Welcome to Defense Mavericks, the podcast that uncovers the untapped potential of AI within the federal government. Join us as we dive into authentic and disruptive conversations with our nation’s brightest minds, offering a fresh perspective on how to gain an unfair advantage through the adoption of new, emerging technology. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge, education, and best practices you need to shorten the learning curve toward government transformation.
CDAO:
https://www.ai.mil/
Tradewinds AI:
https://www.tradewindai.com/
Decoding Agile Acquisition Frameworks with Jonathan Mostowski (Replay)
Are rules the biggest barrier to government procurement?
In this replay episode, Jonathan Mostowski, a trailblazer in government procurement and co-author of the TechFAR Handbook, unpacks the truth about “hacking” bureaucracy in government contracting and how agile acquisition, strategic contracting, and responsible risk-taking can transform procurement into a driver of innovation.
He also shares insights on creating culture change through contracting, his experiences authoring the TechFAR Handbook, navigating the pitfalls of SBIR, and tackling the dreaded “Valley of Death”.
Learn why contracting should be a business advisory role, not just compliance, and how funding models can better reward innovation.
Tune in now for a refreshing conversation on defense procurement!
Key Takeaways:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:00) Meet Jonathan Mostowski
(03:10) What is a Scaled Agile Framework?
(04:08) Origins and intent of the TechFar Handbook
(07:55) The biggest challenge contractors face
(10:37) Why Jonathan doesn’t “hack” bureaucracy?
(14:07) The culture change needed in contracting
(15:53) Jonathan’s writing process
(17:00) The purpose of Jonathan’s book Leading Agile Acquisitions
(19:46) What would Jonathan change if he were to be a king for a day?
(22:44) How impact–not speed—should drive incentives
(26:30) Are SBIRs sustainable?
(34:14) The reality behind the Valley of Death
Additional Resources:
👉Follow Ryan Connell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/)
👉Learn, acquire, and deliver tech on Tradewinds here: https://www.tradewindai.com/ (https://www.tradewindai.com/)
👉Visit CDAO for updates: https://www.ai.mil/ (https://www.ai.mil/)
👉Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6MLAqMOVnLWbmB5yZbZ9lC (https://open.spotify.com/show/6MLAqMOVnLWbmB5yZbZ9lC)
👉Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DefenseMavericks (https://www.youtube.com/@DefenseMavericks)
Connect with today’s guests:
💥Follow Jonathan Mostowski on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmost/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmost/)
💥Grab a copy of his book Leading Agile Acquisitions: https://www.agileacquisitions.com/product-page/leading-agile-acquisitions (https://www.agileacquisitions.com/product-page/leading-agile-acquisitions)
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Defense Mavericks is a podcast that uncovers the untapped potential of AI within the federal government through authentic and disruptive conversations with our nation’s brightest minds.
Follow us on your favorite streaming platform so you won’t miss an episode!
11 Mar 2025TRANSCRIPT
Navigating Leadership & Contracting Success with Maj. Gen. Alice Treviño (Replay)
What if the biggest barrier to innovation in government contracting isn’t bureaucracy–but mindset?
In this replay episode, Ryan Connell sits down with Major General Alice Treviño, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting, to discuss how the Air Force is rethinking procurement with digital tools, leadership strategies, and streamlined processes.
With over 32 years of experience, Major General Treviño shares how to lead effectively in acquisitions, delegate strategically, and foster innovation within a structured system.
She highlights why patience, positivity, courage, and curiosity are essential for driving real change in contracting.
From AI-powered procurement to leadership tactics, this episode is packed with insights.
Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:56) Major General Treviño’s background and journey in contracting
(07:09) How to delegate authority in high-visibility projects
(10:10) The critical role of contracting in mission success
(13:15) A day in the life of a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting
(19:55) Building and scaling tools across the Air Force
(28:56) Advice on change agency for junior members in the Air Force
(35:28) Final thoughts on leadership, positivity, and mentorship
Additional Resources:
👉Follow Ryan Connell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/)
👉Learn, acquire, and deliver tech on Tradewinds here: https://www.tradewindai.com/ (https://www.tradewindai.com/)
👉Visit CDAO for updates: https://www.ai.mil/ (https://www.ai.mil/)
👉Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6MLAqMOVnLWbmB5yZbZ9lC (https://open.spotify.com/show/6MLAqMOVnLWbmB5yZbZ9lC)
👉Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DefenseMavericks (https://www.youtube.com/@DefenseMavericks)
Connect with today’s guests:
💥Follow Major General Alice Treviño on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetrevinoali/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicetrevinoali/)
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Defense Mavericks is a podcast that uncovers the untapped potential of AI within the federal government through authentic and disruptive conversations with our nation’s brightest minds.
Follow us on your favorite streaming platform so you won’t miss an episode!
4 Mar 2025TRANSCRIPT
How JRAC Delivers Urgent Innovation to Protect Warfighters in the Field with Major General Edward Vaughan
Military procurement is known for its slow, bureaucratic processes, but what if it didn’t have to be?
In this week’s episode, Ryan Connell sits down with Major General Edward Vaughan to talk about how the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell (JRAC) redefines how warfighters get the tools they need—fast.
With over 40 years of military experience, Major General Vaughan shares his perspectives on balancing speed and perfection in defense acquisitions.
He walks us through how JRAC accelerates the procurement process, the role of Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONs), and how AI and digital tools are reshaping decision-making in defense.
Tune in to learn how the Department of Defense is cutting through bureaucracy to boost innovation and efficiency in modern warfare.
Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:53) Major General Vaughan’s background and career journey
(02:24) What JRAC does and how it supports warfighters
(06:13) How urgent needs get validated and funded
(08:45) Why speed matters more than perfection in urgent military acquisitions
(13:46) The role of iteration and AI in military procurement
(17:17) How small businesses and defense startups contribute to rapid innovation
(20:02) The barriers to fast-tracking military technology
(22:30) How JRAC facilitates funding without direct acquisition
(32:53) Final thoughts
Additional Resources:
👉Follow Ryan Connell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-connell-8413a03a/)
👉Learn, acquire, and deliver tech on Tradewinds here: https://www.tradewindai.com/ (https://www.tradewindai.com/)
👉Visit CDAO for updates: https://www.ai.mil/ (https://www.ai.mil/)
👉Follow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6MLAqMOVnLWbmB5yZbZ9lC (https://open.spotify.com/show/6MLAqMOVnLWbmB5yZbZ9lC)
👉Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DefenseMavericks (https://www.youtube.com/@DefenseMavericks)
Connect with today’s guest:
💥Follow Major General Edward Vaughan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/relentless/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/relentless/)
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Defense Mavericks is a podcast that uncovers the untapped potential of AI within the federal government through authentic and disruptive conversations with our nation’s brightest minds.
Follow us on your favorite streaming platform so you won’t miss an episode!
Inside a recent episode
Decoding Agile Acquisition Frameworks with Jonathan Mostowski (Replay)
Published 18 Mar 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Is that kind of one of the things that we're talking about in this area? Absolutely. So far part 39 is actually titled acquisition of IT, or IT acquisition. The part you're specifically talking about is 39 .103. And it's amazing. It is exactly as you said, it's modular acquisitions. Again, long before anybody was talking about, how do we do this agile stuff? The FAR Council had already put in a whole section of the FAR that recognized that IT acquisitions should not be very, very large and very complex because IT changes so quickly that if we spend five or 10 years buying and delivering, the technology that we actually want to solve for is going to be in a totally different space. […]
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