In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with a leading voice in the defense innovation space to unpack the future of military manufacturing. From flying CH-53 helicopters in the Marine Corps to pioneering advanced industrial capabilities at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), our guest shares a compelling journey through aerospace, entrepreneurship, and public service.

Together, they explore the intersection of autonomy and manufacturing, the fragility of U.S. supply chains, and how we can build a surge-ready domestic ecosystem that rivals our global adversaries. From vertical integration to modularity and infrastructure strategy, this conversation highlights what it will take for the United States to not only compete—but lead—in the next era of unmanned systems.

Travis on Linkedin: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisdemeester/)

Timestamps:

0:00 – A career in defense: aviation, entrepreneurship, and DIU
5:20 – Advanced manufacturing and autonomy: the emerging overlap
10:00 – Policy, risk, and the missing middle in defense innovation
15:00 – Challenges in U.S. supply chains and scaling production
21:40 – Vertical integration, modularity, and surge readiness
25:00 – Lessons from software and the future of infrastructure

#DroneWars #DIU #DefenseTech #AdvancedManufacturing #AutonomousDrones #USvsChina #SupplyChain #ModularManufacturing #FirestormDrones #MilitaryInnovation #RobotsBuildingRobots #DefensePodcast

About Drone Wars

Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.

In Part II of our interview with Jake Windle, we zoom out from battlefield innovation and into the bigger picture: how the defense ecosystem is evolving, and why venture capital is now a critical tool for national security.

Host Dan Magy and Jake explore what defines "Defense Tech 2.0," how bureaucratic gridlock stalls promising solutions, and why the military must rethink how it evaluates risk. Jake also shares advice for founders looking to work with the DoD and explains how Harpoon Ventures helps bridge the gap between operators and technologists.

This episode offers an honest look at what it takes to build and scale technologies that actually make it to the warfighter—from testing fields to acquisition halls.

Useful Links:

Jake Windle on LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-windle-2196b3109/)
Harpoon Ventures: https://harpoon.vc
BlueHalo: https://www.bluehalo.com
Book: MRAPs: Protecting Soldiers with Technology and Innovation – https://www.amazon.com/MRAPs-Protecting-Soldiers-Technology-Innovation/dp/0160943883

00:00 – Recap of Part I and introduction to Defense Tech 2.0
02:00 – What most defense startups get wrong
05:00 – Why good ideas die in acquisition: incentives, speed, and risk aversion
08:30 – The investor’s role in shaping battlefield innovation
12:00 – Aligning commercial tech with warfighter needs
15:30 – Breaking through DoD layers and making tech deployable
18:00 – Building trust between operators and founders
20:30 – Final thoughts on what’s next for defense innovation

About Drone Wars

Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.

In Part I of this special two-part episode, host Dan Magy reconnects with an old friend—Jake Windle, former Master Chief at Naval Special Warfare and now a partner at Harpoon Ventures. The conversation kicks off with Jake's transition from elite military operations to early-stage tech, and how he became one of the first to identify drones as a rising threat on the battlefield.

Jake shares the origin story of Citadel Defense and recounts the scrappy, experimental beginnings of counter-UAS warfare—years before it was mainstream. From field tests at Camp Roberts to building rapid prototypes with small teams and limited funding, this episode gives a behind-the-scenes look at how tactical innovation really happens.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to bring game-changing tech from garage startup to military deployment, this one’s for you.

Useful Links:

Jake Windle on LinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-windle-2196b3109/)
Harpoon Ventures: https://harpoon.vc
BlueHalo: https://www.bluehalo.com
Book: MRAPs: Protecting Soldiers with Technology and Innovation – https://www.amazon.com/MRAPs-Protecting-Soldiers-Technology-Innovation/dp/0160943883

00:00 – Welcome and reconnecting with Jake Windle
01:30 – Reflections on NSW missions and transition into defense investing
05:30 – How the drone threat was first identified and Citadel’s beginnings
10:00 – Testing drone defense tech, gaining traction, and securing funding
15:00 – Navigating DoD bureaucracy, cultural challenges, and procurement hurdles
20:00 – Bridging operators and technologists to fast-track innovation

#DroneWars #CounterUAS #DefenseTech #MilitaryInnovation #NavySEAL #CitadelDefense #StartupToBattlefield #UnmannedSystems #TacticalTech #VeteransInTech

About Drone Wars

Firestorm Studios brings you The Drone Wars Podcast, a show that explores all facets of autonomous systems - ground, air, and sea - and their transformative impact on various aspects of human life, from agriculture to warfare. We feature interviews with CEOs, founders, and C-suite executives from the world's leading autonomy and robotics companies.