Bob Tuohy’s Post

Innovation transcends boundaries, uniting diverse expertise for a sustainable, efficient future. Emphasizing collaboration and environmental consciousness is crucial in the evolving landscape of global military logistics and technology.

Do we have an #innovation or #adoption problem? We think it's the latter. The authors, which include Robert Work, suggest six pillars to scale innovation: 1 - Clear problem definition 2 - An empowered team to "quarterback" the effort 3 - A transition partner (end-user) who will "own" the new capability 4 - A (dynamic) contracting vehicle 5 - Steady funding 6 - Senior leader support to break logjams Can Canada point to even one of these pillars today? #Innovationisaspecialoperation https://lnkd.in/e87eMMCA

It seems to me we have nascent elements of most of these pillars necessary to innovate at scale. The question remains, who in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes is going to TRULY champion #innovation?

The most pressing innovation challenge is innovating the process to achieve the adoption. We can't maintain technological overmatch moving at the speed of procurement. Status quo doesn't work, and not making a decision is a decision. Canadian Armed Forces | Forces armées canadiennes Government of Canada Public Services and Procurement Canada | Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

Unlocking unbounded innovation means looking beyond today’s challenges to explore untapped potential and shape bold new realities. By fostering collaboration and embracing disruptive thinking, we drive the future of defense innovation forward. Follow our page to be part of the future of defense innovation. #FutureWerx #UnboundedInnovation #DefiningTomorrow #DefenseInnovation #Innovation #Foresight #Vision #Future

There is an innovation crisis ... ... and here's how you can fix it: Together with Kara Cunzeman and Sarah Georgin from The Aerospace Corporation, we will explore the urgent need for organizations, regardless of size, to adopt a systematic, evidence-driven approach to the front-end of innovation. This strategic shift along with establishing the incentives for doing so, is essential for real growth and transformation where customer feedback and crowdsourced ideas alone fall short. 📅 Don't miss our session "There's An Innovation Crisis - And Here's How You Can Fix It," on June 11, 2:00pm - 2:30pm ET. #FEI2024 #innovation #innovationmanagement

"We are innovating at the speed of technology development by necessity. It's a pace that may make some uncomfortable, but it's required to keep up with technology, to deliver for the warfighter at scale, and to continue outpacing our competitors." Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks emphasizes the Department of Defense's commitment to accelerating innovation and change through flexible acquisition pathways and innovative contracting tools in her keynote address Aug. 7, 2024. A key highlight is the Replicator initiative, which aims to rapidly deploy autonomous systems across various domains, achieving significant progress within a year. The DoD is also enhancing collaboration with tech firms and private capital providers, establishing the Office of Strategic Capital to drive investment in critical technologies. Hicks underscores the importance of bipartisan support from Congress, advocating for increased trust and timely appropriations to sustain defense innovation efforts. DAU continues to play a crucial role in this transformation by equipping acquisition professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate these changes, ensuring they are prepared to support the DoD’s mission of maintaining technological superiority. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-rSaq_w

What matters most right now in defense innovation? We found out at the SXSW Glitter and Rage event: 💡Outcomes, outcomes, outcomes — The DoD has many new ideas and capabilities stuck at square one. To achieve mission outcomes, leaders need to align time and budget allocation with strategic priorities. 💡 Systemization over heroics — Today, innovators perform heroic work to get new solutions developed, resourced, and deployed. It doesn’t have to be this way. With the right systems for success, defense innovators can consistently turn ideas into outcomes. 💡 Speed is key — The DoD often sacrifices speed for certainty. Rapid prototyping and experimentation can help get viable solutions into the field faster. 💡 Innovation starts with people empowerment — Empowering, upskilling, and retaining the workforce will be crucial to achieving innovation readiness in the great power competition. 💡 Interoperability matters — There won’t be one tool to rule them all. An ecosystem of solutions connected via APIs will facilitate collaborative defense innovation at scale. Thank you, Sue Gordon, Bonnie Evangelista, and other defense innovation leaders for sharing your insights—and Second Front Systems for organizing a fantastic event. Looking forward to seeing how Capital Factory’s Joint Defense Innovation Office with Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), AFWERX, and NavalX accelerates collaboration on the priorities above. #SXSW2024 #Insights #DefenseTech

(Simulation / #IITSEC2024) This sounds exciting, I'll be there, will you too? :-) 📅 In case you want to lock it in your calendar, I find this link practical https://lnkd.in/esfbi5W2 Bohemia Interactive Simulations

In a year of DOD budget tightening and reduced purchasing power, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) finds itself in a unique position with $983M to spend in 2024, a ~$800M increase over 2023. With appropriations now set more than five months into the fiscal year, DIU must now decide where to spend its war chest. In a recent interview, DIU Director Doug Beck outlined four types of initiatives that DIU plans to fund: 1) Accelerating existing programs 2) Launching new programs 3) Supporting projects housed within other Defense Department innovation organizations 4) Addressing some of the challenges commercial companies face as they try to work with DOD While the first three initiatives provide attractive pathways to deliver near-term, measurable progress and marketable successes that rationalize DIU’s existence and levels of funding, supporting commercial vendors looking to work with DOD may provide the greatest long-term impact for our national defense. By bolstering commercial innovators and helping them navigate the DOD acquisition process, DIU could establish a new generation of defense vendors rather than merely providing additional funding to areas of the DOD that are already funded today. As Director Beck and his team work through the difficult process of allocating 2024 funding, a balance of near and long-term perspectives is needed and support of novel industry provides the clearest pathway to sustained innovation.  #Defense #DIU #Innovation BCE Consulting (BCE) Craig Belanger Anirudh Suneel Ben Osterholtz Robyn Pirie