Shows / DIB Innovators
DIB Innovators
The DIB Innovators podcast celebrates the brilliant minds behind innovation within the Defense Industrial Base. In each episode, host and co-founder of RADICL, David Graff will speak with DIB leaders who are driving technological advancements, championing our nation’s security, and shaping the future of defense technology. Brought to you by RADICL — Cybersecurity-as-a-Service purpose-built for small and mid-sized businesses in the Defense Industrial Base. Starting your CMMC journey? RADICL…
Episodes
DIB InnovatorsEP 67 — Vatn’s Nelson Mills on the Three Pillars Every Defense Startup Must Master
The underwater domain has become central to great power competition, yet existing autonomous underwater vehicles cost $500,000+ and require teams of…
DIB InnovatorsEP 66 — Albers Aerospace’s John Albers on Vertical Integration Approach Solving DIB Gaps
The defense industrial base faces a manufacturing crisis that goes far deeper than workforce shortages, and John Albers, President/CEO of Albers Aerospace has…
DIB InnovatorsEP 65 — Scientific Systems' Kunal Mehra on Affordable Mass Revolution
The Ukrainian conflict revealed a stark reality that should light a fire under American defense planners: modern warfare consumes weapons at rates that would…
DIB InnovatorsEP 64 — HAVOCai’s Paul Lwin on Winning Through Asymmetric Naval Economics
When America's adversaries can outbuild us in ships, what's our strategic advantage? Paul Lwin, CEO & Co-founder of HAVOCai, shares how his company is…
DIB InnovatorsEP 63 — Method MFG’s Rhys Andersen on Bootstrapping a Machine Shop into Aerospace Manufacturing
When Rhys Andersen, Founder & CEO at Method MFG, moved to Texas with an architecture degree, he never imagined he'd end up machining components for spacesuits…
DIB InnovatorsEP 62 — Graham Manufacturing’s Matthew Malone on Why Defense Manufacturing Must Reinvest in IT
President & COO Matthew Malone's journey from solving locomotive failures in Indonesia to leading Graham Manufacturing offers rare insight into how technical…
DIB InnovatorsEP 61 — Agile’s Chris Pearson on Mastering Space Propulsion with 3D Printing & Test Innovation
The race to protect America's orbital assets is accelerating, and Agile Space Industries is providing the engines needed for rapid spacecraft maneuverability…
DIB InnovatorsEP 60 — Bazze’s Samuel Semwangu on How Commercial Intelligence Is Transforming Modern Warfare
Samuel Semwangu, CEO of Bazze, provides his insider perspective on the revolution happening in defense intelligence collection that most Americans aren't…
DIB InnovatorsEP 59 — Lt. Gen. Nahom (USAF, ret) on Why Predictability Matters More Than Money in Military Readiness
In a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, Lt. Gen. Nahom, (USAF, ret), brings invaluable perspective on how Arctic security, budget realities, and emerging…
DIB InnovatorsEP 58 — Advanced Space’s Bradley Cheetham on Using Orbital Mechanics to Cut Mission Costs
Advanced Space CEO & President Bradley Cheetham's journey from a PhD student at CU Boulder to successfully putting a satellite around the moon demonstrates how…
DIB InnovatorsEP 57 — Cyber Resilience at the Crossroads [Webinar]
The security landscape has radically transformed from counter-terrorism to strategic competition with nation states who are actively positioning cyber assets…
DIB InnovatorsEP 56 — SkyRunner’s Stewart Hamel on How Their Unmanned, Multi-Domain Aircraft Enhances Strategic Capabilities for Special Ops
Stewart Hamel, CEO, took an eccentric side project for his ranch and transformed it into SkyRunner, a revolutionary air utility transport vehicle that's…
DIB InnovatorsEP 55 — Piasecki Aircraft’s John Piasecki on Their Answer to Extended-Range Combat Logistics
Vertical lift aviation is on the cusp of its biggest revolution since the helicopter itself, and John Piasecki, President & CEO of Piasecki Aircraft, is at the…
DIB InnovatorsEP 54 — Slingshot Aerospace’s Erik Ekwurzel on Low-Cost Optical Alternatives for Space Radar Systems
In Dave’s latest conversation on DIB Innovators, he uncovers how Slingshot Aerospace has become one of the few major entities globally collecting space data at…
DIB InnovatorsEP 53 — Skydweller Aero’s Robert Miller on Transforming Solar Aircraft into Military-Grade Assets
Imagine aircraft that can stay aloft for weeks, transforming how militaries conduct surveillance across vast distances — that's the game-changing reality…
DIB InnovatorsEP 52 — HTX Labs' Scott Schneider on Meeting Students Where They Are with Multi-Platform VR
In this episode of DIB Innovators, Scott Schneider, CEO & Co-founder of HTX Labs, takes us from his early days working on classified government programs at…
DIB InnovatorsEP 51 — Pindel Global Precision’s Bill Berrien on How Military Training Models Can Transform Manufacturing Skills
Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision, has discovered a fascinating parallel: both special operations and advanced manufacturing rely on highly…
DIB InnovatorsEP 50 — Inneos’ Brian Peters on Building the Nervous System for Autonomous Military Vehicles
In the early 1990s Brian Peters, Founder/CEO of Inneos recalls, "lasers were a solution looking for a problem. Today, Inneos is transforming military platforms…
DIB InnovatorsEP 49 — Atomic-6's Trevor Smith on Revolutionizing Aerospace Through Advanced Composite Materials
How does a former real estate broker end up revolutionizing satellite protection at Mach 21? Trevor Smith, President & CEO of Atomic-6, brings just this unique…
DIB InnovatorsEP 48 — EolianVR's Michael Simmons on Revolutionizing Military Mission Planning Through Immersive AR/VR Technology
Join Michael Simmons, Co-founder & COO of EolianVR, as he details the company's journey from conception — a chance reunion with his now business partner at…
DIB InnovatorsEP 47 — Phantom Space's Jim Cantrell on Democratizing Space Access Through Affordable Launch Solutions
Space industry pioneer Jim Cantrell, CEO & Co-founder of Phantom Space, joins in on this episode of DIB Innovators to share how his company is revolutionizing…
DIB InnovatorsEP 46 — Jetoptera’s Andrei Evulet on Ejector Propulsion and Aerospace Innovation
In this episode of DIB Innovators, Dave speaks with Andrei Evulet, Co-founder, CEO and CTO, Jetoptera. Andrei shares how their unique ejector-based propulsion…
DIB InnovatorsEP 45 — AZDIC’s Lynndy Smith on Partnering with Ukraine for Innovation
In this episode of DIB Innovators, Dave speaks with Lynndy Smith, President & CEO of the Arizona Defense and Industry Coalition (AZDIC). Lynndy shares how…
DIB InnovatorsEP 44 — HevenDrones’ Bentzion Levinson on Battlefield Applications of Modular Drone Technology
In this episode of DIB Innovators, Dave speaks with Bentzion Levinson, Founder & CEO of HevenDrones about the groundbreaking technologies shaping modern drone…
DIB InnovatorsEP 43 — Auria Space’s Damian DiPippa on Space Domain Awareness and Asset Protection
In this episode of DIB Innovators, Dave speaks with Damian DiPippa, CEO of Auria Space, about the evolving challenges and innovations in the space industry…
DIB InnovatorsEP 42 — AVATAR Partners’ Scott Toppel on Revolutionizing Training with Emerging Technologies
In this episode of DIB Innovators, Dave speaks with Scott Toppel, President of AVATAR Partners, to explore the transformative power of augmented and virtual…
DIB InnovatorsEP 41 — Red 6’s Kevin Huyck on Overcoming Challenges in Military Pilot Production
In this episode of DIB Innovators, Dave speaks with Kevin Huyck, COO of Red 6, to discuss the transformative role of augmented reality in military training…
DIB InnovatorsEP 40 — Rendered.ai’s Nathan Kundtz on the Power of Synthetic Data in AI Development
In this episode of DIB Innovators, Dave speaks with Nathan Kundtz, CEO of Rendered.ai, to explore the transformative potential of synthetic data in artificial…
DIB InnovatorsEP 39 — Red Cat Holdings’ Brendan Stewart on Strategic Partnerships for Advancing Drone Capabilities
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Brendan Stewart, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Red Cat Holdings, about the transformative…
DIB InnovatorsEP 38 — CMMC Compliance and Cybersecurity Challenges [Webinar]
In this special episode of DIB Innovators, RADICL’s CEO, CTO and Co-founder, Chris Petersen steps in to host a webinar about all things CMMC. Chris welcomes…
DIB InnovatorsEP 37 — LightRidge Solutions’ Josh Hartman on Competitive Endurance Theory in Orbital Warfare
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Josh Hartman, Chief Growth and Strategy Officer at LightRidge Solutions. Josh shares…
DIB InnovatorsEP 36 — ZKX Solutions’ Collin Sweeney on Zero-Knowledge Proofs and Digital Identity Security
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Collin Sweeney, CTO & Co-founder of ZKX Solutions, who shares his insights on the…
DIB InnovatorsEP 35 — Ultraview’s Colby Harvey on Mentorship and Startup Success
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Colby Harvey, CEO & Founder of Ultraview, to explore his entrepreneurial journey and…
DIB InnovatorsEP 34 — Aerostar’s Jim Nelson on the Future of Aerial Communications
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Jim Nelson, President at Aerostar, to explore the innovative advancements in…
DIB InnovatorsEP 33 — Rafael Systems Global Sustainment’s Joe Anderson on the Power of Mentorship for Success in the DIB
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Joe Anderson, President and CEO of Rafael Systems Global Sustainment, who shares his…
DIB InnovatorsEP 32 — Hypori’s Jared Shephard on Securing Mobile Communications in a Digital World
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David welcomes Jared Shephard, CEO of Hypori, who shares his remarkable journey from military service to…
DIB InnovatorsEP 31 — Apex’s Ian Cinnamon on Sustainability and Innovation in Aerospace
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, Ian Cinnamon, CEO and Co-founder of Apex, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of the space…
DIB InnovatorsEP 30 — Atomos Space’s William Kowalski on Effective Communication in Complex Space Missions
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with William Kowalski, Co-founder & COO at Atomos Space, to explore the intricacies of…
DIB InnovatorsEP 29 — Capella Space’s Frank Backes on Transforming Global Transparency with Satellite Imaging
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, Frank Backes, CEO of Capella Space, shares his extensive experience in the satellite imaging industry and…
DIB InnovatorsEP 28 — Canopy Aerospace’s Matt Shieh on Accelerator Programs for Propelling Growth in the Aerospace Industry
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Matt Shieh, Co-founder and CEO of Canopy Aerospace, to explore his journey to leading…
DIB InnovatorsEP 27 — ThinkOrbital’s Lee Rosen on Innovating the Future of Space Exploration
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Lee Rosen, Co-founder, President, and CEO of ThinkOrbital. Lee shares his journey from…
DIB InnovatorsEP 26 — Peak InfoSec’s Matthew Titcombe on the Ins and Outs of Achieving CMMC Certification Success
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Matthew Titcombe, CEO and Sr. Information Security Consultant of Peak InfoSec, to…
DIB InnovatorsEP 25 — goTenna’s Ari Schuler on Overcoming Challenges in Educating Customers About New Technologies
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Ari Schuler, CEO of goTenna, to explore the transformative journey of his company. Ari…
DIB InnovatorsEP 24 — RMCI’s Kenneth Speaks on Revolutionizing Rotorcraft Maintenance with Real-Time Data
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David chats with Kenneth Speaks, Founder and CEO of RMCI. Kenneth shares his insights on how technology…
DIB InnovatorsEP 23 — American Lithium Energy’s William Hadala on Scaling Lithium Battery Production in the US
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with William Hadala Jr, VP of Strategy at American Lithium Energy. William shares his…
DIB InnovatorsEP 22 — Benchmark Space Systems’ Ryan McDevitt on the Future of Satellite Mobility
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Ryan McDevitt, CEO and Co-Founder of Benchmark Space Systems, about the future of space…
DIB InnovatorsEP 21 — AWS’s Travis Goldbach on Future Trends in Cloud Security and Zero Trust
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Travis Goldbach, Global Head of CMMC Go-To-Market at Amazon Web Services (AWS). Travis…
DIB InnovatorsEP 20 — Evolution Energy Solutions’ Stacy Newstead on Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Tech and Defense
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Stacy Newstead, CEO of Evolution Energy Solutions , the US subsidiary of Evolution…
DIB InnovatorsEP 19 — Spirit Electronics’ Marti McCurdy on Inspiring the Next Generation in STEM
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Marti McCurdy, CEO of Spirit Electronics. Marti shares her remarkable journey from…
DIB InnovatorsEP 18 — Long Capture’s Russell Long on Crafting Winning Government Proposals for Startups
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Russell Long, Founder & CEO of Long Capture, to explore the intersection of innovative…
DIB InnovatorsState of Cybersecurity in the DIB [Webinar]
On this week's special episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, Chris speaks with Tony Bai, CSO at RISCPoint; Christopher Leslie, CIO at Red6; Vince Petrecca, VP…
DIB InnovatorsEP 17 — Free Form Fibers’ Shay Harrison on Strategic Partnerships and Cybersecurity in Advanced Materials
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Shay Harrison, CEO at Free Form Fibers. Shay details the groundbreaking laser-driven…
DIB InnovatorsEP 16 — Zulu Pods’ Rob Sladen on Navigating Government Contracts as a Small Business
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Rob Sladen, Co-founder, Chairman, & CEO of Zulu Pods, to explore his entrepreneurial…
DIB InnovatorsEP 15 — Swarmbotics AI’s Stephen Houghton on Leveraging Military Experience in Swarm Robotics Leadership
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, Stephen Houghton, CEO and Co-founder at Swarmbotics AI, dives into his journey from Marine officer to…
DIB InnovatorsEP 14 — Dauntless XR’s Lori-Lee Elliott on Enhancing Defense Training and Operational Efficiency with Extended Reality
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Lori-Lee Elliott, Co-founder and CEO of Dauntless XR, to discuss the transformative…
DIB InnovatorsEP 13 — Voyager Space's Matthew Kuta on Entrepreneurial Challenges and the Future of Aerospace
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Matthew Kuta, President and Co-Founder of Voyager Space, who shares insights on his…
DIB InnovatorsEP 12 — CARR Machine & Tool’s Jim Carr on Navigating Compliance and Culture in Defense Manufacturing
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks with Jim Carr, President, CEO and Owner of CARR Machine & Tool, who shares how growing up in…
DIB InnovatorsEP 11 — World View’s Ryan Hartman on Envisioning a Radically Improved Future in the DIB
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David speaks to Ryan Hartman, President and CEO of World View. The conversation explores Ryan's military…
DIB InnovatorsEP 10 — Paragon's Grant Anderson on Building Teams that Make Innovation in the DIB a Regular Process
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David talks with Grant Anderson, President, CEO, and Co-Founder of Paragon Space Development Corporation…
DIB InnovatorsEP 9 — VirTra's Bob Ferris on Pioneering Virtual Training for Defense Advancement
On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David talks with Bob Ferris, Founder and Executive Chairman of VirTra, about the journey from a team of…