Why the Space Force Needs a 'Tony Stark Acquisition Model'The Pentagon takes years to build what China develops in months. But what if the problem isn't the technology: it's the system itself?Colonel Eric Felt (ret.) spent his career inside the machine—leading the Air Force Research Lab Space Vehicles Directorate and shaping Space Force acquisition at the Pentagon. Now he's breaking down exactly where defense innovation breaks, and how to fix it.In this conversation, we cover:

• The "Valley of Death" and why it's actually a GOOD thing

• The "Tony Stark Acquisition Model" and how it works

• Supply chain vulnerabilities in space systems
• How to bridge research labs and battlefield faster
• PPBE budget reform and acquisition workarounds (OTAs, BTRs, quick-start authorities)
• The Replicator initiative for proliferated LEO satellites
• Golden Dome missile defense and what it really means
• Why peacetime makes us complacent and vulnerable
• Commercial space partnerships that actually work (Starlink case study)
• How to sell technology to the DoD (insights from someone who bought it).Whether you're building space tech, working in defense, investing in dual-use technology, or just want to understand how America can move faster in great power competition...this is essential viewing.The Cold Star Project - Season 4, Episode 24Hosted, Directed, and Produced by Jason Kanigan“The real conversations behind the new space economy, defense tech, and policy—straight from the insiders building it.”Previous Interviews with Col. Felt: • Eric Felt on the Cold Star Project Jason's latest Space industry book, for space startup founders - "The Evolution of Space Ownership": https://coldstartech.com/evospaceFair Use Disclaimer: https://coldstarproject.com/fairuseRemuneration DisclaimerWe were not remunerated by the guest or their organization if any for this discussion. This show is for educational/commentary and entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be what is termed "professional advice".The Cold Star Project is sponsored in partnership by Cold Star Technologies and the Operational Excellence Society. Jason Kanigan is a member of the OpEx Society board of advisors.

Space Force: 4 Things YOU Need to KNOW About the Future of Warfare - Interview with Joel Mozer

In this revealing interview with Dr. Joel Mozer, retired Chief Scientist of the US Air Force and Space Force, discover insights reshaping America's Space Force and warfighting strategies. Based on a three-year study, Dr. Mozer reveals why space has hit a critical "tipping point", transforming from government-controlled frontier into the ultimate battleground where commercial companies, military forces, and national powers collide. This strategic reality is driving Pentagon decisions right now.

Learn how the Space Force's dual mandate revolutionizes military strategy, why commercial space partnerships are America's secret weapon, and what capabilities the US must develop to maintain space supremacy. Dr. Mozer breaks down four critical observations from the multi-author official "Beyond the Tipping Point" report about warfare's future, revealing how space operations connect to every Earth mission.

The Cold Star Project - Season 4, Episode 22Hosted, Directed, and Produced by Jason Kanigan

“The real conversations behind the new space economy, defense tech, and policy—straight from the insiders building it.”

PDF Report, "Beyond the Tipping Point:Space Strategic Foresight Implications forNational and United States Space Force (USSF)", Google Drive link:https://coldstarproject.com/mozerreportDr. Mozer's LinkedIn Profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-mozer-391a0058/Remuneration Disclaimer:

We were not remunerated in any way by the guest or their organization if any for this discussion. This show is for educational/commentary and entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be what is termed "professional advice".

The Cold Star Project is sponsored in partnership by Cold Star Technologies and the Operational Excellence Society. Jason Kanigan is a member of the board of advisors of the OpEx Society.

Cold Star Technologies website: https://www.coldstartech.com

Operational Excellence Society website: https://www.opexsociety.org

About Jason Kanigan: https://jasonkanigan.com

NASA's BIGGEST Moon Challenges for University Students - Interview with Paul van SusanteHow do we generate power on the Moon — and keep it running through the harsh 14-day lunar night? In this episode of the Cold Star Project, Dr. Paul van Susante of Michigan Tech shares what it really takes to make lunar infrastructure a reality.

From lunar robotics to the NASA Watts on the Moon Challenge, Dr. van Susante’s team of students is solving real-world problems that will shape the future of Moon missions and deep space exploration. We share the experiences of his students participating in NASA challenges on regolith handling, power transmission, thermal issues, and what it means to build infrastructure where no one’s done it before.

🔧 Topics Covered:

• How to power lunar bases through extreme conditions
• Why the NASA Watts on the Moon Challenge matters — and how student teams are pushing lunar tech forward
• Robotic design for dusty, low-gravity environments
• What students are building today to support future Moon missions

• The future of off-world civil engineering.

🎓 Guest: Dr. Paul van Susante – Professor at Michigan Technological University and Principal Investigator of the Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab (a.k.a. HuskyWorks).

This episode is brought to you by Cold Star Technologies and our Internal Business Intelligence™ initiative — helping space and defense founders gain clarity and control. Learn more at 👉 https://coldstartech.com/ibi

The Cold Star Project - Season 5, Episode 8

Hosted, Directed, and Produced by Jason Kanigan

“The real conversations behind the new space economy, defense tech, and policy—straight from the insiders building it.”

Further resources:

https://www.youtube.com/@NASAsBreakTheIceLunarChallenge

NASA Break the Ice Lunar Challenge website

https://breaktheicechallenge.com/NASA

Lunabotics competition (student competition) webpage

https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/lunabotics-challenge/

Fair Use Disclaimer: This video may contain copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available for purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.

​In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this video for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Credits & Attributions:

1. "[4K, 60 fps] Apollo 16 Lunar Rover 'Grand Prix' (1972 April 21, Moon)" — Film enhanced by Denis Shiryaev

Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az9nFrnCK60

2. "Side view of the crater Moltke" — Photo taken during Apollo 10 by NASA

Public domain. NASA Apollo Archive, Image AS10-29-4324

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4691773.

All student and competition photos provided by Paul van Susante.

Remuneration Disclaimer: We were not remunerated in any way by the guest or their organization if any for this discussion. This show is for educational/commentary and entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be what is termed "professional advice".

The Cold Star Project is sponsored in partnership by Cold Star Technologies and the Operational Excellence Society. Jason Kanigan is a member of the board of advisors of the OpEx Society.

Jason's latest Space industry book, The Evolution of Space Entrepreneurship:

https://coldstartech.com/evospace

Cold Star Technologies website:

https://www.coldstartech.com

Operational Excellence Society website:

https://www.opexsociety.org

About Jason Kanigan:

https://jasonkanigan.com

WWII Innovation Machine: Freedom's Forge and the Arsenal of Democracy - Interview with Bill Conley

How did America transform from a peacetime economy to the "arsenal of democracy" before entering WWII? In this compelling interview, Dr. Bill Conley—former Director of Electronic Warfare at DARPA and current CTO at Mercury Systems—delves into the insights from Freedom's Forge by Arthur Herman. The book chronicles how industrial leaders like William Knudsen and Henry Kaiser revolutionized U.S. defense production.​

🔍 Key Discussion Points:

• William Knudsen's Leadership: How the former GM executive spearheaded wartime production efforts.
• Public-Private Collaboration: The synergy between government directives and industrial execution.
• Modern Parallels: Applying WWII strategies to today's defense challenges, including electronic warfare and supply chain resilience.
• Policy Implications: The impact of initiatives like the CHIPS Act and AUKUS on current defense manufacturing.​

Dr. Conley brings a unique perspective, bridging historical strategies with contemporary defense needs. His experience at DARPA and Mercury Systems offers valuable insights into how past successes can inform future innovations.

📘 About Freedom's Forge: Arthur Herman's Freedom's Forge highlights the pivotal role of American industry in WWII, emphasizing the importance of leadership, innovation, and collaboration in overcoming monumental challenges.

The Cold Star Project - Season 4, Episode 21Hosted, Directed, and Produced by Jason Kanigan

Fair Use Disclaimer: This video may contain copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available for purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.​In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this video for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Remuneration Disclaimer: We were not remunerated in any way by the guest or their organization if any for this discussion. This show is for educational/commentary and entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be what is termed "professional advice".

The Cold Star Project is sponsored in partnership by Cold Star Technologies and the Operational Excellence Society. Jason Kanigan is a member of the board of advisors of the OpEx Society.

Cold Star Technologies website: https://www.coldstartech.com

Operational Excellence Society website: https://www.opexsociety.org

About Jason Kanigan: https://jasonkanigan.com

"Supercharging the DEFENSE Innovation Game for an Unrivaled Advantage!"

with guest Mike Brown

The Cold Star Project - Season 4, Episode 20

Hosted, Directed, and Produced by Jason Kanigan

War On the Rocks article:

https://warontherocks.com/2023/09/revisiting-the-hedge-strategy-with-renewed-urgency/

Fast Follower Strategy paper:

https://coldstarproject.com/fastfollower

This video contains clips from the following copyrighted works used under Fair Use for commentary/criticism purposes:

The Final Countdown (1980) - © United Artists / MGM

The Color of Money (1986) - © Touchstone Pictures / Walt Disney Studios

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) - © Paramount Pictures

Modern Marvels DVD - © A&E Networks / History Channel

Cold War (CNN Documentary Series) - © CNN Productions

THAAD Missile Defense: How it Works - © Fox Business Network/Fox Corporation

Raytheon's Ballistic Missile Defense Systems Provide Layered Defense Around the World - © Raytheon Technologies (RTX)

All copyrighted content remains the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Music: "Per Kiilstofte - Dystopia" / perkiilstofte Royalty Free Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://bit.ly/dystopia-song

This show is for educational/commentary and entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be what is termed "professional advice".

The Cold Star Project is sponsored in partnership by Cold Star Technologies and the Operational Excellence Society. Jason Kanigan is a member of the board of advisors of the OpEx Society.

Cold Star Technologies website: https://www.coldstartech.com

Operational Excellence Society website: https://www.opexsociety.org

About Jason Kanigan: https://jasonkanigan.com

"Meet the MASTERMINDS Behind 2025's Most Epic Space Piracy Book!"

With guests Marc Feldman and Hugh Taylor

The Cold Star Project - Season 3, Episode 23

Hosted, Directed, and Produced by Jason Kanigan

The Book: Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit published by John Wiley & Sons, 2025

https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Space+Pir...

Get the book on Amazon (non-affiliate link):https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394240201

This video contains clips from the following copyrighted works used under Fair Use for commentary/criticism purposes:

Moonraker (1979) - © Eon Productions/United Artists/Danjaq, LLC

Captain Phillips (2013) - © Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Entertainment

Space Rangers (1993) - © Paramount Television

Taboo (2017) - © Scott Free Productions/Hardy Son & Baker/FX Productions/BBC One

The Mandalorian (2019) - © Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney+

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) - © Paramount Pictures

Aliens (1986) - © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

All copyrighted content remains the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

This show is for educational/commentary and entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be what is termed "professional advice".

Visual elements present in the original YouTube show version of this episode are unavailable in this format. We make this audio-only version available as a courtesy, and recommend you watch the original on YouTube for the full experience.Spaceship interior console images designed by Freepik.

The Cold Star Project is sponsored in partnership by Cold Star Technologies and the Operational Excellence Society. Jason Kanigan is a member of the board of advisors of the OpEx Society.

Cold Star Technologies website:https://www.coldstartech.com

Operational Excellence Society website:https://www.opexsociety.org

About Jason Kanigan:https://jasonkanigan.com

Past Defense Innovation Unit Director, visiting Scholar at Stanford, former large tech company CEO, and current venture capitalist Mike Brown is this interview guest on the Cold Star Project. Host Jason Kanigan asks Mike about the role of commercial technology in Great Power competition. We discuss:

• what "commercial technology" is (not just silicon chips)

• the organizing principle of commercial tech development for great powers, and whether there is a difference in war or peacetime
• what national leaders frequently fail to focus on that punishes the nation
• what the focus of tech dev in peacetime is, and whether the speed of that development matters when war begins
• the shocking truth about the defense industrial base and the tiny number of companies funded by Pentagon spending (6 vendors receive 2/3 of all Pentagon procurement spending)
• infiltration of US commercial tech dev by foreign powers through venture investment, and just how meaningful this is
• the question Peter Zeihan poses about the breakdown of the global supply chain, and whether we in the US ought to be concerned.

USEFUL LINKS:

Mike Brown's 2017 DIUx Report:

https://www.k-state.edu/research/faculty/other-resources/facility-security-office/documents/diux-study.pdf

Secret History of Silicon Valley slides download from my Google Drive:

https://coldstartech.com/steveblank

Innovating Victory: Naval Technology in Three Wars by O'Hara and Heinz:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1682477320/

OpEx Society:

https://www.opexsociety.org

Talk to Cold Star:

https://coldstartech.com/talktous