Speed and Trust: Building AI the Pentagon Actually Uses | Mailani Veney, Kana Systems

Cleared for Takeoff - Real AI stories from the industries move the world. · Sep 24, 2026 · 24m

The Department of Defense spent months trying to recruit Mailani Veney, but she kept saying no because she didn't think she had the right background. What changed her mind was realizing they didn't need a defense expert. They needed someone who could bring innovative technology and make an impact fast. Critical decisions were still relying on data that people processed manually, and getting the information together could take weeks. In this episode of Cleared for Takeoff, Ben Tosado sits down with the CEO and founder of Kana Systems to talk about how Kana helps defense teams turn huge amounts…