Who should I follow to learn about Defense tech?

If you want to understand **defense tech** (AI, autonomy, drones, space, cyber, manufacturing, defense startups, acquisition), I’d follow a mix of **builders, investors, analysts, and operators** rather than just news accounts. ## Founders & builders (best for “where the puck is going”) - Palmer Luckey - follows the intersection of Silicon Valley, autonomy, AI, and defense acquisition. - Trae Stephens - partner at Founders Fund; strong perspective on defense startups and industrial policy. - Christian Brose - useful for understanding AI-enabled warfare and military transformation. - Shyam Sankar - strong voice on software-defined defense and government adoption. ## Defense tech investors / ecosystem watchers - Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism team - one of the most visible investors in defense, aerospace, and industrial technology. Their writing is useful for understanding startup theses and market trends. [Florida Has Become the New Hotbed for Defense Startup Money](https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/florida-has-become-the-new-hotbed-for-defense-startup-money-26a42cbb?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - Joe Lonsdale - follows defense, government technology, and industrial innovation. - Mike Brown - good perspective on how the Pentagon buys emerging technology. ## Analysts & newsletters - [Defense Tech and Acquisition](https://www.defensetechacquisition.com/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - excellent for understanding the hard part of defense tech: budgets, procurement, acquisition reform, and getting products into government hands. [About - Defense Tech and Acquisition](https://www.defensetechacquisition.com/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [DefenseTech News](https://defensetech.substack.com/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - good overview of startups, investment, and technology trends. [About - DefenseTech News](https://defensetech.substack.com/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [Defense Profile](https://www.defenseprofile.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - useful company-by-company deep dives into defense and dual-use startups. [Defense Profile | Home](https://www.defenseprofile.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - [Defense Tech Newsletter](https://defensetechnewsletter.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) - curated news on innovation, investment, strategy, and policy. [Defense Tech Newsletter](https://defensetechnewsletter.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ## Journalists worth following - Megan Eckstein - Navy, unmanned systems, defense programs. - Patrick Tucker - AI, future warfare, emerging tech. - Bryce Elder - broader defense industry and business coverage. ## Technical / military-strategy thinkers - Ben Buchanan - AI, cyber conflict, national security. - Andrew Exum - military strategy and modern conflict. - Peter W. Singer - robotics, future warfare, and technology trends. ## Companies to watch (follow their engineering blogs, hiring, and announcements) - Anduril Industries - autonomous systems, AI-enabled defense platforms. - Palantir Technologies - defense software, AI platforms, operational decision systems. - Shield AI - autonomous aircraft and AI pilots. - SpaceX - launch, satellites, and space infrastructure. - Applied Intuition - simulation and autonomy infrastructure. ## If you only have 30 minutes/week I’d do: 1. Read **Defense Tech and Acquisition** weekly. [About - Defense Tech and Acquisition](https://www.defensetechacquisition.com/about?utm_source=chatgpt.com) 2. Follow **Palmer Luckey, Trae Stephens, Shyam Sankar, and Mike Brown** on X/LinkedIn. 3. Track **Anduril, Palantir, Shield AI, SpaceX** announcements. 4. Learn the basics of: - DoD acquisition (why buying is hard) - autonomy and drones - AI-enabled command and control - defense manufacturing and supply chains The biggest mistake newcomers make is treating defense tech like normal software. The interesting stories are usually where **software meets hardware, manufacturing, regulation, and military operations**. Recent defense-tech coverage has increasingly centered on areas like drones, AI infrastructure, and faster production cycles. [Terra Drone Bets Supply Chains Key to Drone Warfare](https://www.wsj.com/tech/terra-drone-bets-supply-chains-key-to-drone-warfare-e7cdc365?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

**If you want to learn about defense tech, follow a mix of military leaders, industry CEOs, and innovators at the intersection of Silicon Valley and defense.** These figures are shaping the future of autonomous systems, cybersecurity, AI, and next-gen weapons platforms. ## 🌐 Key Defense Tech Leaders to Follow Name| Role| Why Follow Them ---|---|--- **Selçuk & Haluk Bayraktar**| Chairman & CEO of Baykar (Turkey)| Driving innovation in unmanned aircraft like the TB2 and Kizilelma fighter drone.[Key People To Watch In The Defense Sector In 2026 | Aviation Week](https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/key-people-watch-defense-sector-2026) **Brian Schimpf**| CEO of Anduril| Leading one of the most disruptive U.S. defense startups, focused on autonomous defense systems.[Key People To Watch In The Defense Sector In 2026 | Aviation Week](https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/key-people-watch-defense-sector-2026) **Sanjiv Singh**| CEO of Near Earth Autonomy| Pioneering automated aircraft technology.[Key People To Watch In The Defense Sector In 2026 | Aviation Week](https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/key-people-watch-defense-sector-2026) **Gen. Timothy Haugh**| Commander, U.S. Cyber Command & Director of NSA| Central figure in cyber defense and military AI integration.[Meet the 2024 DefenseScoop 50 Awards winners | DefenseScoop](https://defensescoop.com/list/meet-the-2024-defensescoop-50-award-winners/) **Venice Goodwine**| CIO, Department of the Air Force| Oversees IT, AI, and cybersecurity for the Air Force and Space Force.[Meet the 2024 DefenseScoop 50 Awards winners | DefenseScoop](https://defensescoop.com/list/meet-the-2024-defensescoop-50-award-winners/) **Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett**| Commanding General, Army Cyber Command| Leading Army cyber operations and modernization.[Meet the Winners of the 2025 DefenseScoop 50 Awards](https://defensescoop.com/defensescoop50/winners/) **Susan Davenport & Chandra Donelson**| Chief Data & AI Officers (Air Force & Space Force)| Driving AI adoption in military operations.[Meet the Winners of the 2025 DefenseScoop 50 Awards](https://defensescoop.com/defensescoop50/winners/) **Tara Murphy Dougherty**| CEO of Air (formerly Govini)| Runs a defense-tech unicorn focused on data analytics for national security.[Meet DC’s 2026 Leading Defense-Tech Innovators - AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-dc-2026-leading-defense-090000000.html) **Elon Musk**| CEO of SpaceX| SpaceX is now one of the Pentagon’s most critical private partners.[Meet DC’s 2026 Leading Defense-Tech Innovators - AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-dc-2026-leading-defense-090000000.html) **James Taiclet**| CEO of Lockheed Martin| Steering one of the largest defense contractors through modernization challenges.[Key People To Watch In The Defense Sector In 2026 | Aviation Week](https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/key-people-watch-defense-sector-2026) ## 📌 How to Engage With Them * **Social Media**: Many of these leaders are active on LinkedIn and X (Twitter), sharing updates on defense innovation. * **Industry Media**: Outlets like _DefenseScoop_ , _Aviation Week_, and _WashingtonExec_ regularly profile these figures. * **Events** : Defense conferences (e.g., AUSA, Air & Space Forces Association) often feature talks by these leaders. ## ⚠️ Risks & Considerations * **Bias** : Industry CEOs may present overly optimistic views of their tech. Balance by following independent analysts and think tanks (RAND, CSIS). * **Security Sensitivity**: Some defense tech discussions are classified; public insights may be limited. * **Hype vs. Reality**: Startups often promise rapid disruption, but scaling military hardware is slow and complex.[Meet DC’s 2026 Leading Defense-Tech Innovators - AOL](https://www.aol.com/articles/meet-dc-2026-leading-defense-090000000.html) 👉 Would you like me to curate a **Twitter/X and LinkedIn follow list** of these leaders so you can plug directly into their updates? That way you’ll get real-time insights instead of just profiles.

Learning about defense tech requires looking at a mix of national security analysts, venture capitalists investing in dual-use tech, defense journalists, and institutional think tanks. ### Venture Capitalists & Industry Insiders * **Trae Stephens:** Co-founder of Anduril Industries and partner at Founders Fund. He is one of the most prominent voices on modernizing the defense industrial base and building software-first hardware companies. * **Joe Lonsdale:** Partner at 8VC and co-founder of Palantir. He frequently writes and speaks about the intersection of national security, software, and government technology. * **Katherine Boyle:** General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), where she leads the "American Dynamism" practice, investing in aerospace, defense, and national resilience. Her essays and podcast appearances are masterclasses in the philosophy of defense tech investing. * **Raj Shah:** Managing Partner at Shield Capital and former director of DIU (Defense Innovation Unit). He bridges the gap between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon. ### Journalists & Substack Writers * **Noah Smith (Noahpinion):** While covering broad economics, he frequently writes deeply and accessibly about the state of American defense manufacturing, drones, and geopolitical tech competition. * **Brodie Logan & The Defensereporters:** Great for following day-to-day defense acquisition news, military procurement, and policy shifts. * **Ares Technica / Breaking Defense reporters:** Following specialized journalists at outlets like _Breaking Defense_ (like Valerie Insinna or Colin Demarest) provides granular updates on defense budgets, aerospace, and cyber tech. ### Think Tanks & Research Institutions * **Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS):** Look at experts like **Seth G. Jones** (Defense and Security Department) and **Tom Karako** (Missile Defense Project) for rigorous breakdowns of modern warfare, supply chains, and emerging tech. [Military Technology: Research & Analysis | CSIS](https://www.csis.org/topics/technology/military-technology#:~:text=Experts%20*%20Image.%20Seth%20G.%20Jones.%20President%2C,and%20Security%20Department.%20*%20Cynthia%20R.%20Cook.) * **Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD):** Excellent for tracking asymmetric threats, cyber warfare, and how tech intersects with foreign policy. * **Center for a New American Security (CNAS):** Particularly their defense programs focusing on artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and the future of military competition. ### Podcasts to Add to Your Queue * ** _The Convergence_ (by NSI):** Explores national security and technology trends. * **_ChinaTalk_ (by Jordan Schneider):** Essential for understanding how US-China tech competition, semiconductors, and military modernization intersect. * **_American Dynamism (a16z)_ :** Focuses heavily on founders building companies that safeguard national interests. Who or what specific area of defense tech - like autonomous drones, software/AI for the battlefield, or venture capital funding - are you most interested in exploring first?

To dive into defense technology, venture capital, and national security innovation, you need a mix of policy analysts, venture capitalists investing in dual-use tech, defense acquisition experts, and journalists. Here are the top newsletters, writers, and public figures to follow: Newsletters & Substacks (Deep Dives & Analysis) * * [Defense Tech and Acquisition](https://www.defensetechacquisition.com/recommendations) by Pete Modigliani – Essential reading for understanding government contracting, defense bureaucracy, and how to transition technology from prototype to production. [Substacks recommended by Defense Tech Jobs](https://www.defensetechjobs.com/recommendations)[Substacks recommended by Defense Tech and Acquisition](https://www.defensetechacquisition.com/recommendations) * [Building Our Future](https://www.defensetechjobs.com/recommendations) – Explores the intersections of defense, emerging technology, national policy, and private capital. [Defense Tech Jobs] * Crossing the Valley by Noah S. – Focuses heavily on the "valley of death" in defense procurement, offering case studies and pilot-to-production lessons for startups. [Defense Tech Jobs] * Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) – A non-profit initiative tracking long-term competitiveness regarding AI and national security. * Organizations & Think Tanks * * Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) – Chaired by Eric Schmidt, this group regularly publishes actionable briefs on artificial intelligence, autonomy, and US-global tech competition. * [Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)](https://www.diu.mil/) – The official branch of the U.S. Department of Defense working to field commercial technology at speed and scale. Following their announcements gives a direct view into what the military actually wants to buy. * [Center for a New American Security (CNAS)](https://www.cnas.org/) – A prominent think tank producing sharp reports on defense policy, unmanned systems, and emerging military technologies. * Venture Capitalists & Operators (X / Substack) * * * **_Trae Stephens_** (Founders Fund / Anduril) – One of the leading venture capitalists championing the resurgence of venture-backed defense tech and national security hardware. * * * **_Joe Lonsdale_** (8VC) – Frequently shares macro perspectives on rebuilding American industrial capacity, logistics, and defense software. * * * **_Palmer Luckey_** (Founder of Anduril Industries) – While an operator rather than a traditional commentator, following his public commentary provides raw insights into building hardware-heavy defense tech at scale. Would you prefer to focus more on the **investing and venture capital side** of defense tech, or do you want to learn more about **policy, procurement, and how the Pentagon buys tech**?