Misunderstood Power: Emil Michael on the Truth About the DoW & Defense Tech
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
Honorable Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering and Chief Technology Officer for the Department of War, joins Sourcery to discuss modern defense technology and the DoW's strategic priorities. Drawing from his experience scaling Uber into a global technology company, he explains how the same disruptive principles apply to modernizing America's defense capabilities. (02:36) Michael outlines the DoW's six critical technology areas—Applied AI, Scaled Hypersonics, Scaled Directed Energy, Biomanufacturing, Contested Logistics, and Battlefield Information Dominance—while dispelling misconceptions about defense technology companies like Palantir, SpaceX, and Anduril.
- Main Theme: The episode focuses on how disruptive technology leadership principles from Silicon Valley are being applied to modernize America's defense capabilities, with emphasis on emerging technologies and the need to move beyond traditional defense contractors to maintain technological superiority over adversaries like China.
Speakers
Emil Michael
Emil Michael serves as Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering and Chief Technology Officer for the Department of War, overseeing organizations including DARPA, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Defense Innovation Unit. Previously, he was a key executive at Uber, helping scale the company into a global technology platform, and completed a White House fellowship working under Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Molly O'Shea
Molly O'Shea is a host at Sourcery, conducting interviews with technology and defense leaders. She focuses on exploring the intersection of venture capital, innovation, and strategic technology developments.
Key Takeaways
Disruption Principles Apply Beyond Tech Startups
Michael draws direct parallels between his experience at Uber competing with Lyft and the current technological competition with China. (03:03) Just as Uber disrupted traditional transportation, the DoW must disrupt traditional defense contracting to stay ahead of adversaries. The same principles of fresh perspective, questioning established processes, and rapid innovation that work in Silicon Valley are essential for modernizing America's defense capabilities. This approach involves coming in with "no biases" and asking fundamental questions about what's working versus what needs to change, rather than accepting bureaucratic status quo.
Focus Creates Better Results Than Dilution
The DoW reduced their critical technology areas from 14 to just 6 because "if something's critical for ten years, that means you're not making much progress on it." (10:22) Michael explains that when organizations try to prioritize everything, they effectively prioritize nothing. By concentrating resources on six key areas—Applied AI, Scaled Hypersonics, Scaled Directed Energy, Biomanufacturing, Contested Logistics, and Battlefield Information Dominance—teams can wake up every day knowing exactly what they're working toward. This focus principle applies to any professional context where scattered priorities prevent meaningful progress.
Learn from Real-World Implementation, Not Theory
The Russia-Ukraine conflict taught critical lessons about modern warfare, particularly how quickly it became "a robot war, a drone on drone war" with front lines consisting of "robots against robots." (17:17) Rather than relying on theoretical frameworks, the DoW adapts strategies based on actual battlefield innovations happening in real-time. This principle of learning from live implementation rather than hypothetical scenarios applies broadly—whether you're developing software, managing teams, or launching products, real-world feedback trumps theoretical planning every time.
Build Partnerships That Accelerate Capabilities
Michael emphasizes creating an ecosystem where "investors keep investing in these companies and companies keep succeeding" by removing barriers rather than creating them. (19:23) In his first 45 days, he completed three critical mineral deals to reduce dependency on China, demonstrating how strategic partnerships can rapidly solve complex challenges. The key is identifying mutual benefits and streamlining processes to enable success rather than adding bureaucratic obstacles. This approach works whether you're building vendor relationships, internal partnerships, or cross-functional collaborations.
Proximity to Problems Changes Perspective
Michael notes that "the farther you are removed from the problems that a conflict can cause, the easier it is to disdain what it costs to keep the country safe." (25:24) This observation applies beyond defense—professionals who stay closest to customer problems, market realities, or operational challenges make better decisions than those operating from abstract theories. Whether you're in product development, strategy, or leadership, maintaining direct contact with the real-world impact of your decisions leads to more effective solutions and better judgment calls.
Statistics & Facts
- The Department of War has approximately 3 million people, making it "literally the biggest bureaucracy in the world," according to Michael when discussing the scale of organizational change required. (03:55)
- The DoW reduced their critical technology areas from 14 to 6, with Michael explaining that the previous 14 areas had been in place since 2018, suggesting lack of progress when priorities remain "critical" for extended periods.
- Hypersonic missiles can travel at over five times the speed of sound (Mach 5+), enabling travel from China to the US in approximately 30 minutes, highlighting the urgency of developing scaled hypersonic capabilities. (11:31)
