Fireside Chat — Innovation & Acquisitions: What Partnering Means for the Air Force
Learn how U.S. Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting Maj. Gen. Cameron Holt is helping the service reinvigorate partnerships between the military and the commercial world, and building a culture of critical thinking among the Air Force contracting community.
What you’ll find out:
- Why military-commercial partnerships matter (01:50)
- What’s at stake for the next 20 years of technology investment (02:50)
- China’s play: economic and information advantage (03:15)
- The talent wars (06:45)
- Disruptions ahead will change the game (08:30)
- Harnessing American ingenuity (12:30)
- Using our power (14:55)
Key quotes
- “Technologies that both DOD and venture capital fund — like AI, autonomy, biotech — are already transforming how we live, work and fight. Our near-peer competitors are deeply interested in shaping those critical technologies.” — Maj. Gen. Holt (02:09)
- “A lot of the dual-use tech that you’re talking about, American companies and countries around the world through One Belt One Road are now having to face very tough decisions. Where does the future lie? With China or America? We have a very sobering reality that is upon us.” — Maj. Gen. Holt (03:15)
- “We still have the acquisition and resourcing system of the Cold War, of the 1900s. And that’s not going to win in this next challenge so it’s important for us all to get together and work these challenges together.” — Maj. Gen. Holt (05:20)
- “This is a crisis because the very best technology is going to be built by small groups of really talented people. China and other countries are doing a better job of harnessing that talent so we have some real challenges ahead of us.” — Joe Lonsdale (07:18)
- “My disruptive thinkers and business leadership are really thinking through how can we develop pilot programs like one I call ‘free cash flow’ to actually ask the Congress to allow limited authority to be able to re-invest money rapidly at the speed of heat. That’s the business side that will unlock the kind of innovation you’re seeing here.” — Maj. Gen. Cameron Holt (11:30)
- “How can America harness the fact that we’re an open and free society where genius comes from everywhere? If we stick to what the elite put in place 60 years ago, where everything is top down, everything is micromanaged, we’re not going to beat China at that game.” — Joe Lonsdale (12:40)
- “There’s a lot of contractors who come to me and ask ‘How can I do business with you?’ I’m asking you, how can I do business with you? I want to attract you to the Air Force, the Space Force.” — Maj. Gen. Holt (13:55)
Who you’ll hear from
Maj Gen Cameron Holt, USAF, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting
Joe Lonsdale, 8VC, General Partner
Michael Piller, USAF, Contracting Officer
About Fed Supernova
Fed Supernova is a two-day annual conference highlighting defense innovation in Texas. This first-of-its-kind interactive experience draws national attention and connects leading entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders, corporations, and decision makers from around the world.About Capital Factory
Capital Factory is the center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas, the number one startup state in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs, programmers and designers gather day and night, in-person and online for meetups, classes and coworking. With boots on the ground in Austin, Dallas and Houston, we meet the best entrepreneurs in Texas and introduce them to their first investors, employees, mentors and customers. According to Pitchbook, Capital Factory has been the most active investor in Texas since 2013.
