Drone Wars

Brian Streem is founder and CEO of Vermeer, a company pioneering vision-based navigation systems for drones and autonomous platforms operating in GPS-denied environments.  He transitioned from Hollywood drone cinematography to defense tech, leading Vermeer to secure millions in non-dilutive government contracts and expand operations into active conflict zones like Ukraine.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

John Dulin is Founder and CEO of Modern Intelligence, empowering defense withresponsible A.I. to outsmart, outpace, and overwhelm the enemy.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

George Dougherty is a scientist, business strategist, senior military leader, and author of Beast in the Machine.   Dan and George cover: - Why the largest tank battle in history (1943) was spearheaded by robot tanks. - How Ukraine's FPV drones wiped out a British armored brigade in 2 days. - Why Tesla invented the drone in 1898 and we're still copying it.  About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Illya Sekirin is a Ukrainian Canadian who volunteered to fight for Ukraine in 2022 and was trained as a drone operator. In addition to frontline service, he worked as a translator for the Ukrainian General Staff and became an unofficial advisor to several members of the Stavka [Ukrainian High Command], a body chaired by President Volodymyr Zelensky.  He advised on multiple operations; on drone strategy and tactics; and authored a paper that informed Zelensky’s decision to create Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.  Sekirin is more recently the author of Rise of the Machines: Drone Warfare in the Russia-Ukraine War.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Yurii “Phoenix” is a Major and the commander of the training group of the legendary UAV unit Lasar’s Group (National Guard of Ukraine). He is one of the key representatives of the unit, responsible for the search, implementation, and combat testing of engineering solutions. Phoenix also regularly takes part in interviews and expert discussions focused on the development of defense technologies in Ukraine. Phoenix describes being part of a specialized unit that built bomber drones from scratch starting in May 2022, growing from a small team into a unit that shares its methods with other Ukrainian forces. This is clearly not a standard infantry outfit but a purpose-built drone warfare group.Yuri states they have a special bomber drone model capable of reaching targets at up to 65 kilometers. This is a concrete, striking number, especially contrasted with the 3km range that was standard when the war began.Yuri describes a fixed-wing drone (an F-12 plane) that acts as a mothership, flying 60–70km out, detecting targets with a high-resolution gimbal, and then releasing FPV drones to strike with high precision. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Duane Blank is a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he held multiple command roles including Commanding Officer of Company C, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. He previously served as a Marine Officer Instructor of Military Science and Leadership at Pennsylvania State University.   This convo covers: • His journey from a Iraq machine gunner to developing tactics for the next big fight.• Why information warfare will decide a conflict with China.• The leadership style that will make your team do anything for you. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Joe Musselman is the Founder and Managing Partner of Bravo Victor Venture Capital (BVVC), an early-seed and series A venture capital fund.  He also led the firm’s creation and backing of School House, a unique venture capital/ private equity platform that offers experiences dedicated to serving national security founders and broader ecosystems of support. Joe and Dan discuss America's manufacturing problem, helping people transition from the military to civilians, the future of unmanned warfare, and how he key traits of successful founders and entrepreneurs. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Garrett Smith is the Founder and CEO of Reveal Technology, delivering a suite of AI products that generate critical intelligence, autonomy and decision dominance for tactical military and public safety users. Garrett and Dan cover Reveal's AI-powered defense products, predictions of a new wave of consolidation in defense tech, and transitioning from the military to founding a startup.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Troy Smothers is a former U.S. Marine Corps infantry sergeant who had the opportunity to train alongside Ukrainian soldiers and develop a deep appreciation for the people and culture of Ukraine.  Following Russia’s invasion, he traveled to Ukraine to assess the situation and consider how he could best help.  He founded American Made Freedom, a non-profit that assists Ukrainian troops with fiber-optic drones.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

This podcast was started to give a voice to small defense companies in an industry dominated by massive primes.  Our platform has now evolved into something more multifaceted. We’ve expanded our conversations into a space where global geopolitics, culture, entrepreneurship, venture capital, history, military and government all intertwine.   Our mission remains the same: serve the warfighters, the innovators, the builders and the thinkers who are rewriting what’s possible within the defense ecosystem.  We’re asking the hard questions and shedding light on the real state of the industry because we believe our warfighters deserve the best tech on the market.  Join the movement➡️ subscribe nowAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Nathan Mintz is Co-Founder and CEO of CX2, fighting to deliver spectrum dominance for the United States and our Allies.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Ian Muceus is our Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer here at Firestorm. He started his career: - Studying under the “father” of the F-22 (Bruce Wright).  - Designing aircraft for NASA’s Ames Research Center.  - Obtaining his private pilot’s license.  - Developing a sUAS for aerial data collection.  Since then, he has:  - Supported federal agencies with tech consulting. - Obtained numerous 3D printing and aerospace patents. - Contributed to over $4 billion of successful startup exits to Oracle, Twilio and Stratasys.  About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Jeff Wright is the Founder and CEO, SplashOne Robotics, the world’s first technology company to develop and dominate low-altitude air superiority. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Jackie Barbieri is the CEO and co-founder of WhiteSpace, a defense tech company applying advanced AI to real-world national security and operational challenges.  Her work bridges AI, defense innovation, and operator-informed design, building systems that perform in contested, real-world environments. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Jarren Reid is the CEO and Co-Founder of Usul, an AI platform that helps companies win government contracts across 60+ nations. Its goal is to build a global marketplace for governments to buy products quickly, starting with defense. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Andy Markoff is a former Special Operations Officer in the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, and currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Smack Technologies, which uses deep reinforcement learning and machine learning to accelerate critical decision-making from the command center to the front lines. Dan and Andy discuss speeding up military kill-chains and command decisions for better "decision dominance" in future conflicts, especially amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Lito Villanueva is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a communications specialist, and was most recently a combat drone pilot in Ukraine. Born in the Philippines and raised in a military family in California, he served in the Air Force before working with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and supporting Joint Special Operations Command through a Special Missions Unit. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lito volunteered on the ground, initially delivering humanitarian aid across the country, before applying his expertise to tactical communications with the International Legion of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. In his last assignment before his service ended, Lito was a Team Leader for a drone team in 3rd Regiment Ukrainian Special Operational Forces. A combat veteran of multiple wars, Lito now supports frontline efforts in Ukraine in a civilian capacity, applying capital investments in critical technologies, and sharing operational lessons learned with military units and leaders in the United States. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Lito Villanueva is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a communications specialist, and was most recently a combat drone pilot in Ukraine. Born in the Philippines and raised in a military family in California, he served in the Air Force before working with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and supporting Joint Special Operations Command through a Special Missions Unit. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lito volunteered on the ground, initially delivering humanitarian aid across the country, before applying his expertise to tactical communications with the International Legion of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. In his last assignment before his service ended, Lito was a Team Leader for a drone team in 3rd Regiment Ukrainian Special Operational Forces. A combat veteran of multiple wars, Lito now supports frontline efforts in Ukraine in a civilian capacity, applying capital investments in critical technologies, and sharing operational lessons learned with military units and leaders in the United States. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Lito Villanueva is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a communications specialist, and was most recently a combat drone pilot in Ukraine. Born in the Philippines and raised in a military family in California, he served in the Air Force before working with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and supporting Joint Special Operations Command through a Special Missions Unit. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lito volunteered on the ground, initially delivering humanitarian aid across the country, before applying his expertise to tactical communications with the International Legion of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. In his last assignment before his service ended, Lito was a Team Leader for a drone team in 3rd Regiment Ukrainian Special Operational Forces. A combat veteran of multiple wars, Lito now supports frontline efforts in Ukraine in a civilian capacity, applying capital investments in critical technologies, and sharing operational lessons learned with military units and leaders in the United States. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Lito Villanueva is a U.S. Air Force veteran, a communications specialist, and was most recently a combat drone pilot in Ukraine. Born in the Philippines and raised in a military family in California, he served in the Air Force before working with the U.S. Army Signal Corps, and supporting Joint Special Operations Command through a Special Missions Unit. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lito volunteered on the ground, initially delivering humanitarian aid across the country, before applying his expertise to tactical communications with the International Legion of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. In his last assignment before his service ended, Lito was a Team Leader for a drone team in 3rd Regiment Ukrainian Special Operational Forces. A combat veteran of multiple wars, Lito now supports frontline efforts in Ukraine in a civilian capacity, applying capital investments in critical technologies, and sharing operational lessons learned with military units and leaders in the United States. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

This episode dives into the most prominent shifts in the combat history of UAVs. Dan covers UAV tech from the following eras:  Radio-Controlled Aerial Weapons (WWI 1917). Reconnaissance UAVs (Cold War & Vietnam1950s-1970s). UAVs in the 90s (Desert Storm). UAVs in Iraq and Afghanistan (2001-2021). Mass-Scale, Low-Cost Drone Warfare (Russia-Ukraine War, 2022 - Present). About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Mike Sims is the Co-Founder and CEO of Empirium, a unified marketplace platform connecting verified buyers and suppliers across aerospace, defense and manufacturing. This convo covers:  Why China dominates 45% of global manufacturing & how we became dangerously dependent.  Building a trusted defense/aerospace marketplace.  Amplifying the voices of end-users. About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Mike Sims is the Co-Founder and CEO of Empirium, a unified marketplace platform connecting verified buyers and suppliers across aerospace, defense and manufacturing. This episode covers:  9/11 moment that made him drop everything to join the fight.   Arabic language mastery.  Becoming a Marine Raider.  About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Ellen Chang is a deep-tech investor focused on the maritime and space domains. She is Managing Director at CapZone Impact Investments, and Co-Founder and Co-President of Wharton Aerospace.She served the U.S. Navy as an Intelligence Officer, later working on JP Morgan’s aerospace team and founding a B2B aviation parts sourcing startup. She spent 12 years at Northrop Grumman, holding leadership roles across systems engineering, program management, and advanced systems, with work spanning autonomous air and space platforms.This episode covers:- Deep tech investor insights.- Drone adoption and reducing cognitive load.- Why manufacturing scale, not just innovation, wins wars.00:00 - Intro01:07 - Taiwan’s defense strategy: Standing on their own vs. US support03:07 - Geopolitics and the "Chip Deal": China’s path to self-reliance04:42 - The ITAR debate: Should the US "drown the world" in American tech?05:23 - Why the US struggles with "trinkets," motors, and batteries06:39 - Economic Statecraft: Lessons from the Great Depression & WWII08:01 - Revitalizing the Maritime Sector: US vs. China’s $90B investment09:48 - Partnering with allies to accelerate manufacturing speed12:00 - Is American innovation too arrogant? Lessons from South Korea13:08 - The "Hard Tech" Founder Profile: MIT, Stanford, Palantir, and SpaceX14:59 - Ellen’s investment philosophy: De-risking the "Go-to-Market"16:23 - Advice for young people entering the "Defense Tech Rage"17:59 - The Wharton Effect: Why MBAs and Vets are moving into defense19:36 - Defense Tech as an emerging asset class21:01 - AI Infrastructure: Data center risks and 2-year backlogs23:11 - The Future of Autonomy: Adoption challenges in the "System of Systems"25:01 - Lowering the "Cognitive Load": Designing tech for the 18-year-old warfighter26:49 - Moving the Bureaucracy: Using safety arguments to improve UI/UX28:04 - Closing RemarksAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Ellen Chang is a deep-tech investor focused on the maritime and space domains.She is Managing Director at CapZone Impact Investments, and Co-Founder and Co-President of Wharton Aerospace.She served the U.S. Navy as an Intelligence Officer, later working on JP Morgan’s aerospace team and founding a B2B aviation parts sourcing startup. She spent 12 years at Northrop Grumman, holding leadership roles across systems engineering, program management, and advanced systems, with work spanning autonomous air and space platforms.This episode covers:- Taiwan and China geopolitics.- Ukraine War as a preview of future drone warfare.- Why Taiwan rapidly built a domestic drone industry.00:00 - Teaser01:05 - Introduction: Meet deep tech investor Ellen Chang01:42 - Ukraine as the "Spanish Civil War" precursor to WWII tech02:38 - Ukraine's decentralized "factory" model vs. US Bureaucracy04:04 - The Lobbying Game: Why startups need lobbyists early05:28 - Ellen’s Journey: Growing up in Taiwan in the 60s06:46 - Career Path: Navy Intelligence, Banking, and Northrop Grumman08:04 - Leaving the Primes: The early days of DJI and 3D Robotics09:36 - Re-industrializing America: Opportunity Zones and Shipyards10:24 - Taiwan’s economic rise and export-oriented history12:32 - Reshoring manufacturing: Decoupling from Shenzhen and Guangdong13:55 - The Generational Divide: Taiwanese Identity vs. Reunification15:50 - Galvanizing Identity: Lessons from the 2014 invasion of Ukraine17:02 - Successors of Industry: The US-educated "Second Generation"18:58 - Invasion Scenarios: The geography and defensibility of Taiwan20:56 - Building a native drone industry from scratch in two years23:08 - Legacy: Protecting democracy for the next generationAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Chad McCoy is a Co-Founder and the Chief Growth Officer at Firestorm Labs. He’s a Special Operations Veteran and retired Chief Master Sergeant from the United States Air Force’s 24th Special Tactics Squadron.The convo covers:-Importance of a military background as a defense tech founder.-Speeding up DoD adoption.-Firestorm’s strategy.-Winning the Pacific.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Dan reacts to his 12 most viral drone moments on LinkedIn of 2025. Check out his top posts below:12. Counter UAS Fishing11. Chinese Robo-Cop Drone10. Counter UAS Fishing Nets9. Autonomous Aerial Construction8. Russia’s Pearl Harbor7. Tempest in a Suitcase6. The Quad Bomber5. Balloon-Launched 'Eagle'4. Robo Dog Drone3. Liaowan-12. Narco Sub1. Chicken droneAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Joslyn Tarr is a seasoned UAS engineering leader with deep expertise in aircraft development and systems engineering. She’s worked for several defense companies including Kratos and General Atomics, loves all things aviation and is currently pursuing her private pilot's license. Not to mention she’s our very own Senior Vice President of Engineering here at Firestorm Labs.   This convo covers: - Working for a defense prime vs a startup.- 3-D printing drones.- Rapid prototyping.- Scaling teams at a startup.- Lessons from Ukraine.- Providing the best value for the warfighter.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Jamie Dimon is the CEO of JP Morgan Chase, a global financial services firm with assets of $3.2 trillion and operations worldwide. He’s been one of the most influential voices on Wall Street for the last 2 decades.JP Morgan Chase recently announced the Security and Resiliency Initiative (SRI), a $1.5 trillion, 10-year plan to facilitate, finance and invest advanced manufacturing, defense, energy, AI and quantum computing. Dan reacts to Dimon’s recent remarks at the America Business Forum as a defense tech entrepreneur.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Larsen Jenson is a 2x Olympic medalist, former U.S. Navy Seal and founder of Harpoon Ventures and Vector Defense.Their convo covers:- Founders must thrive in discomfort.- Startup failure in the U.S. vs other countries.- Why Harpoon invested in Firestorm.00:00 – Intro.01:41 – The Origin Story: From almond farming to Olympic Silver and Bronze medals.04:10 – Joining the Navy SEALs: Seeing the technology gap on the battlefield.06:15 – The Psychology of Success: Being comfortable in uncomfortable situations.09:40 – Just Start: Overcoming the fear of the unknown.11:34 – The American Edge: Why the US startup culture is unique in the world.15:28 – Failure vs. Scarlet Letters: The difference between US and UK business cultures.19:17 – The Citadel Story: From stadium cameras to saving lives in combat.22:00 – Real Impact: Meeting the soldier whose life was saved by the tech.25:06 – Investment Thesis: Why Harpoon invested in Firestorm.27:16 – The Future of Drone Warfare: The need for mass manufacturing.#Olympian #NavySEALs #EntrepreneurMindset #Leadership #Firestorm #Citadel #MassManufacturing #Startups #Resilience #InvestmentThesisAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Larsen Jenson is a 2x Olympic medalist, former U.S. Navy Seal and founder of Harpoon Ventures and Vector Defense.They dive into:- Founding one of the first defense tech VCs before anyone in Silicon Valley cared.- Geopolitical urgency and rapid tech progress.- VC trends: why physical products are making a comeback.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: The "Tequila Story" and the shift in defense investing.01:23 – Guest Introduction: Larsen Jensen and the Harpoon Ventures mission.03:04 – Defining Dual-Use: How enterprise software powers the government.05:13 – The Catalyst: Moving from counter-terror to Great Power Competition.07:46 – The Hard Truth: Why the best product doesn't always win in the DOD.11:03 – "The Future is Here": Autonomous systems, Ukraine, and structural reform.13:20 – Defense Tech 2.0: Why top talent is finally opting into national security.15:23 – Hardware is Hard (But Sticky): The resurgence of physical tech investing.18:18 – The LLM Movement: Why AI is disrupting white-collar jobs first.20:19 – Efficiency: How AI is rewriting government contracts and saving time.#DefenseTech #VentureCapital #DualUse #NationalSecurity #HarpoonVentures #AI #DeepTech #GovTech #SiliconValley #AcquisitionReformAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Founder of Anduril, Palmer Luckey recently appeared on the #1 podcast in the world, the Joe Rogan Experience.Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, Dan Magy reacts to key moments of the show.Topics include:- Dan Driscoll’s AUSA talk.- National security and private companies.- China’s commercial vessels building to military standards.- Should the U.S. become the world’s gun store?About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Brandon Florian has over 20 years of experience in aerospace and defense at Northrop Grumman and Starburst. He’s the Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Grid Aero, building rugged, long-range autonomous aircrafts to revolutionize cargo logistics at scale. They cover: Grid Aero is building a “pickup truck of the skies”.  Which top defense primes work the best with startups? What separates successful companies?  About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

“Defense is an away game; we’re not going to be able to fight our way in” Stephen Rodriguez is the Founder of One Defense and an Operating Partner at DCVC. He invests in and serves on the boards of leading defense-tech companies, including Applied Intuition, Firestorm, Ursa Major, Mach Industries, and ZeroMark. He chairs Booz Allen’s Defense Technology Board, leads Blue Forge Alliance as Chairman and serves as a Commission Director at the Atlantic Council. This episode covers:  American war fighting patterns.  Defense is an away game.  Replicator Initiative.  About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Stephen Rodriguez is the Founder of One Defense and an Operating Partner at DCVC. He invests in and serves on the boards of leading defense-tech companies, including Applied Intuition, Firestorm, Ursa Major, Mach Industries, and ZeroMark. He chairs Booz Allen’s Defense Technology Board, leads Blue Forge Alliance as Chairman and serves as a Commission Director at the Atlantic Council. This episode covers: What should our defense policy be? Drone manufacturing reforms.  How to keep up with China.  About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Ex-SpaceX Dragon Capsule software lead, Karthik Gollapudi, built two-fault-tolerant systems that flew astronauts to the ISS. He left to found Sift, an AI platform that automates testing, manufacturing and observability for rockets, rovers and autonomous fleets. This episode covers: How Sift reduces cognitive load and speeds up manufacturing.  Simplifying complex cloud IT infrastructure. Hire for the vibes, not just IQ.  About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Ex-SpaceX Dragon Capsule software lead, Karthik Gollapudi, built two-fault-tolerant systems that flew astronauts to the ISS. He left to found Sift, an AI platform that automates testing, manufacturing and observability for rockets, rovers and autonomous fleets. This episode covers: - SpaceX’s young staff & the push for automating everything. - Same job in 12 months = failure.  - Bootstrapping a tech startup team and funding.  Check out Sift: www.siftstack.com.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

A VC pro covers AI ethics, a boom of domestic jobs in tech, and why the gov needs to get out of the way.  Hamlet Yousef is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Irongate Capital Advisors, where he leads investments in early-stage technologies that strengthen national defense. He has worked with organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies across disruptive and emerging technology sectors.   About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

A VC managing partner discusses lessons from Ukraine, UAS disrupting warfare economics and “venture tourists”.  Hamlet Yousef is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Irongate Capital Advisors, where he leads investments in early-stage technologies that strengthen national defense. He has worked with organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies across disruptive and emerging technology sectors.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Are our adversaries building ethical AI? Dive into it on the pod with Lt. Col. Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, former combat pilot, and former Commander of the Air Force F-22 Demo Team. Since leaving active duty, he serves in the Nevada Air National Guard as an F-22 Subject Matter Expert, works for a private company as a corporate pilot flying the Challenger 300 aircraft, and consults for aviation clients.  Hear his takes on ethics in the military, democratizing defense tech, strategic bombardment and advice for the next gen of combat pilots.  About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Are our adversaries building ethical AI? Dive into it on the pod with Lt. Col. Joshua “Cabo” Gunderson, former combat pilot, and former Commander of the Air Force F-22 Demo Team. Since leaving active duty, he serves in the Nevada Air National Guard as an F-22 Subject Matter Expert, works for a private company as a corporate pilot flying the Challenger 300 aircraft, and consults for aviation clients.  Hear his takes on ethics in the military, democratizing defense tech, strategic bombardment and advice for the next gen of combat pilots.  About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.), is a Partner in the global investment firm KKR; Chairman of the KKR Global Institute; and Chairman of KKR Middle East. He is also a member of the boards of Optiv and OneStream; a Strategic Advisor for Semperis, Advanced Navigation, and Ontic; a personal venture investor; the Kissinger Fellow at Yale's Univ's Jackson School; a speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau; and co-author with Andrew Roberts of the NYT, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best seller "Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Gaza,” also selected History Book of the year by Aspects of History.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.), is a Partner in the global investment firm KKR; Chairman of the KKR Global Institute; and Chairman of KKR Middle East. He is also a member of the boards of Optiv and OneStream; a Strategic Advisor for Semperis, Advanced Navigation, and Ontic; a personal venture investor; the Kissinger Fellow at Yale's Univ's Jackson School; a speaker with the Washington Speakers Bureau; and co-author with Andrew Roberts of the NYT, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best seller "Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Gaza,” also selected History Book of the year by Aspects of History.About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

CEO and Co-Founder of Picogrid, Zane Mountcastle is a key member of the emerging El Segundo defense tech scene. Him and Dan discuss the tough questions facing founders today. Find Zane and Picogrid online:www.picogrid.comhttps://x.com/picogridhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/picogrid/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanemountcastle/About Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy continues his conversation with Brett Kanda, Director of DFR Sales at Flock Safety. In Part II, Brett offers his expert predictions on the future of the drone industry, the emerging threat of nefarious drone use, and what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur in deep tech.Brett shares his candid thoughts on the drone industry's biggest surprises, from the saturation of the consumer market to the game-changing use of FPV drones in Ukraine. He explains why the next decade will be the "golden years" for the industry, driven by a changing global supply chain, new FAA regulations, and the relentless advance of automation.Join us as Brett provides invaluable advice for the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs, drawing on lessons from his unique career as a top-ranked amateur golfer and a drone industry pioneer.Learn why being good at losing is a critical skill, why you should be "absolutely relentless," and how the industry is shifting from manual control to a future of seamless, automated operations.LinkedIn: ( www.linkedin.com/in/brett-kanda-78168583/ )Flock Safety Website: www.flocksafety.comwww.launchfirestorm.com/Timestamps:01:24 - The Biggest Surprise in a Decade of Drones01:50 - Why the DJI Monopoly Is Over02:56 - Welcome to Drone War 1: Lessons from Ukraine03:55 - The Threat of Nefarious Drones07:43 - Why the Next 10 Years are the Golden Years for Drones09:12 - When Drones Become Boring: The Future of Automation12:15 - The One Thing I Share with Tiger Woods13:50 - The #1 Piece of Advice for My Younger Self15:05 - Why Entrepreneurs Need to Be Good at Losing17:31 - How to Get Hired in the Drone Industry19:50 - Where to Find and Follow Brett Kanda20:02 - Outro#DroneWars #PublicSafety #DFR #FlockSafety #BrettKanda #CounterUAS #DroneIndustry #UAS #FutureOfWarfare #Entrepreneurship #CareerAdvice #VentureCapitalAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with Brett Kanda, Director of DFR Sales at Flock Safety. Brett pulls back the curtain on the revolutionary "Drone as a First Responder" (DFR) program, explaining how automated drones are transforming law enforcement and public safety.Brett shares his unique journey from being one of the original pioneers in the drone industry back in 2012 to leading the charge in deploying DFR systems across the country. He reveals critical lessons learned from the early days of strapping GoPros to Phantom drones, working with the FAA, and scaling drone operations for public safety.Join us as we explore the massive technological shifts that are enabling police departments to respond to emergencies in under 90 seconds, clear a significant percentage of calls without dispatching an officer, and enhance transparency with their communities. Brett explains how this technology is no longer a futuristic fantasy but a practical solution being implemented today.LinkedIn: ( www.linkedin.com/in/brett-kanda-78168583/ )Flock Safety Website: www.flocksafety.comwww.launchfirestorm.com/Timestamps:00:00 - The Future of Law Enforcement01:10 - Introducing Brett Kanda, Head of Aviation at Flock Safety01:43 - A Friendship Forged in Diapers02:40 - The "Wild West" of the Early Drone Industry03:30 - From Golf Courses to Crime Fighting: The Evolution of a Drone Business04:15 - Learning the Ropes: From Film School to FAA Test Sites06:30 - Inside Look at a Global Drone Industry Leader08:00 - The Tragic Inspiration Behind a Public Safety Drone Company11:26 - What is "Drone as a First Responder" (DFR)?12:27 - Why Every Police Chief Wants DFR13:13 - The Surprising Stat: Clearing 25% of Calls with Drones18:01 - Gaining Community Trust for Police Drones19:15 - Is DFR Working? The 86-Second Response Time21:00 - DFR 1.0 vs 2.0: Removing the Human from the Rooftop22:48 - The Future is Now: What DFR 3.0 Looks Like24:00 - How Drones Are Ending High-Speed Chases26:22 - My Prediction for the Drone Industry in the Next Decade26:55 - Outro#DroneWars #PublicSafety #DFR #FlockSafety #BrettKanda #PoliceDrone #LawEnforcement #Robotics #AutonomousSystems #UAS #Drones #FirstResponders #Podcast #AI #FutureOfPolicingAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

In this episode of Drone Wars, host Dan Magy sits down with Aaron Jacobson, Partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and the lead investor in Firestorm's Series A. Aaron pulls back the curtain on what top-tier venture capitalists look for when investing in the future of robotics, autonomy, and defense technology.Aaron shares his unique journey from a young gamer obsessed with StarCraft and EverQuest to a leading investor shaping the future of deep tech. He reveals the critical lessons he learned from working on a DARPA-funded robotics project and why he believes the most effective solutions are often the simplest.Join us as we explore the massive geopolitical and technological shifts that are forcing the U.S. and its allies to rethink military strategy, and why Aaron believes the "Zergling rush" — overwhelming an adversary with mass-produced, low-cost, attritable systems — is no longer a video game fantasy, but a strategic imperative.Twitter: @aaronejLinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronejacobson/)NEA Website: www.nea.comwww.launchfirestorm.com/Timestamps:00:00 - The Biggest Mistake in Robotics00:26 - Introducing Aaron Jacobson, Lead Investor from NEA01:05 - From Gamer to Tech Geek to Venture Capitalist02:07 - The DARPA Robot That Changed Everything02:51 - Why I Joined NEA: The Dream Job for a Tech Futurist04:06 - What is NEA? A Venture Firm Built for Generational Companies05:39 - The Most Important Question: What Were Your Favorite Video Games?06:18 - How StarCraft Explains the Future of Warfare07:29 - The "Zergling Rush" Strategy for Modern Defense08:17 - Where Do Autonomous Systems Fit in Today's World?09:55 - How Robots Will Reshape Global Industries10:07 - My Controversial Take: Humanoid Robots Are a Mistake11:38 - How a VC Picks a Winner in a 10-Year Arms Race14:34 - The Investment Thesis for Defense-First Technology15:23 - Why Now? The Geopolitical Shift Forcing Innovation19:10 - The #1 Thing I Wish I Knew When I Started in Venture Capital20:40 - My Prediction for Autonomous Systems in the Next Decade23:20 - Why We Chose to Invest in Firestorm25:48 - Where to Find and Follow Aaron Jacobson26:11 - Outro#DroneWars #DefenseTech #VentureCapital #NEA #AaronJacobson #Firestorm #MilitaryTechnology #Robotics #AutonomousSystems #UAS #Drones #Investing #Podcast #StarCraft #AI #FutureOfWarfareAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

In Part II of our interview with Sam Bendett, Dan Magy continues the deep dive into how unmanned systems are transforming modern warfare—this time, focusing on the maritime domain. Sam explores how commercial tech is enabling smaller nations to rival traditional naval powers, why large legacy systems like aircraft carriers may soon be vulnerable, and how even civilian cargo ships could be weaponized through modular drone-launch systems. They also discuss the implications of proxy conflict, containerized drones, and how global shipping may be the next front in the drone war era.Timestamps:01:04 – Maritime drones go global: Taiwan, Turkey, Saronic03:00 – Aircraft carriers vs. $200K boats: The power shift05:30 – Ghost fleets: Modular, hidden, and fast08:00 – When navies finally adapt: The “incident” theory10:15 – Iran & China’s DIY drone carriers13:30 – Civilian ships as drone platforms: The ethical gray zone16:00 – Global shipping under threat: Red Sea to piracy-proof tankers19:00 – Defense primes for commercial fleets?20:30 – Proxy war, satellite intel, and global coordinationTwitter/X: @SamBendettLinkedIn: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-bendett-06996018/)#DroneWarfare #UkraineWar #RussiaMilitary #FPVdrones #UnmannedSystems #SamBendett #Firestorm #DronePodcast #ElectronicWarfare #MilitaryTech #DefenseTech #UGV #USV #NATO #DroneTactics #DroneSwarmAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

Today, Dan Magy welcomes back Sam Bendett, open-source intelligence expert and senior fellow at CNA, for a hard-hitting breakdown of how drone warfare is evolving at breakneck speed. Sam explains how Ukrainian innovation and Russian industrial adaptation are reshaping military doctrine, what happens when thousands of drones are unleashed in a single night, and how the rise of unmanned systems is exposing weaknesses in NATO’s readiness. From North Korean pilots learning drone tactics to France's nuclear umbrella, no geopolitical thread is left untouched.Timestamps:01:30 – Russian assault tactics using forward-launched FPV drones04:20 – Drone knowledge proliferation and global risk (cartels, terrorists)06:00 – Ukraine’s evolving defenses and Russia’s drone manufacturing scale07:40 – 500-drone salvos: Russia’s strategic plan to overwhelm defenses09:00 – NATO’s vulnerability and unpreparedness for high-scale drone warfare10:40 – Ukraine’s air defense strategy and Russia’s increasing volume12:10 – Poland’s high-tech border wall and broader European response13:15 – France offers nuclear umbrella amid U.S. NATO uncertainty14:45 – Why unmanned systems can’t fully replace manned operationsAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry. 

In the second half of this Drone Wars conversation, Dan Magy continues with Brett Harrison and Shaun Moore to dig into what sets Turn AI apart from defense incumbents and Silicon Valley hopefuls alike. This episode shifts focus from tech specs to team dynamics, culture, and strategic edge—how a fast, focused startup can outmaneuver giants.They explore what it takes to build critical infrastructure from scratch, what it means when Big Tech starts referencing your patents, and why passion, speed, and real-world experience can’t be bought. If Part I showed the problem, Part II shows the path forward.Whether you're scaling a defense startup or trying to understand what makes disruption in this space real, this one delivers hard-earned insight with operator clarity.Timestamps:00:00 – GPS Dependency and Over-Reliance00:58 – Real-World Experience vs. Big Companies03:25 – Company Culture and Decision-Making06:12 – Customer Response and Passion06:41 – Global Market and Security Concerns11:53 – Impact on Logistics and Society14:12 – Lessons Learned and Future Plans15:02 – Critical Infrastructure and Public Education18:55 – Final Thoughts and Contact Information#DroneWarsPodcast #TernAI #GPSAlternative #MilitaryTech #AutonomousVehicles #AIInnovation #DefenseTech #SignalResilience #StartupCulture #CriticalInfrastructureAbout Drone WarsThe Drone Wars Podcast serves the warfighters, builders and innovators who all share a common goal: get the best tech into the hands of those on the frontlines. Dan Magy, Co-Founder and CEO of Firestorm Labs, explores all things defense and geopolitics with experts in the industry.