The Battle for Military Innovation: Patriot Entrepreneurs vs. Pentagon Bureaucracy

The Department of Defense (DoD) is the largest consumer of technology in the world, with an annual budget of over $700 billion. However, despite the vast resources at its disposal, the DoD has struggled to keep up with the rapid pace of technological innovation. This issue has become a major concern for military leaders, who have expressed frustration with the bureaucratic red tape that makes it difficult for start-ups to bring innovative, effective, and cost-efficient technology to the battlefield.

One defense expert, Doug Philippone, a venture capitalist and defense contractor, has been a vocal critic of the Pentagon’s acquisition process. In an interview with Fox News, Philippone described the challenges faced by “patriot entrepreneurs” who are inventing advanced technology that military leaders want but are unable to get through the DoD’s bureaucratic slog.

“Now we have this thing where this great landscape of patriot entrepreneurs that are devoting their whole life to building cool tech that helps the broader citizenry,” Philippone said. “But the real challenge is getting the Department of Defense to adopt the inventions at a competitive speed.”

The Pentagon’s slow adoption of new technology is not a new problem. In fact, it has been a source of frustration for military leaders for decades. However, the situation has become more urgent in recent years as the U.S. faces increasingly complex and diverse threats from adversaries like China and Russia.

Military leaders have recognized the need for innovation and have embraced the idea of working with start-ups to bring new technology to the battlefield. However, as Philippone pointed out, the Pentagon’s bureaucracy makes it difficult for these entrepreneurs to get their products into the hands of the military.

The Pentagon’s acquisition process is notoriously complex and time-consuming. It can take years for a new technology to go through the various stages of testing, evaluation, and procurement. This is a major problem for start-ups, which often lack the resources to wait years for their technology to be adopted.

Philippone, who has a history of casting blunt judgment on the Pentagon’s acquisition process, has described it as “irrational” and motivated by a desire to preserve relationships with entrenched defense contractors. In one legal filing, Palantir, the company Philippone headed until 2023, called Pentagon officials “stupid” or “corrupt” for blocking the adoption of new technology.

Despite these criticisms, the Pentagon has taken steps to address the issue. In response to the challenges posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the DoD has accelerated its acquisition process, awarding contracts in a matter of weeks instead of months. However, as Philippone pointed out, this is not a sustainable solution.

“Contracts that used to take months are being awarded in a matter of weeks,” Pentagon spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen said. “But it’s still harder than it needs to be by a long shot.”

Philippone believes that the solution lies in breaking down the bureaucratic barriers that prevent start-ups from bringing their technology to the military. He has called on the Pentagon to adopt a more agile and flexible approach to acquisition, allowing start-ups to bypass some of the red tape and bring their technology directly to the troops.

One example of a start-up that has successfully brought innovative technology to the military is Shield AI, a firm within Snowpoint Ventures’ portfolio. Shield AI developed the V-BAT, an unmanned drone capable of vertical takeoff and landing, which can complete its missions even in warzones where GPS or communication is cut. The V-BAT has been adopted by the military and has proven to be a valuable asset in various operations.

Another example is Gecko Robotics, a company that has developed devices capable of crawling over infrastructure to identify and predict weak points. Philippone believes that these devices could save the Navy significant taxpayer money by preventing catastrophic failures.

Despite these success stories, the challenges faced by start-ups in bringing their technology to the military remain significant. The Pentagon’s bureaucracy is deeply entrenched, and changing it will require a sustained effort from military leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs.

In the meantime, start-ups continue to push for innovation, hoping to break through the bureaucratic red tape and help the military stay ahead of the curve. As Philippone put it, “It’s not just about Palantir and Snowpoint or its portfolio. A number of smaller firms are pushing to sell better and cheaper equipment to the military and to help out the world.”

The battle for military innovation is far from over, but with the determination and ingenuity of patriot entrepreneurs and the support of military leaders, it is a battle that can be won.

Ethan Barton is a producer/reporter for Digital Originals. You can reach him at ethan.barton@fox.com and follow him on Twitter at @ethanrbarton.