Podcast Summary: CyberWire Daily - Streamlining the US Navy's Innovation Process
Episode Title: Streamlining the US Navy's Innovation Process: A Conversation with Acting CTO Justin Fanelli
Hosted by: Brandon Karpf, N2K Networks
Release Date: December 30, 2024
Introduction
In this special edition of CyberWire Daily, host Brandon Karpf engages in an insightful conversation with Justin Finelli, the Acting Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Department of the Navy. The episode delves into the Navy's strategies for modernizing its innovation processes to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving technological landscape. This summary captures the essence of their discussion, highlighting key points, expert insights, and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the Navy's cybersecurity and technological capabilities.
Public-Private Partnerships in the US Navy
Brandon Karpf emphasizes the growth and performance of public-private partnerships within the Navy's innovation framework. He notes an increase in both the number and the quality of private sector collaborators, which is pivotal for national and economic security.
[03:01] Brandon Karpf: "The public private partnership is growing in terms of the number of actual private sector partners that we have and work with. ... we are really excited about the number of new ideas and the impact of the solutions."
Justin Finelli seeks to deepen the discussion on the nature of these partnerships, highlighting that national security extends beyond military might to encompass economic strength and technological innovation.
Dual-Use Innovation and Technology Transfer
The concept of dual-use technology—where innovations serve both military and civilian applications—is a cornerstone of the Navy's strategy. Brandon Karpf underscores the significance of dual-use technologies in bolstering national security and economic resilience.
[04:32] Brandon Karpf: "Dual use funded by science and technology funding within the Department of Defense is in all 11 sectors... it's very likely that's going to be picked up by edtech or fintech or something else."
Justin Finelli echoes this sentiment by citing GPS as a quintessential example of dual-use technology, illustrating how military investments can lay the foundation for broader economic advancements.
Bridging the Valley of Death
A critical challenge in innovation adoption is the "valley of death"—the gap between early-stage research and full-scale commercial or military deployment. Brandon Karpf discusses various programs designed to bridge this gap, ensuring that promising technologies transition smoothly from development to implementation.
Launch Funds and Support Mechanisms
Programs like the National Science Foundation and NIH provide early-stage funding for basic and applied research. Finelli highlights the role of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) in supporting cutting-edge technologies that may not yet be ready for commercialization.
[07:52] Brandon Karpf: "There are some new funds. There is appfit, appfit that is seen as a valley of death closure fund... SBIR program was one that was near getting canceled and got renewed."
Appfit and SBIR Programs
The Appfit program and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) initiative are pivotal in supporting small businesses and startups. These programs provide the necessary financial and operational support to help innovative companies scale their technologies for broader application.
Technology Horizons Model
To streamline innovation adoption, the Navy employs a Technology Horizons Model, categorizing technologies based on their maturity and readiness for deployment. Brandon Karpf outlines the four horizons:
- Horizon 3: Scouting - Identifying and scouting emerging technologies.
- Horizon 2: Piloting - Conducting structured pilots to learn and validate technologies.
- Horizon 1: Production - Scaling technologies for widespread deployment.
- Horizon 0: Divestment - Phasing out legacy systems to reinvest in newer technologies.
[11:03] Justin Finelli: "The chasm, the valley of death... it's trying to bring those closer together and really make that a focal area for where we can connect dots and how we can close that gap in terms of the speed to impact."
Streamlining Acquisition and Innovation Adoption
Integrating technology innovation with acquisition processes is complex. Finelli recognizes the challenge of aligning mission outcomes with technological capabilities and stresses the importance of simplifying this integration to enhance efficiency.
[11:48] Brandon Karpf: "We're trying to make that a focal area for where we can connect dots and how we can close that gap in terms of the speed to impact."
Efforts to standardize communication and create clear pathways for technology adoption, such as the Innovation Adoption Kit (IAK), are instrumental in reducing friction and accelerating the integration of new technologies.
Talent Development and Challenges
Addressing the talent gap is crucial for sustaining innovation. Brandon Karpf discusses strategies for developing versatile talent ("versatilists") who can navigate complex technological landscapes and focus on high-impact problems.
[30:35] Brandon Karpf: "We're developing versatilists who are loving life because they're spending more time to get to results... learning by doing at speed in a framed way."
The emphasis is on creating an environment where skilled professionals can thrive by automating repetitive tasks and concentrating their expertise on solving intricate, high-value challenges.
Q&A: Tech Pet Peeves
In a light-hearted segment, Justin Finelli asks Brandon Karpf about his tech pet peeves. Karpf responds by expressing frustration over the tendency to focus solely on technological specifications rather than the impact those technologies have on users and missions.
[34:22] Brandon Karpf: "If you can't talk about it in terms of what impact it's going to have on the people that it's serving, then it's going to get lost."
This underscores the importance of translating technical capabilities into tangible outcomes, ensuring that innovations effectively address real-world needs.
Conclusion
The conversation between Brandon Karpf and Justin Finelli sheds light on the multifaceted approach the US Navy is adopting to streamline its innovation processes. By fostering robust public-private partnerships, embracing dual-use technologies, bridging the valley of death with targeted programs, and developing versatile talent, the Navy is positioning itself to effectively integrate cutting-edge technologies that enhance national security and economic resilience. The discussion also highlights the ongoing challenges and the strategic initiatives in place to overcome them, offering valuable insights for industry leaders, policymakers, and technology innovators alike.
For more detailed insights and contextual information, listeners are encouraged to refer to the article linked in the show notes.
Notable Quotes:
- Brandon Karpf [03:01]: "We are really excited about the number of new ideas and the impact of the solutions."
- Brandon Karpf [04:32]: "Dual use... is in all 11 sectors... it's very likely that's going to be picked up by edtech or fintech or something else."
- Brandon Karpf [07:52]: "...appfit that is seen as a valley of death closure fund. It's only three years old... SBIR program was one that was near getting canceled and got renewed."
- Brandon Karpf [14:25]: "The divest to reinvest is the lifeblood of any company that's been around for more than a little bit of time."
- Brandon Karpf [30:35]: "We're developing versatilists who are loving life because they're spending more time to get to results."
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, making it a valuable resource for those interested in the Navy's approach to innovation and cybersecurity.