Episodios

  • Ep. 70 Taiwan and the Pacific: Demand Signals for Industry

    Ep. 70 Taiwan and the Pacific: Demand Signals for Industry
    Nov 17 2025

    In this episode, Mike Shanley sits down with Admiral Mark Montgomery (Ret.), now a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to break down one of the most pressing strategic challenges of our time: how the United States, Taiwan, and allies should prepare for a potential conflict in the Pacific.

    This is a must-listen episode for anyone working in defense tech, national security, cyber policy, Indo-Pacific strategy, or defense industrial base modernization.

    ​RESOURCES:

    Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) - https://www.fdd.org
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-montgomery-b8932810/

    Twitter: @MarkSeymourMontgomery

    ​BIOGRAPHY: Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, the son of a career naval officer, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1985 with bachelors and master's degrees in history and political science, and was commissioned through the Naval ROTC program. He subsequently attended Oxford University where he earned a master's degree in history. He has also completed the Navy's nuclear power training program.

    Montgomery's shipboard assignments include tours as an engineering division officer on USS Bainbridge (CGN 25), operations officer on USS Leftwich (DD 984), reactor electrical assistant on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and executive officer of USS Elliot (DD 967). From 2001 to 2003, he was the first commanding officer of USS McCampbell (DDG 85), during which time the ship was delivered to the Navy and completed two counter-narcotics deployments. From 2004 to 2006, he served as reactor officer on USS Nimitz (CVN 68). He commanded Destroyer Squadron 15 and Task Group 75.4 from 2007 to 2009, leading the destroyers and frigates assigned to U.S. 7th Fleet, completing multiple deployments with the Kitty Hawk and George Washington Carrier Strike Groups.

    Montgomery was selected as a White House fellow in 1998 and assigned to the National Security Council from 1998 to 2000, serving as a director for Transnational Threats. From 2009 to 2010 he served as the head of the Strategy Branch in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

    As a flag officer, Montgomery served as deputy director, plans, policy and strategy, United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, from 2010 to 2012. From January 2013 to October 2014 he commanded Battle Force 7th Fleet/Task Force 70/Carrier Strike Group 5 permanently embarked on board the USS George Washington (CVN 73) forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

    Montgomery is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a graduate of Massachusetts's Institute of Technology Seminar XXI course. LEARN MORE: Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/ https://www.konektid.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gov-market-growth/
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    41 m
  • Ep. 69 Ukraine Defense & Rebuild: Opportunities, Challenges & Trends for Industry

    Ep. 69 Ukraine Defense & Rebuild: Opportunities, Challenges & Trends for Industry
    Nov 13 2025

    In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, host Mike Shanley speaks with Irina Paliashvili, President and CEO of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), about the evolving landscape of Ukraine's defense and reconstruction markets.

    This discussion offers a firsthand look at how Ukraine's defense market is evolving amid the ongoing war, and how U.S. firms can strategically and responsibly participate in rebuilding efforts.

    RESOURCES:

    Learn more about USUBC: https://www.usubc.org

    Connect with Irina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-paliashvili-08060011/

    BIOGRAPHY:

    Irina Paliashvili is President and CEO of U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC). She has been an integral part of the USUBC governance team for more than twenty years, having been consistently reelected to the USUBC Executive Committee, where she had served as Chair of the Legal Committee, supporting legal and judicial reforms, advocating for the rule of law, and promoting private sector development. At present, she co-leads the ongoing project "USUBC Legal Series: by Members – for Members", offering webinars with exclusive insights into the most pressing legal issues related to doing business in Ukraine. Irina frequently speaks at international conferences and publishes on the legal and business climate in Ukraine, and is also known for her active support of Ukrainian culture and art.

    When Ukraine regained its independence, Irina co-founded one of the first private law firms in Kyiv and later expanded by founding the Washington, DC-based Ukrainian Legal Group, representing US-based multinational companies doing business in Ukraine, as well as serving as independent expert witness on the matters of Ukrainian law in major international arbitrations and in the US, UK, the Netherlands, Cypriot and Swedish courts proceedings. She is licensed to practice Ukrainian law as a Special Legal Consultant in the District of Columbia and is a member of the Kyiv Bar.

    Irina graduated with the highest honors from the Kyiv State University School of International Law and subsequently earned a Ph.D. in International Law from the same school. She also holds an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from George Washington University.

    LEARN MORE:

    Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

    https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

    https://www.konektid.com/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/gov-market-growth/
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    28 m
  • Ep. 68 AI and National Security with Dr. Marina Theodotou

    Ep. 68 AI and National Security with Dr. Marina Theodotou
    Nov 12 2025

    In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, host Mike Shanley speaks with Dr. Marina Theodotou, Executive Director of the newly launched Center for Frontier AI Security (CFAS). Drawing on her eight years at the Department of Defense, including leadership roles at the Defense Innovation Board and Defense Acquisition University, Dr. Theodotou discusses how the U.S. can maintain an AI advantage amid global competition. She highlights CFAS's mission to bridge the gap between AI policy and implementation by creating national security specific standards for AI safety, reliability, and alignment. The conversation also explores the challenges of compute power, interoperability, and the critical role of collaboration across government, industry, and academia in securing frontier AI systems.

    RESOURCES

    CFAS Website: www.cfas.online

    Connect on LinkedIn:

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-frontier-ai-security/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinatheodotou/

    BIO:

    Dr. Marina Theodotou is an innovation and transformation leader with more than 30 years of experience advancing high-impact initiatives at the intersection of defense, finance, education, and consulting, spanning the US, EU, and Middle East. She is the Executive Director and Founder of the Center for Frontier AI Security (www.cfas.online) a non-profit focusing on operationalizing AI in national security. Dr. Theodotou also serves as a Senior Advisor with Kotter International, the premiere change management and innovation consultancy.

    As Executive Director of the Defense Innovation Board at the Pentagon, she advised top DoD leadership on innovation, digital transformation, and organizational change, delivering more than 150 actionable recommendations with 40% adoption rate. She also co-led a classified assessment of US-China AI competition shaping national defense strategy. Dr. Theodotou previously spearheaded people innovation at the Defense Acquisition University, (DAU) launching the groundbreaking People Innovation Readiness Assessment Framework to complement technology-centric innovation. She led efforts to scale digital products driving an exponential 1,720% increase in student digital engagement. Leveraging her leadership, she founded and led teams that scaled platforms like TEDx DAU, catalyzing widespread innovation throughout the DoD.

    She has published 150+ articles, served as a keynote speaker, mentor, and coach to tens of professionals in federal government and academia. As professor at the Jack Welch Management Institute, she taught over 120 Executive MBA Students. Dr. Theodotou won numerous innovation awards including the 2024 United States Distance Learning Association Gold Award, the 2023 Chief Learning Officer Innovation Trailblazer Gold Award and the DAU 2023 Senior Businessperson of the Year.

    Dr. Theodotou holds a doctorate in education on organizational change and leadership from the University of Southern California and continues to champion cross-sector innovation, organizational agility, and inclusive change as a board member, coach, and mentor.

    LEARN MORE:

    Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

    https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

    https://www.konektid.com/
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    25 m
  • Ep. 67 State of the State Department Market

    Ep. 67 State of the State Department Market
    Nov 7 2025

    In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, host Mike Shanley, CEO of GovDiscovery AI, speaks with Mike Derrios, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Senior Procurement Executive at the U.S. Department of State. Derrios shares insights from his tenure at State​. The conversation explores the America First Global Health Strategy, State's ongoing reorganization, and broader federal acquisition reforms, offering valuable perspective for implementers, contractors, and NGOs navigating these shifts.

    ​BIO: Mike Derrios is a strategic leader and expert in government acquisition with 30 years of federal, military, and private sector experience. He currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Senior Procurement Executive for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), where he oversees all global procurement and grant operations for America's foreign diplomacy and national security mission, managing an annual spend of $15 billion and a workforce of 1500 across 270 embassies and consulates. Previously, Mike served as the Head of Contracting for the United States Coast Guard where he led a $3.5 billion annual portfolio to recapitalize assets and leveraged policy to grant extraordinary contractual relief to salvage production facilities for the $10 billion Offshore Patrol Cutter program after a Level 5 hurricane decimated shipyard facilities. A plank holder for the Transportation Security Administration, Mike led the nationwide deployment of passenger and carry-on baggage screening equipment, valued at $5 billion, across 429 U.S. airports. He also served as the program director for expansion of TSA PreCheck®, launching a program that enrolls millions of Americans for expedited airport screening through a public-private partnership model. As a senior business consultant at CACI, Mike helped to replace legacy contract writing systems for 20,000 procurement professionals across the Department of Defense. He started his career in the United States Air Force. Mike holds a Master of Business Administration degree from George Mason University (GMU) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Workforce Education & Development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at GMU. Mike is passionate about delivering value through procurement, optimizing performance, and galvanizing teams to maximize opportunities. LEARN MORE: Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/ https://www.konektid.com/
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    51 m
  • Ep. 66 Representative Walkinshaw Q&A

    Ep. 66 Representative Walkinshaw Q&A
    Oct 31 2025
    Ep. 66 Representative Walkinshaw Q&A This special episode was recorded at the Professional Services Council's 2025 Defense Conference where the Professional Services Council hosted a press briefing featuring Representative James Walkinshaw, U.S. Representative for Virginia's 11th Congressional District.

    ABOUT
    Representative Walkinshaw represents Virginia's 11th Congressional district, which includes most of Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the towns of Vienna and Herndon. View his full bio here: https://walkinshaw.house.gov/about

    DISCLAIMER
    Rep. Walkinshaw's views are his own and do not reflect those of the Professional Services Council.

    ATTRIBUTIONS
    Speaker attribution requested as follows:
    Representative James Walkinshaw, U.S. Representative for Virginia's 11th Congressional District Event attribution requested as follows:
    The Professional Services Council hosted a press briefing featuring Representative James Walkinshaw, U.S. Representative for Virginia's 11th Congressional District. LEARN MORE: Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/ https://www.konektid.com/
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    6 m
  • Ep. 65 PSC Defense Conference Preview with Steve Harris

    Ep. 65 PSC Defense Conference Preview with Steve Harris
    Oct 23 2025
    In this episode, host Mike Shanley sits down with Steve Harris, Vice President for Defense and Intelligence at the Professional Services Council (PSC). Drawing on his decades of experience in government, including at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Steve shares insights on how PSC bridges industry and government to strengthen the defense industrial base. They discuss: How associations like PSC help government and industry collaborate effectivelyWhy acquisition reform, industrial base capacity, and AI-energy alignment are top priorities for 2025What attendees can expect at PSC's 7th Annual Defense Conference on October 30th, including featured speakers and panel highlightsPractical advice for how government and industry leaders can make the most of conferences and build meaningful connections Whether you're a government professional, a large defense prime, or a small business entering the federal market, this episode offers practical perspective on how PSC drives engagement, advocacy, and insight across the defense sector. RESOURCES: PSC Defense Conference - Registration Link: https://defense.pscouncil.org/ PSC Defense Conference - Link to Sponsors: https://defense.pscouncil.org/sponsors Learn more about PSC: https://www.pscouncil.org/psc PSC Vision Conference - December 1 -3, 2025: https://vision.pscouncil.org/ Connect with Steve Harris on LinkedIn: / steve-harris-vp Connect with Mike Shanley on LinkedIn: / gov-market-growth BIO: Steve Harris, Vice President of Defense and Intelligence, PSC Steve Harris became Vice President for Defense and Intelligence at the Professional Services Council (PSC) on June 9, 2025. He brings more than 28 years of federal service, including positions at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DoD), along with extensive expertise in interagency collaboration, public-private partnerships, international policy, and acquisition. Before joining PSC, Harris was a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and served as the Deputy Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this capacity, he led CISA's efforts to secure the nation's critical infrastructure in partnership with government and private-sector stakeholders. He also held several other senior roles at CISA and its predecessor organization, including Acting Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security, Acting Deputy Director for CISA, Acting Assistant Secretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate's (NPPD) Office of Infrastructure Protection, and Deputy Director of NPPD's Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis. Earlier in his career, Harris held various positions within the Department of Defense. He served as Deputy for Policy at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he developed and implemented international policy for Foreign Military Sales and security cooperation programs. He also held contracting and acquisition roles at the Naval Air Systems Command and the Navy International Programs Office. Harris has received numerous awards for his public service, including the Presidential Rank Award – Meritorious Executive, the DHS Secretary's Silver Medal for Meritorious Service, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. He holds a Master of Science in Management/Contract Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary's College of Maryland. LEARN MORE: Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn. https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/ https://www.konektid.com/
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    27 m
  • Ep. 64 Foreign Assistance Business Opportunities in FY26

    Ep. 64 Foreign Assistance Business Opportunities in FY26
    Oct 15 2025

    In this episode, Mike Shanley sits down with Keri Lowry, former Chief of Staff at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and board member at the Society for International Development–US. Keri shares insider insights on MCC's expanding role under the current administration, including new country programs, procurement trends, and where U.S. industry should focus for FY26 opportunities.

    For updates on MCC procurements and other U.S. foreign assistance opportunities, inquire about our AidKonekt software subscription [connect@govdiscoveryai.com].

    BIOGRAPHY:

    Keri M. Lowry has more than 20 years experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, she served as Chief of Staff at the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Prior to joining MCC, she served as Associate Director of National Security and Defense at the consulting firm Guidehouse.

    She has also served extensively across the U.S. government as Director of Government Affairs and External Relations at the National Commission on Military, National & Public Service; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State at the Department of State; Regional Director for Asia, Europe & the Middle East at the U.S. Peace Corps; Director for International Economics & Humanitarian Affairs at the National Security Council; and, in numerous senior roles at the U.S. Agency for International Development. She has managed international programs at nongovernmental organizations and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso.

    Ms. Lowry is currently on the Board of Directors of the Children's Guild, the National Peace Corps Association, the Society for International Development US, and a member of the Chief of Staff Association and the Council on Foreign Relations. She resides in Washington, DC with her family.

    LEARN MORE:

    Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI.

    To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

    https://www.govdiscoveryai.com/

    https://www.konektid.com
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    30 m
  • Ep. 63 The Role of Academia in National Security

    Ep. 63 The Role of Academia in National Security
    Oct 10 2025

    In this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast, Mike Shanley sits down with Dr. Robert Bishop, Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering at Texas A&M University, to discuss how universities can accelerate innovation for the Department of War. They explore Texas A&M's unique approach to bridging academia, industry, and government through initiatives like the Inspire Alliance 501(c)(3).

    From hypersonics and robotics to nuclear and quantum research, Dr. Bishop shares how universities can deliver faster, more agile solutions while supporting warfighters and national security priorities. Whether you're from industry, government, or academia, this conversation provides actionable insights on collaboration, research partnerships, and speeding R&D processes. Viewers interested in partnering with Texas A&M or connecting with Dr. Bishop directly can reach out via email at vcdengineering.tamu.edu to discuss opportunities, collaborations, or academic programs.

    BIOGRAPHY:

    Dr. Robert H. Bishop '79 serves as the vice chancellor and dean of the Texas A&M University College of Engineering and director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station. Bishop graduated with a bachelor's and master's degree in aerospace engineering from Texas A&M before earning his Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering at Rice University. In 1990, he became a faculty member at The University of Texas at Austin in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, where he later held an endowed position and served as department chair. Bishop served as dean of engineering at Marquette University starting in 2010. In 2014, he was selected to lead The University of South Florida's College of Engineering before returning to Texas A&M in 2024. As an active researcher and scholar, Bishop is a specialist in the area of systems theory, guidance and control of spacecraft, and navigation and estimation theory with applications across a broad range of aerospace challenges. He has extensive experience working with NASA and the Department of Defense.

    LEARN MORE:

    Thank you for tuning into this episode of the GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley. You can learn more about working with the U.S. Government by visiting our homepage: Konektid International and GovDiscovery AI. To connect with our team directly, message the host Mike Shanley on LinkedIn.

    https://www.govdiscoveryai.com

    https://www.konektid.com
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    36 m