Building the Base
"Building the Base" - an in-depth series of conversations with top entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders from tech, financial, industrial, and public sectors.
Our special guests provide their unique perspectives on a broad selection of topics such as: shaping our future national security industrial base, the impact of disruptive technologies, how new startups can increasingly contribute to national security, and practical tips on leadership and personal development whether in government or the private sector.
Building the Base is hosted by Lauren Bedula, is Managing Director and National Security Technology Practice Lead at Beacon Global Strategies, and the Honorable Jim "Hondo" Geurts who retired from performing the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy and was the former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition and Acquisition Executive at United States Special Operations Command.
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 35 minutes
- Episodes
- 78
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
Innovation at the Speed of Battle with Zach Beecher of Scout Ventures
In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Zach Beecher, Partner at Scout Ventures, who brings a unique perspective from serving as a paratrooper with the 82nd…
No Substitute for Victory: A Green Beret's Defense Mission with Rep. Pat Harrigan
In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10), who brings a rare combination of Special Forces experience, defense entrepreneursh…
Innovation through Incrementalism: Rep. Jim Himes, Ranking Member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT), who serves on both the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Hou…
From Submariner to CEO: Cameron McCord's Journey Building Nominal
In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula reconnect with Cameron McCord, Co-Founder and CEO of Nominal, two years after his first appearance on the show (linked here). Draw…
Financing the Fight with Chris Lay and James Parker of Leonid Capital Partners
In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula are joined by James Parker and Chris Lay, co-founding partners of Leonid Capital Partners, a private credit fund supporting the US…
"From Production Lines to Front Lines," with Becca Wasser and Philip Sheers of CNAS
In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula are joined by Becca Wasser and Philip Sheers from the Center for New American Security (CNAS) to discuss their recent report, "Fro…
"Supply Chains Win Wars": Rare Earth Magnets with John Maslin, CEO Vulcan Elements
In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with John Maslin, Co-founder and CEO of Vulcan Elements, for an insightful conversation about the critical importance of …
Founders in Focus Part 2: Tyler Sweatt, Josh Lospinoso + Troy Demmer (Recorded @ Manifest: Demo Day)
Today's episode of Building the Base is part two of our "Founders in Focus" series, recorded at Manifest: Demo Day where 34 companies from across the defense industrial base demoed their disruptive t…
Founders in Focus Part 1: Jeff Cole, Doug Bernauer + Topher Haddad (Recorded @ Manifest: Demo Day)
Today's episode of Building the Base is part one of our "Founders in Focus" series, recorded at Manifest: Demo Day where 34 companies from across the defense industrial base demoed their disruptive t…
Rapid Acquisition: Scaling Culture and Capabilities with Melissa Johnson, USSOCOM
In this episode of Building the Base, Melissa "Mojo" Johnson, Acquisition Executive at US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), offers a candid look into the world of military acquisition, drawing fr…
Driving Comprehensive Defense Acquisition Reform with Eric Lofgren
In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren and Hondo sit down with Eric Lofgren, a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Eric provides an insider's perspective on the ne…
Bipartisan Breakthroughs: Rep. Pat Ryan, House Defense Modernization Caucus
In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18). Rep. Ryan represents a diverse district of 800,000 in upstate New York, which includes…
Next-Gen Defense: AI on the Frontlines with Thomas Robinson, COO Domino Data Lab
This episode of Building the Base features an interview with Thomas Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of Domino Data Lab, who has an interesting background in finance and a strong passion for contrib…
Defending Against the Drone Threat: Counter-UAS Applications with Andy Lowery, CEO Epirus
In this episode of Building the Base, Andy Lowery, CEO of Epirus, discusses his journey from his days as a Navy reactor operator to leading a counter-UAS high-power microwave (HPM) system company. Ep…
Looking Ahead: National Security in a New Administration with Nadia Schadlow and Stephen Rodriguez
This episode of Building the Base features a discussion with Nadia Schadlow, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, and Stephen Rodriguez, an investor in the defense tech space who is leading The A…
Incentivizing Defense Innovation: Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee
In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, to discuss the critical role of innovation an…
Answering the Call: Hon. Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts sit down with the Honorable Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Ms. Shyu discusses her transition…
"Co-opetition" in Defense with Teresa Carlson, President, General Catalyst Institute
In this episode of Building The Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Teresa Carlson, founding president of General Catalyst Institute. Drawing from her extensive experience leading publ…
Gina Sims, Director of DoD SBIR/STTR Program
In this episode of Building the Base, Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts speak with Gina Sims, Director of the DoD's SBIR/STTR office, about revolutionizing defense innovation. Sims shares her journey fr…
Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities (ASD(MC)) OUSD(R&E)
In this episode of Building the Base, hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts chat with Thomas "Shotgun" Browning, currently performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilit…