The Community Advisory Cohort 2 members have just been selected, but who are they, what do they do, and why are they important to DEF and the defense innovation community at large? What is the Community Advisory? The Community Advisory is a program to culturally engineer enhanced collaboration between…

Being the first in a role matters. I will be the first woman, the first Executive Director with an enlisted service background, and the first LatinX to fill this position. As I step into my new role, serving as the next Executive Director of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum (DEF) I…

The time has arrived to select DEF’s next Executive Director! Michael Madrid’s two-year tenure will be coming to a close this fall, and the team will welcome a new leader to the helm. We’re looking for someone who is passionate, like heart on fire passionate, about DEF’s vision to promote…

By Patrick Collins The previous article in this series addressed small and medium sized enterprises, how the government takes on market as well as technical risk to support them, and how large firms often acquire smaller firms to absorb their innovations. Those engaged in the defense innovation business know there…

by Patrick Collins The first article in this series introduced the defense innovation ecosystem, discussed what makes it unique compared to other sectors of the economy, and explored cooperation between the government and the largest defense firms. This article will look at how the government engaged with small and medium…

by Ryan Hilger, Lieutenant Commander US Navy Note: This is the second of a two-part series. You can read the first part here. If people are your top priority, train them like it. In Part Two of a two part series, a former submarine department head offers lessons from the…

by Patrick Collins DEF is just one of many entities in the defense innovation ecosystem, to better understand our organization, it is necessary to understand its place within a web of others. This article is the first in a series that will explore that ecosystem, spanning government, corporate, and non-profit…

by Ryan Hilger, Lieutenant Commander US Navy If people are your top priority, train them like it. In Part One of a two part series, a former submarine department head offers lessons from the U.S. Navy’s submarine force on how to turn training into a competitive advantage. I am convinced…

As an all-volunteer team, DEF strives to be the best that it can for the virtuous insurgency. One of the many groups supporting us is our Board of Directors, who share their experiences, advice and hard-earned insights to make us better. The Board meets regularly…