Helping Technology companies expand across U.S. Defense | High-Impact C-Suite Advisor | Entrepreneur, Operations Officer | Defense Entrepreneurs Forum | AWS | Booz Allen
I’m at #SOFWeek2024 currently, and this morning, Military Embedded Systems published 2 articles summarizing yesterday’s sessions that are rather contradictory and confusing if read through the lens of a VC-backed startup. First, there was an article about Ms. Melissa “Mojo” Johnson’s keynote expressing SOCOM’s interest in expanding its ecosystem, to include proactive engagement with the VC and investor communities and their portfolio companies. Second, there was an article summarizing key takeaways from the PEO Rotary Wing session that stressed the importance of modular open systems architectures (MOSA). In the second article, Dan Taylor the author writes: “…industry should be focused on helping [PEO Rotary Wing] solve problems with technology the agency already has rather than developing their own proprietary solutions.” If executing on Ms. Johnson’s vision is a priority, this statement needs to be revised to state: “…industry should be focused on helping …solve problems USING technology the agency already has WHILE developing their own proprietary solutions.” This is the only way everyone will win—startups, VCs and investors, and especially the government. Just my $.02! #nationaldefense #executionmatters #onward
Senior Consultant - Data and System Architecture, Business Process Automation, Progress OpenEdge DB/Business Application Platform Expert & Founder @ TDK Consulting Services Inc, GCH RTK
6moMy impression is they're different concerns. Adding new equipment to an airframe requires a lot of validation, testing, and a logistical tail to supply the equipment to maintainers. Adding code to an existing processing unit and using existing sensors has less validation, less testing, and no logistical tail to worry about. Ms Johnson's looking at overall engagement between SOF and the innovation community over their full range of operations. Some elements will have restrictions like the rotary wing unit while others will be open to using anything they can get their hands on. Bottom line is know your customer and their working environment and deliver solutions to suit.