The Materials Flywheel: How AI is Powering Next-Gen Aerospace w/ Joseph Krause

In aerospace and defense, every breakthrough is built on material science. From the alloys powering jet engines to the composites shielding spacecraft, innovation isn’t just about design—it’s about what the machines are made of.  Yet the way we discover and scale new materials hasn’t meaningfully changed in more than a century. Research cycles drag on for decades, costs skyrocket, and supply chains remain fragile.  Meanwhile, other nations have poured resources into material science—developing advanced alloys, stockpiling rare earths, and in many ways, weaponizing the periodic table. That leaves the U.S. and its allies with a hard question: how do you compete with adversaries accelerating discovery while you’re trapped in outdated cycles? The future of hypersonics, space defense, and even energy security depends on faster, smarter breakthroughs in material science. That’s where Joseph Krause and Radical AI come in. The New York–based startup is combining AI, autonomy, and materials expertise to compress R&D timelines from years to weeks—and slash costs along the way. In this episode, Joseph shares how a cold call to a VC led to the founding of Radical AI, why aerospace innovation is fundamentally a materials problem, and what’s at stake in a world where control of supply chains may decide the balance of power. You’ll learn: How Radical AI’s “materials flywheel” is redefining discovery and deployment Why rare earths and advanced alloys are now a geopolitical flashpoint What it takes to build a deep-tech culture driven by speed and mission Joseph’s journey from PhD researcher to founder—and how it could reshape the future of defense and space   Guest Bio Joseph Krause is the co-founder and CEO of Radical AI. Radical AI is reinventing the way materials science is done and designing new materials for the world’s needs. Harnessing the most advanced AI discovery engine and full-scale laboratory automation, they’re pioneering a bold new era of innovation, accelerating the development of materials that transform human development. Radical AI is made up of a world-class group of materials scientists, physicists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Visit https://www.radical-ai.com/, email [email protected], or connect with him on LinkedIn.    About Your Host Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association.    Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!