Emerging Tech Horizons

In this special edition of Emerging Tech Horizons, recorded live from the Emerging Technologies Conference in Washington, DC, Mark Lewis speaks with Frank Finelli, Senior Advisor at The Carlyle Group, about the role of capital markets in strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base.They discuss the challenges facing U.S. industrial capacity, mobilization, and vulnerable supply chains, including dependencies on critical minerals and other foreign sources. The conversation also explores how private equity, venture capital, credit markets, and government contracting can work together to accelerate investment, expand production capacity, and build more resilient defense supply chains.Be sure to follow us on social media for updates, inside scoops, & more:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8 And for more podcasts, articles, & publications all things emerging tech, check out our website at: https://bit.ly/47oA5K1#EmergingTechnology #DefenseIndustrialBase #CapitalMarkets #SupplyChainResilience

Building a stronger Defense Industrial Base is about more than adopting new technologies or changing acquisition policy. The processes organizations use to measure performance, manage risk, and continually improve their capabilities can play an important role in building a more productive, resilient, and innovative Defense Industrial Base.In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, host Dr. Arun Seraphin, Executive Director of NDIA’s Emerging Technologies Institute, speaks with Ron Lear, Vice President of CMMI Global Strategies at the CMMI Institute, about how CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) can help organizations improve performance across software, hardware, workforce development, supply chain management, security, safety, data management, and more.They discuss:What CMMI is and how it has evolved beyond its origins in softwareHow CMMI differs from and complements CMMCUsing performance-based approaches to improve organizational capabilityHow CMMI can help companies entering or expanding within the defense industrial baseThe role of maturity levels, organizational processes, and continuous improvementHow CMMI can work alongside Agile, Lean Six Sigma, and other methodologiesHow government organizations and defense organizations can use CMMI to improve their own processesApplying CMMI across the defense industrial base and throughout the governmentHow organizations can reduce the burden of managing multiple audits, standards, and compliance requirementsThe growing impact of AI on organizational processes and performanceCMMI’s AI maturity initiative and the importance of intentional AI adoption and governanceHow AI can amplify both organizational strengths and existing dysfunctionsWhat CMMI could contribute to building a more productive defense industrial baseLearn more about the CMMI Institute, including resources, case studies, and its AI maturity initiative: https://cmmiinstitute.comFor organizations interested in learning more about CMMI and how to get started, the CMMI Institute also works with a global network of partners providing training, consulting, and appraisal services.Learn more about the Emerging Technologies Institute:https://www.ndiaeti.orgFollow ETI:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo8Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8#CMMI #DefenseIndustrialBase #EmergingTech #EmergingTechnology

In this special edition of Emerging Tech Horizons, recorded live from the Emerging Technologies Conference in Washington, DC, Mark Lewis speaks with Ruba Elbasha, Partner at Guidehouse, about the role of AI in transforming defense financial management.They discuss what it means to take a human-centered approach to AI, how organizations can align technology with their workforce, and why human judgment remains critical in AI-enabled decision-making. The conversation also explores workforce training, responsible AI adoption, and how AI could reduce administrative burdens while enabling financial professionals to become more analytical and forward-looking.NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute: https://www.ndiaeti.orgBe sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8And for more podcasts, articles, & publications covering all things emerging tech, visit: ndiaeti.org #EmergingTechnology #ArtificialIntelligence #HumanCenteredAI #FinancialManagement 

In this special edition of Emerging Tech Horizons, recorded live from the Emerging Technologies Conference in Washington, DC, Stephanie Halcrow speaks with Lt. Col. Jared 'CLiF' Bindl, Chief Innovation Officer at AFRICOM, about how the command is working to make innovation part of its day-to-day operations.They discuss AFRICOM’s approach to operationalizing innovation and how the command is working with industry and international partners to test and scale emerging technologies in operationally relevant environments. The conversation also explores the importance of integration readiness, manufacturing and scalability, early operational involvement, and the cultural changes needed to support innovation across the defense enterprise.NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute: https://www.ndiaeti.orgBe sure to follow us on social media for updates, early access to upcoming events, inside scoops, & more:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo0Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8And for more podcasts, articles, & publications covering all things emerging tech, visit: ndiaeti.org#EmergingTechnology #DefenseInnovation #AFRICOM #MilitaryInnovation

Biomanufacturing is rapidly expanding beyond traditional applications in food and medicine, with emerging technologies offering new possibilities for national security, military logistics, and supply chain resilience.In this episode of Emerging Tech Horizons, host Sam Moyer, Research Fellow at the Emerging Technologies Institute, speaks with Maille O’Donnell, Policy Lead for Public Investment and Industry at the Good Food Institute, about the growing role of biomanufacturing in the defense industrial base. Drawing from a report they coauthored, they explore how fermentation, bioreactors, and other biomanufacturing technologies could help produce food and other products in more flexible and resource-constrained environments.Topics include:- The fundamentals and evolution of biomanufacturing- How food biomanufacturing could support contested logistics- Producing protein using fermentation and alternative feedstocks- Military and humanitarian applications of small-scale bioreactors- Biomanufacturing’s potential to strengthen supply chain resilience- The global competition surrounding biotechnology and manufacturing- Challenges in financing and scaling biomanufacturing facilities- How public investment, procurement, and demand signals could help move technologies from development to deployment- Opportunities for industry to engage with the defense communityLearn More & ResourcesRead the research brief that informed this discussion:https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/-/media/ndia-eti/reports/food-biomanufacturing/eti_foodbiomanufacturing_report_final.pdf?download=1Read the related article in National Defense Magazine:https://digital.nationaldefensemagazine.org/september-2026/page-38For more information about this topic, contact Molly O’Donnell at [email protected] more about the Emerging Technologies Institute:https://www.ndiaeti.orgFollow ETI:LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/4htROo8Twitter: https://bit.ly/48LHAx3Facebook: https://bit.ly/47vlht8#Biomanufacturing #Biotechnology #EmergingTechnology #NationalSecurity #DefenseIndustrialBase #SupplyChainResilience #ContestedLogistics #FoodSecurity