Billions are spent on defense technology every year. A surprising amount of it never makes it into real-world use.

In this episode of Mission Critical: Defense and Aerospace Recruiting, Katherine Jerald sits down with Duke Hartman, CEO at Integer Technologies, to unpack one of the most misunderstood problems in the industry: why great technology so often fails to get deployed.

Duke shares how the gap between innovation and implementation isn't about capability. It's about integration, incentives, and understanding the realities of how defense systems are actually used in the field.

From procurement cycles to program risk, he explains why even highly advanced solutions can stall before they ever reach the warfighter, and what needs to change for innovation to translate into real operational impact.

"If it doesn't fit into how the mission already works, it doesn't matter how good the tech is." This conversation goes beyond the surface level challenges of defense innovation to explore the structural reasons behind slow adoption and why the companies that succeed are the ones that design for reality, not just possibility.

Inside this episode:

– Why so much defense technology never makes it past evaluation or pilot phases – The real gap between building great tech and getting it deployed – How procurement structures and incentives shape what actually gets used – Why integration matters more than innovation in defense systems – The hidden risks that stop programs from adopting new technology – What startups misunderstand about working with the Department of Defense – How to design technology that fits existing missions rather than disrupting them – Why speed alone is not enough to win in defense

If you work in defense technology, aerospace, or government contracting, this episode offers a clear look at why deployment, not invention, is the real challenge and what it takes to close that gap.

Connect with Duke Hartman:linkedin.com/in/will-edwards Learn more about Integer Tech: https://www.integer-tech.com/

Connect with Katherine Jerald: http://www.elraysearch.com

Produced in partnership with http://www.podlad.com