NatSec Tech

For decades, the path from scientific breakthrough to real-world impact has taken ten to twenty years, with researchers relying on tools not far removed from a high school chemistry lab. The Department of Energy's Genesis Mission aims to change that, harnessing artificial intelligence to compress discovery from decades to mere years. In this episode, we ask: Can a "Manhattan Project 2.0" for science deliver the breakthroughs America needs to stay ahead of China? 

Angela Sheffield joins NatSec Tech live at the 2026 AI+ Expo to share her perspective on AI's power to revitalize American science. Angela is the Director of AI Strategy for Energy at Accenture Federal Services, one of the private partners building the digital infrastructure behind the Genesis Mission. Drawing on her experience as a national lab scientist, military officer, and DOE program manager, she explains how connecting data across the national laboratories could unlock everything from critical mineral independence to next-generation nuclear reactors — and why the mission's aggressive deadlines signal a new era for American scientific ambition.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

Propaganda has existed for centuries, but artificial intelligence and neurological research are transforming it into something far more dangerous: cognitive warfare. Today, adversaries aren't just shaping what we think, they're targeting how we think, exploiting fear, anxiety, and tribalism at massive scale. In this episode, we ask: As AI gives bad actors the power to destabilize populations and cloud the decision-making of leaders, is the world prepared for this new kind of war? 

Anshu Roy joins NatSec Tech live at the 2026 AI+ Expo to share his perspective on the rise of cognitive warfare. Anshu is the founder and CEO of Rhombus Power, an AI company delivering predictive intelligence for national security. Drawing on his experience building predictive intelligence tools and supporting active military operations, he explains how information warfare and kinetic warfare are converging and why cognitive warfare may be the next nuclear weapon.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In Ukraine and the Middle East, cheap and easy-to-produce drones have fundamentally altered the battlefield. But while technology moves at the speed of a text message, the Pentagon’s procurement process remains stuck on a different clock. In this episode, we ask: Is the Department of Defense actually equipped to counter this evolving threat, or are we just buying the wrong things faster?

Pete Newell joins the show to share his perspective on the drone revolution. Pete is a 32-year Army veteran, the former Director of the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force (REF), and the co-founder and CEO of BMNT. Drawing on his experience deploying the first military UAS systems in Iraq and the Switchblade in Afghanistan, he explains why today’s drones are essentially "IEDs that fly"—and why the military's biggest hurdle isn't technology, but institutional inertia.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

In this episode of NetSec Tech, host Jeanne Meserve sits down with Sal Khan, the visionary founder and CEO of Khan Academy, at the AI+ Education Summit. As AI reshapes national security and the global workforce, Khan shares how his nonprofit is leveraging artificial intelligence to solve the "two-sigma" problem: providing every student with a personalized, one-on-one tutor.

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.

To celebrate our 100th episode, NatSec Tech is evolving. We are moving from audio-only to a full video and audio experience. You can now watch our deep dives into the intersection of technology and national security on the SCSP YouTube channel and Spotify, or continue listening on your favorite podcast platform. 

For this milestone, host Jeanne Meserve welcomes Keith Strier, Senior Vice President of Global Markets at AMD and a leading global voice on the geopolitics of computing. In a wide-ranging conversation, Strier breaks down the transition from "AI as a novelty" to "AI as a matter of sovereignty."

NatSec Tech is a product of the Special Competitive Studies Project.