The preeminent podcast for all things drones, defense tech, defense policy, and modern warfare. Featured guests include industry leaders, policy experts, milita...
Satellites, Investing, and Defense Tech's Future | Gabe Dominocielo (Podcast Ep. #14)
Gabe joins the show and talks space, satellites, defense tech, investing, and running companies.
(0:00) Intro
(0:55) How Umbra Started
(3:52) Gabe Before Umbra
(6:28) Having a "Real Job" Before Startups
(8:05) Drones over California
(9:19) Investing in Firehawk Aerospace
(13:24) Acquisitions in Defense
(20:08) Investing and Getting Funded
(23:41) Having No Money in Tech = Advantage?
(27:16) Outlook on Aeon
(28:33) Outdated Legacy Prime Contract Models
(32:19) Steve's Startup Idea & "The Valley of Death"
(36:01) The Startup Game is to Stay Alive
(38:15) DJI Changes & Drone Manufacturing
(43:05) Umbra's Plan for the Future
(47:36) TV Shows & Documentaries
(49:46) Selling "The Vision"
(52:23) More TV Shows
(54:39) Locations
(58:16) Vision for Umbra
(1:01:06) Why We Changed The Pod Name
(1:02:40) Crypto, Mentors, Naming Things
(1:10:23) Outro
Gabe Dominocielo is the President and co-founder of Umbra, a technology company specializing in advanced space systems to both commercial and government clients.
Under his leadership, Umbra has distinguished itself by offering the highest-resolution commercial satellite images available, utilizing proprietary technology to capture clear imagery through clouds and at night.
Before establishing Umbra in 2015, Dominocielo co-founded and served as Chief Operating Officer of a legal services firm whose panel attorneys achieved over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements.
Umbra: https://umbra.space/
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Check out Allen Control Systems (ACS): https://www.allencontrolsystems.com/
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1:10:27
Modern Warfare: Drones, AI, and USVs | David Broyles, Ph.D. (Podcast Ep. #13)
From WWII mine warfare to AI-powered drones - exploring next-gen military tech with defense industry insights.
(0:00) Intro
(1:13) CNA Origins (World War II)
(5:08) IEDs in Iraq
(12:58) Mines in the Pacific
(15:46) Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)
(24:21) Drones
(29:03) Why and how to use USVs?
(42:40) Drone countermeasures
(45:41) CNA Funding and Info Flow
(52:35) Managing a Team vs Independent Contributor
(56:19) AI & LLMs
(59:28) Is AI really a timesaver?
(1:04:25) AI is a misnomer
(1:07:25) The Future of AI
(1:12:57) Separating signal from the noise
(1:15:15) Synthetic Data
(1:18:35) CNA's Year Ahead
(1:21:35) Outro
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David Broyles, Ph.D., is a Research Program Director and specialist in cyber operations, artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy, special operations, and information warfighting at CNA, an independent, nonprofit research and analysis organization. David has served as a CNA field representative to numerous commands, including United States Fleet Forces Command and those in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has a doctorate in chemistry from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Washington University in St. Louis.
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Check out Allen Control Systems (ACS): https://www.allencontrolsystems.com/
#dronewars #defensetech #militaryinnovation #dronesinwarfare #defenseindustry #djidrones #emergingthreats #dronetechnology #militarytechnology #ukraineconflict #dronesinaction #nationalsecurity #kinetickill #techindefense #futureofwarfare #dronethreat #modernwarfare #dodtech #gamechanger #innovationinwarfare #drone #podcast #ai #artificialintelligence #llm #navy #navalwarfare
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1:21:40
Power, Tech, and The Wars of The Future | Donald Stoker, Ph.D. (Podcast #12)
Donald Stoker discusses military history, national strategies, and today’s global state.
0:00 Intro
1:11 About Don
3:44 The Korean War
11:01 North Korea and Iran Today
13:11 War in Ukraine
23:29 Don's Class at Nat'l Defense Uni
27:33 The American Revolution
32:28 Wars of Expansion
34:35 First Gulf War & Military Buildup
40:16 Karl Von Clausewitz
47:28 Why America Loses Wars
54:50 The Impact of Drones on War
1:06:00 Academia
1:09:28 American History Rhyming?
1:14:03 Nuclear Weapons
1:16:18 Purpose and Power, Don's Book
1:22:17 Revisionist Powers & Modern War
1:33:40 Don's Future Plans
1:38:20 Outro
Donald Stoker is a Professor of National Security and Resource Strategy at the Eisenhower School at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. He was previously a Professor for the U.S. Naval War College program. He received his PhD in Military and Diplomatic History from Florida State University and has published more than 70 books and articles on strategy and military and foreign affairs topics.
Follow Professor Stoker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donaldstoker/
Buy Professor Stoker's Books!
Purpose and Power: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1009257277/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk
Why America Loses Wars: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1009220861/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk
Clausewitz: His Life and Work: https://www.amazon.com/Clausewitz-Life-Work-Donald-Stoker/dp/0199357943
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Steve's Company (Allen Control Systems): www.allencontrolsystems.com
#dronewars #defensetech #militaryinnovation #dronesinwarfare #defenseindustry #djidrones #emergingthreats #dronetechnology #militarytechnology #ukraineconflict #dronesinaction #nationalsecurity #kinetickill #techindefense #futureofwarfare #dronethreat #modernwarfare #dodtech #gamechanger #innovationinwarfare #drone #podcast #history #militaryhistory
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1:38:26
Manufacturing, Autonomy, & The Future of American Defense | Dhruva Rajendra (Podcast Ep. 11)
Dhruva Rajendra discusses autonomy, defense innovation, mergers, and lessons from Ukraine.
Timestamps:
(0:00) Intro
(0:35) This Week in Startups Podcast
(2:40) Michael Saylor & MicroStrategy
(5:36) Steve's Review of Wicked
(10:21) Company Updates
(13:33) Fuses
(17:42) BlueHalo-AeroVironment Merger
(25:55) Elon's F-35 Debate
(36:49) The Future is Autonomy
(40:58) Podcast Rebrand
(44:50) America's Missing Pieces in Defense
(50:00) Not Learning From Ukraine
(56:17) Small Drone Markets & Regulations
(1:06:40) Building Ahead of Requirement
(1:11:25) Commercial Use Case First
(1:14:40) Different Weapons for Each Conflict
(1:16:45) Could America Just Retool For War?
(1:21:09) Outro
Dhruva Rajendra is the co-founder and CEO of Deterrence, a defense tech startup company building advanced autonomous manufacturing systems.
Follow Dhruva on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhruvarajendra/
Follow Dhruva on X: https://x.com/dkrajendra
Dhruva's Company (Deterrence): https://www.deterrence.com/--
Follow the show everywhere! 👇
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3YOfGtO
Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3ObLKme
X (Twitter): https://x.com/droneultimatum
Instagram: https://bit.ly/4hNn7Ki
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Check out Allen Control Systems (ACS): www.allencontrolsystems.com
#dronewars #defensetech #militaryinnovation #dronesinwarfare #defenseindustry #djidrones #emergingthreats #dronetechnology #militarytechnology #ukraineconflict #dronesinaction #nationalsecurity #kinetickill #techindefense #futureofwarfare #dronethreat #modernwarfare #dodtech #gamechanger #innovationinwarfare #drone #podcast #manufacturing #reindustrialize
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1:21:14
Drones for Defense and Public Safety, Autonomy, and Scaling To Win | Mike Fiuk (Podcast Ep. 10)
Mike Fiuk shares Darkhive’s vision, roadmap, and insights on selling and tech in defense.
Chapters:
(0:00) Intro
(1:00) Who is Mike Fiuk?
(4:27) About Darkhive & Obelisk
(9:57) Video Games
(12:43) Supply Chains
(19:01) Reacting to Trae Stephens
(22:04) Autonomous Teaming & Analysis
(23:38) DIU Blue List
(25:35) Advice for Selling in Defense
(29:02) Ukraine Lessons & Scale to Win Wars
(34:36) How to Get Info About Ukraine
(36:30) Darkhive's 2025 Plans42:50 Keeping Products Updated
(46:10) Demos and Conferences
(53:11) Investors in Darkhive
(54:28) T-Levels in Founders (Study)
(57:35) Outro
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Mike Fiuk is the Vice President of Defense Strategy at Darkhive Inc., a company dedicated to developing U.S. produced autonomous robotic systems for defense and public safety. He is also a Veteran and current Reserve Officer in the United States Army. Previously, Mike was a consultant at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and co-founded or was involved with multiple startup companies. He is a graduate of The United States Military Academy at West Point and Harvard Business School.
Follow Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michalfiuk/
Darkhive: https://www.darkhive.com/
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Follow the show everywhere! 👇
YouTube:
Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3ObLKme
X (Twitter): https://x.com/droneultimatum
Instagram: https://bit.ly/4hNn7Ki
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Check out Allen Control Systems (ACS): www.allencontrolsystems.com
#dronewars #defensetech #militaryinnovation #dronesinwarfare #defenseindustry #djidrones #emergingthreats #dronetechnology #militarytechnology #ukraineconflict #dronesinaction #nationalsecurity #kinetickill #techindefense #futureofwarfare #dronethreat #modernwarfare #dodtech #gamechanger #innovationinwarfare #drone #podcast #publicsafety
The preeminent podcast for all things drones, defense tech, defense policy, and modern warfare. Featured guests include industry leaders, policy experts, military warfighters, business titans, and many more. Hosted by Steve Simoni, co-founder and CEO of Allen Control Systems.
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