Registration for this event is not required but appreciated (for planning purposes).
Event Description
The US Defense Industrial Base is undergoing a transformation not experienced since the early 1990s. Unlike the rapid consolidation of technology vendors at the end of the Cold War, this current change is being driven largely by technology startups and national security-focused venture capital funds seeking to expand the industrial base. National security organizations have been building new acquisition mechanisms as well as amending current programs to better partner with these entrants. All this transformation is occurring at a time when the US faces increasing challenges for near-pear and asymmetric adversaries. In brief, the reindustrialization of Industrial Base with new entrants is increasingly interconnected with the US’s ability to meet a rapidly evolving threat environment. In this talk, we will review the rapid evolution of the defense startup ecosystem, the current state of the market, and emerging challenges likely to further drive transformation.
Speaker Bio
Ryan S. Lewis is a Partner at SRI Ventures, where he leads investment strategy across artificial intelligence/machine learning, enterprise IT, and sensor systems sectors. With over 15 years of experience at the intersection of technology, venture capital, and national security, Lewis has held senior positions at Amazon Web Services, In-Q-Tel, and Computer Sciences Corporation. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Global Corporate Venturing Defense Council and holds advisory roles with several venture-backed AI companies.
Prior to SRI Ventures, Lewis led the AI/ML Practice for AWS U.S. National Security division and served as Senior Vice President at In-Q-Tel, where he spearheaded initiatives in AI/ML, geospatial analytics, and aerospace technologies. He notably managed SpaceNet LLC, producing AI/ML datasets and code repositories that garnered over 2 million downloads across 87 countries.
Lewis holds an MPP in International Economics from the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, completed executive education in Strategy & Innovation at MIT Sloan, and graduated as valedictorian from Truman State University. He was recognized with the Global Corporate Venturing Emerging Leader Award in 2023 and the AFCEA 40 Under 40 Award.