Capt. Fred McLaren, PhD, USN Ret., author of “Silent and Unseen” and the former president of the American Polar Society, discusses the early years of the US Nuclear Submarine Force, his book “Unknown Waters,” the resurgence of great-power competition and much more in a wide-ranging interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the 2018 AFCEA/USNI WEST conference and trade show in San Diego. Our coverage was sponsored by Leonardo DRS.

Iain McKinnie, PhD, business development lead for laser and sensor systems at Lockheed Martin, and Tim Fouts, senior capture manager for the company’s High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-dazzler with Surveillance (or HELIOS) system contract with the US Navy, discuss how the company secured the $150 million contract six months ahead of schedule, the weapon system’s capabilities and mission role, overcoming atmospheric challenges, and more during a February 2018 interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the AFCEA International/US Naval Institute WEST 2018 conference in San Diego. Our coverage was sponsored by Leonardo DRS.

Mike Petters, president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries, discusses driving shipbuilding innovation, speed and affordability, cybersecurity, lessons learned from building the USS America (LHA 6) amphibious assault ship for the US Navy and more during a Feb. 8, 2018, interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the AFCEA International/US Naval Institute WEST 2018 conference in San Diego. Our coverage was sponsored by Leonardo DRS.

Lt. Gen. Robert “Whaler” Walsh, USMC, commander of the US Marine Corps Combat Development Command, discusses how he’s teaching Marines about and preparing them for the kind of great-power competition emphasized by the Pentagon’s National Defense Strategy, distributed operations, with the US Navy, warfighting research and more during an interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the AFCEA International/US Naval Institute WEST 2018 conference in San Diego. Our coverage was sponsored by Leonardo DRS.

Capt. Sam Tangredi, PhD, USN Ret., a US Naval War College professor, discusses the importance of deterring China, how the US can use A2AD to gain strategic control in the South China Sea, aircraft carriers’ significance to the US Navy and more during a February 2018 interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the AFCEA International/USNI WEST 2018 conference in San Diego. Our coverage was sponsored by Leonardo DRS.

After his keynote speech stressing cybersecurity’s urgency in the defense industry, Patrick Shanahan, deputy defense secretary, told reporters that the US Department of Defense must have zero tolerance for cyber insecurity and irreponsibility, expressed confidence “that the Pentagon can move as quickly as industry,” discussed keys to driving change in DoD, and more during a Feb. 6, 2018, press gaggle at the AFCEA International/USNI WEST 2018 conference in San Diego. Our coverage is sponsored by Leonardo DRS.

David Wennergren, a managing director at Deloitte Consulting and former member of the senior executive service, discusses leadership lessons learned from Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan’s keynote at AFCEA/USNI’s WEST 2018 conference, incentivizing cultural change in the defense industry, and more during a February 2018 interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian in San Diego. Our coverage was sponsored by Leonardo DRS.

Patrick Shanahan, deputy defense secretary, says the US Department of Defense must insist on cyber hygiene as much as security clearances, says the Pentagon will advocate for improving foreign military sales, and discusses other goals for DoD and industry drawn from the National Defense Strategy during a Feb. 6, 2018, keynote address at the AFCEA International/USNI WEST 2018 Conference in San Diego.

Col. James “Hondo” Geurts, USAF Ret., assistant secretary of the US Navy for research, development and acquisition, discusses how digital ship modeling and technology refinement (and, if necessary, replacement) can help speed “megaprojects,” the service’s DDG Flight III contract, small business collaboration and more during a press gaggle following his speech at the AFCEA International/USNI WEST 2018 Conference in San Diego.

Col. James “Hondo” Geurts, USAF Ret., assistant secretary of the US Navy for research, development and acquisition, discusses how the service sped its MQ-25 Stingray, Standard Missile-6, C4ISR and Long Range Anti-Ship Missile programs, learning from SOFWERX, shipbuilding strategy, priorities and innovation, and the White House’s FY19 defense budget request during a Feb. 8, 2018, interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian at the AFCEA International/US Naval Institute WEST 2018 conference in San Diego. Watch Geurts’ full interview with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian here, and check out video of the press gaggle that followed his speech here.