The Defense Tech Underground

Nov 03 2024 6 ep. 58 mins 3

The Defense Tech Underground Podcast artwork

At Defense Tech Underground, our mission is to serve American national security by championing the transformative impact of technology on the common defense. Hosted by Stanford students and alumni with military or national security backgrounds, our podcast is the platform where key leaders in defense technology and national security—including founders, venture capitalists, government leaders, military leaders, and active service members—share their insights and experiences.

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006: John Goodson - From Deployment to Darkhive

Nov 03 2024 59 mins

John Goodson is the co-founder and CEO of Darkhive, an early stage drone startup based in San Antonio, TX. John served from 2007-2016 in the United States Navy, primarily as a combat technician supporting the West coast SEAL Teams. John completed 4 tours of duty in Afghanistan and received multiple awards, including the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" Valor designator. Afte

005: Raj Shah - Unit X: The Rise of the Defense Innovation Unit

Sep 18 2024 51 mins

Raj Shah is a former US Air Force F-16 pilot and was the head of the Defense Innovation Unit, Experimental. He now leads Shield Capital, an early stage venture capital firm investing in technologies that will secure America’s future. Raj is the author of Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War. In this episode of the Defense Tech Undergroun

004: Trae Stephens - In Pursuit of Good Quests

Aug 20 2024 55 mins

Trae Stephens is the co-founder and executive chairman of Anduril, and partner at Founder’s Fund. After fighting his way into Georgetown University, Trae began his career working in Congressman Rob Portman’s office and at the Embassy of Afghanistan to the United States. He went on to work at Palantir and then found defense tech juggernaut Anduril, which raised a $1.5B fundraisi

003: Nand Mulchandani - The CIA's Chief Technology Officer

Aug 12 2024 48 mins

Nand discusses working astride the worlds of Silicon Valley and Washington DC, and what the government can do to better adopt new technology for national security. Nand discusses the importance of software-defined warfare, the role tech plays in the intelligence community, and why the US needs more technologists in government.

002: Michèle Flournoy: Your Country Needs You

Jul 21 2024 56 mins

Michèle Flournoy served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from February 2009 to February 2012 where she was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy, oversight of military plans and operations, and in National Security Council deliberations. With decades in defense policy, Michèle has led and advised m

001: Steve Blank - Entrepreneur, Educator, & Prankster

Jun 27 2024 76 mins

Steve Blank came to Silicon Valley after serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. Over nearly six decades, he witnessed the advent of the internet, built multiple companies, and developed “the scientific method for entrepreneurship” - the lean startup methodology. Steve then applied all he had learned as an entrepreneur to a new form of service to the country, building