Shawn Ryan Show Episode #205: Dino Mavrokas - Fmr. Navy SEAL (DEVGRU) / CEO of Saronic Technologies
Release Date: June 2, 2025
Introduction
In episode #205 of the "Shawn Ryan Show," host Shawn Ryan engages in an in-depth conversation with Dino Mavrokas, a former Navy SEAL from DEVGRU and the CEO of Saronic Technologies. Dino shares his remarkable journey from serving in the elite SEAL teams to becoming a pivotal figure in the defense technology sector, addressing critical challenges in U.S. naval shipbuilding and countering China's maritime advancements.
Dino's Background and Early Life
Dino Mavrokas hails from Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where he was raised in a hardworking Greek immigrant family. His grandfather immigrated from Greece in the 1950s, opening a diner that became the family's central hub. Working in the family business from a young age instilled in Dino the values of hard work, commitment, and the importance of family.
Notable Quote:
"It taught me the value of a dollar. It taught me hard work and commitment. But it also, if I'm being honest, it kept me out of trouble." — Dino Mavrokas [00:05]
Military Career
Joining the SEALs
Dino's path to becoming a Navy SEAL was unconventional. Motivated by the events of 9/11 and a desire to make a tangible impact, he sought out information about special operations but had no prior military connections. His determination led him to endure rigorous training, including BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training), where he faced extreme physical and mental challenges.
Notable Quote:
"I never thought about joining the military. It was never on my list of things to do." — Dino Mavrokas [54:20]
SEAL Training and Deployments
During his SEAL training, Dino encountered pivotal moments that shaped his resilience and leadership. He vividly recalls Hell Week, where he overcame doubts and physical exhaustion with the support of his peers.
Notable Quote:
"It was one person that taught it to me. So we went over there. He's like, you need to stop trying to float and you need to rock your body up to the top." — Dino Mavrokas [78:55]
Dino served 11 years in the Navy, including eight combat tours, and held positions that allowed him to work closely with elite units like Team Six. His deployments were intense, involving strategic operations and collaborations with foreign special forces.
Transitioning Out of Military
After a critical mission where bureaucratic red tape prevented him from taking decisive action, Dino realized the diminishing impact he could have as an operator. This led him to leave the SEAL teams and pursue further education and a new career path.
Notable Quote:
"The impact that I'm able to have here as an operator is going away. And if I'm going to be away from my family for six months, I want it to be for a really good reason." — Dino Mavrokas [96:59]
Business Career
MBA and Private Equity Experience
Post-military, Dino earned an MBA from Wharton and ventured into private equity, working at firms like HIG Capital and Vista Equity Partners. Despite initial challenges, including overcoming imposter syndrome and mastering financial modeling, Dino excelled in his roles, gaining valuable insights into investment and business operations.
Notable Quote:
"I started building financial models in my apartment at business school, in my off time from class and kids and everything else." — Dino Mavrokas [129:16]
Transition to Entrepreneurship
Driven by a passion to make a greater impact, Dino transitioned from private equity to founding his own defense technology company, Sironic Technologies. With support from his wife and strategic mentoring from Joe Lonsdale, Dino embarked on building a company aimed at revolutionizing naval capabilities through autonomous surface vessels.
Notable Quote:
"We have to start thinking about autonomy and how to build things differently." — Dino Mavrokas [07:10]
Founding Sironic Technologies
Motivation and Market Gap
Recognizing the significant decline in U.S. naval shipbuilding capacity—from 18,000 ships in 1943 to just 8 built and 12 retired in 2023—Dino identified a critical gap exacerbated by China's rapid expansion and technological advancements. Sironic was established in 2022 with the mission to restore U.S. naval dominance through autonomous surface vessels (ASVs).
Notable Quote:
"You're saying, okay, we have to surround the adversary with thousands of autonomous surface vessels." — Dino Mavrokas [03:27]
Team Building and Rapid Development
Dino assembled a world-class team, including co-founders from esteemed backgrounds in maritime autonomy and defense technology. Leveraging private capital from investors like Joe Lonsdale, Sironic achieved unprecedented growth, reaching a $4 billion valuation within two and a half years.
Notable Quote:
"We're building the most powerful Navy through autonomy." — Dino Mavrokas [126:55]
Autonomous Surface Vessels Technology
Features and Capabilities
Sironic's ASVs are designed to be highly modular and scalable. The platforms range from six-foot to 24-foot vessels, each equipped with advanced sensors, AI-driven navigation, and significant payload capacities. These boats can operate autonomously, drastically increasing the Navy's operational reach while minimizing human risk.
Notable Quote:
"One person can control up to 100 boats. There’s really no upper limit on how many boats you'll be able to control with our software." — Dino Mavrokas [168:27]
Software and AI Integration
The heart of Sironic's technology lies in its edge-based AI, allowing each vessel to operate intelligently and autonomously even in environments with limited connectivity. This ensures resilience against electronic warfare and jamming attempts, a crucial factor in modern naval conflicts.
Notable Quote:
"The intelligence of the platform and the mission capability has to live at the edge." — Dino Mavrokas [208:15]
Naval Shipbuilding and China's Capabilities
Dino highlights the stark contrast between U.S. and Chinese shipbuilding capacities. While the U.S. naval fleet has been declining, China has exponentially increased its capacity, currently boasting 230 times the U.S. commercial shipbuilding capacity. This disparity underscores the urgency for the U.S. to adopt scalable, autonomous solutions to regain its maritime edge.
Notable Quote:
"They have 23 million gross tons of shipbuilding capacity annually. The United States can build 100,000." — Dino Mavrokas [142:42]
Future Vision for the Navy
Dino envisions a future where autonomous vessels complement manned ships, creating a force multiplier that enhances naval dominance while reducing the need for extensive manpower. By integrating thousands of ASVs, the Navy can achieve greater operational efficiency, rapid deployment, and unmatched scalability in naval warfare.
Notable Quote:
"The best Navy is augmented with unmanned systems that can patrol our waters and overwhelm our adversaries." — Dino Mavrokas [192:11]
Personal Insights and Philosophy
Throughout the conversation, Dino emphasizes resilience, discipline, and the importance of never quitting—lessons ingrained from his SEAL training and personal experiences. He advocates for a mindset shift in both military acquisition processes and personal development, encouraging continuous learning and adaptation.
Notable Quote:
"The most important lessons you're going to learn are gonna be through failure. And that's okay." — Dino Mavrokas [53:37]
Conclusion
Dino Mavrokas's journey from a Navy SEAL to the CEO of a groundbreaking defense technology company exemplifies determination and visionary leadership. Sironic Technologies stands at the forefront of redefining naval capabilities through autonomous systems, addressing critical challenges posed by declining U.S. shipbuilding and rising Chinese maritime prowess. Dino's insights offer a compelling glimpse into the future of naval warfare and the transformative potential of autonomous technologies.
Final Notable Quote:
"We have to not just replace but augment and force multiply the Navy we have to make it ten times more powerful through autonomy." — Dino Mavrokas [222:24]
Note: The timestamps correspond to the positions in the provided transcript for reference.