementation architecture for Golden Dome and how digital engineering helps align complex systems, government program offices, and industry partners.Together, the conversations highlight the importance of bridging research, engineering, and acquisition to deliver capabilities that meet real-world defense needs.Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, inside scoops, & more:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1#OceanTechnology #UnderwaterRobotics #GoldenDome #DigitalEngineering

In this special edition of Emerging Tech Horizons, recorded live from the Emerging Technologies Conference in Washington, DC, Mark Lewis speaks with Dale Ormond, longtime Department of Defense science and technology leader, about mission engineering and its role in developing effective defense capabilities.They discuss the difference between mission engineering and systems engineering, how behavior modeling can connect missions, requirements, systems, and operational environments, and why better requirements can help reduce cost, risk, and rework. The conversation also explores how mission engineering can give warfighters greater insight into the acquisition process and help the Department manage increasingly complex systems.Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, inside scoops, & more:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1#MissionEngineering #DefenseAcquisition #SystemsEngineering

In this special edition of Emerging Tech Horizons, recorded live at the Emerging Technologies Conference in Washington, DC, Mark Lewis speaks with General John Hyten, USAF (Ret.), former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, and leader of Air Force Space Command.

They discuss how emerging technology is transforming military operations and shaping the future of national security, the challenges of moving new technologies through the defense acquisition process, and why the Department of War must accelerate innovation to keep pace with the commercial technology sector. The conversation also explores the growing role of the Space Force, the strategic importance and vulnerabilities of space, and the need for resilient space capabilities. Hyten shares insights into how government and industry can overcome acquisition barriers, accelerate emerging technology adoption, and deliver advanced capabilities to warfighters faster.

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In this special joint edition of Emerging Tech Horizons, recorded live from the Emerging Technologies Conference in Washington, DC, Stephanie Halcrow and Mark Lewis explore the challenges of moving emerging technologies from development into real-world defense capabilities.Stephanie speaks with Sarah Pearson, Chief Strategic Officer at the Defense Innovation Unit, about DIU’s new Bridge program and its efforts to help commercial technologies move from prototype to production. They discuss barriers including security clearances, classified infrastructure, and authorization processes, as well as efforts to accelerate adoption while maintaining appropriate risk controls.Mark speaks with Julia Dupuis, Chief Operating Officer at Physical Sciences Inc., about advanced sensing, materials, batteries, rocket motors, and other defense technologies. They discuss scaling technologies for manufacturing, addressing supply-chain challenges, and using advanced testing and simulation to accelerate the development of space, hypersonic, and other defense capabilities.Together, the conversations highlight what it takes to move emerging technologies from innovation to fielded defense capability.Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, inside scoops, & more:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1#DefenseInnovation #DIU #AdvancedSensing #PSI

In this special joint edition of Emerging Tech Horizons, recorded live from the Emerging Technologies Conference in Washington, DC, Stephanie Halcrow and Mark Lewis explore how emerging technologies are being developed, adopted, and brought into practical defense applications.Stephanie speaks with Jason Potter, former Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition and now Principal at Whitehaven Strategies, about modernizing shipbuilding through robotics, automation, and new approaches to naval platform design. They discuss acquisition reform, manufacturing challenges, and the importance of incorporating power, data, AI, and modular architectures into the design of next-generation ships. Mark speaks with Stephanie Hughes, CEO and Co-Founder of North AI, about technology intelligence, horizon scanning, and using AI and large-scale data to identify emerging trends and inform decision-making. They also discuss the challenges small businesses face when trying to bring new technologies into government, the importance of human expertise in AI-enabled analysis, and how emerging technologies can move from insight to operational impact. Together, the conversations highlight the broader challenge of turning emerging technology into meaningful defense capability—from identifying what is coming next to integrating new technologies into the systems, platforms, and missions that depend on them.Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, inside scoops, & more:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1#EmergingTechnology #DefenseTechnology #AI

As military missions become increasingly complex, the technologies, infrastructure, and sustainment capabilities needed to support them are evolving as well. From contested logistics and forward repair to predictive maintenance and Artificial Intelligence (AI), emerging technology is changing how the defense industrial base supports military readiness.

In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, host Dr. Arun Seraphin, Executive Director of NDIA’s Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI), speaks with Dr. Carl Spinnweber, President of Amentum’s Mission Solutions Group, about Amentum’s history, its role in the defense industrial base, and how the company is using emerging technology and AI to support complex missions around the world.

The conversation explores Amentum’s role in the organic industrial base, forward-deployed sustainment, repair forward, remote expert technology, predictive maintenance, and contested logistics. They also discuss how Amentum is applying Artificial Intelligence (AI), telemaintenance, and additive manufacturing to improve mission readiness, as well as the importance of partnerships between government, large defense companies, small businesses, and technology providers.

The episode also examines Acquisition Reform and how changes in defense acquisition can help accelerate the adoption of emerging technology, strengthen the industrial base, and improve military readiness.

Topics include:

• Forward repair, contested logistics, and sustainment
• Emerging Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and predictive maintenance
• The organic Industrial Base and mission readiness
• Acquisition Reform and technology partnerships
• ETI perspectives on emerging technologies and defense modernization

Learn More About Amentum

Visit Amentum:

https://www.amentum.com

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/amentum/

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#Amentum #EmergingTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #IndustrialBase

In this special edition of Emerging Tech Horizons, recorded live from the Emerging Technologies Conference in Washington, DC, Mark Lewis speaks with Jason Rathje, President of Public Sector at WebAI, about the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in defense.They discuss Jason’s experience connecting emerging technologies with the Department of Defense, from the Air Force Ventures program and Office of Strategic Capital to his work at WebAI. The conversation explores the potential of local and distributed AI architectures, bringing intelligence directly to warfighters in disconnected environments, and the challenges of moving AI from prototypes into practical defense capabilities. Jason also shares examples of AI applications in the field, including casualty evacuation and aircraft maintenance, and discusses what the future of AI-enabled decision-making could look like for the military.Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, inside scoops, & more:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1#ArtificialIntelligence #DistributedAI #DefenseAI #DefenseTechnology #MilitaryInnovation