The U.S. Military Is Fighting Smart, But Are We Safe?
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About this Episode
Preston Dunlap served as the first Chief Technology Officer of the U.S. Space Force and Chief Architect of the U.S. Air Force, where he deployed $750B+ annually for the Secretary of Defense and started $250B+ of new products. Inspired by his 105-year-old WWII veteran grandfather, Preston left a tech entrepreneurship career to serve in the Department of Defense, then founded Arkenstone Capital to invest in industrial technology companies.
Preston discusses what it means to 'defy gravity' in business and national security, how he co-invested $1B annually of government capital alongside private capital, and why deep domain expertise matters more than ever in an overheated aerospace and defense market.
About Preston Dunlap
Preston Dunlap
Founder & Managing Partner, Arkenstone Capital
Preston Dunlap is a builder at the intersection of technology, national security, and venture capital. Before founding Arkenstone Capital, he served as the first CTO of the U.S. Space Force and Chief Architect of the U.S. Air Force, overseeing $75B annually in air and space programs. His career spans tech entrepreneurship, Pentagon leadership (including $750B+ annual deployment and $250B+ in new product starts), and now venture investing in industrial technology companies. Inspired by his 105-year-old WWII veteran grandfather, Preston's mission is to create the greatest value for the most people at scale while securing national interests.
More Videos of Preston Dunlap
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SmallSat Symposium 2026: SDA, Amazon, and DARPA Leaders Convene in Silicon Valley
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