Trump's Cyber Czar on China's Infiltration of America - EP 41 Joshua Steinman
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this episode of Core Memory, host Ashley Vance sits down with Joshua Steinman, CEO of Galvanick, a cybersecurity company focused on protecting industrial infrastructure. Steinman brings a unique background spanning Navy intelligence, the Trump White House, and Silicon Valley entrepreneurship. The conversation covers Steinman's role in creating the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), his four years as cybersecurity czar under President Trump, and his current mission to secure America's industrial base against cyber threats. (38:00)
- Core themes include the urgent need for military-tech collaboration, China's cyber infiltration of US infrastructure, and the critical gap between consumer technology advancement and outdated defense systems.
Speakers
Joshua Steinman
CEO and founder of Galvanick, a cybersecurity company protecting industrial infrastructure. Steinman served eight years as a Navy intelligence officer before joining the Trump White House as Deputy Assistant to the President, where he shaped cybersecurity, telecommunications, cryptocurrency, and supply chain policy from 2017-2021. He was instrumental in creating the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Silicon Valley-based bridge between the Pentagon and tech startups, and previously co-founded a sock company while in graduate school at Georgetown.
Ashley Vance
Host of Core Memory podcast and accomplished technology journalist. Vance has written extensively about Silicon Valley, space exploration, and emerging technologies, including biographies of notable tech figures like Elon Musk.
Key Takeaways
Military Technology is Decades Behind Consumer Tech
Steinman reveals the shocking reality that military systems often run on Windows 95 or have minimal computing power while consumer technology has advanced exponentially. (30:00) This creates a dangerous capability gap where adversaries using modern technology can exploit outdated defense systems. The Defense Innovation Unit was created to bridge this gap, but the challenge remains massive across all military branches.
China Has Already Infiltrated US Critical Infrastructure
Through cyber operations like Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon, China has systematically compromised American critical infrastructure including power grids, telecommunications, and industrial systems. (49:12) Steinman emphasizes this isn't theoretical—it's happening now and represents a clear and present danger to national security and economic stability.
Operational Technology Security is Severely Under-Invested
While companies spend heavily on IT security (emails, databases), they invest far less in operational technology (OT) security that controls physical systems like manufacturing robots and power plants. (52:00) This creates vulnerabilities where cyberattacks can cause physical damage, shut down facilities, or destroy critical infrastructure, as demonstrated by attacks on Iran's steel industry.
America Must Rebuild Industrial Independence
The peace dividend and globalization from the 1990s created dangerous dependencies on foreign supply chains for critical defense materials. (40:00) From missile components to rare earth minerals, America lacks the capacity to sustain a prolonged conflict, making reindustrialization a national security imperative rather than just an economic policy.
Elite Talent Recruitment Needs Systematic Reform
The military and intelligence agencies have moved away from actively recruiting exceptional talent from top universities, instead focusing on mid-tier institutions. (77:00) This represents a strategic mistake when competing against adversaries who prioritize identifying and developing their brightest minds for national service.
Statistics & Facts
- One Fortune 50 company using traditional network security monitoring tools was receiving 10 billion alerts per day, making the system essentially useless for identifying real threats. (52:00) This statistic demonstrates the fundamental flaws in current cybersecurity approaches for industrial systems.
- After sending thousands of Stinger and Javelin missiles to Ukraine, defense contractors reported it would take three years to replenish those stockpiles. (41:40) This timeline was publicly acknowledged by major defense contractors, highlighting America's limited surge production capacity.
- Top universities like MIT and Caltech are now 50+ percent non-American students, while the NSA primarily recruits from lower-tier institutions. (77:00) This represents a significant shift in how intelligence agencies access top talent.
