The U.S. government should allocate a small percentage of its budget to products built in America that have been proven effective in the field.

The future of America hinges on the ability to create a government that is responsive and effective, which requires a commitment to institutional reform.

As taxpayers, veterans, and founders, we should want a competitive environment in defense contracting to address challenges faster and effectively.

Instead of building capabilities from scratch, we should leverage existing software that is already proven and deployed in the commercial sector.

The key to improving procurement in the Department of Defense is having senior officials who are experienced in software development, which can lead to better product evaluations and streamlined processes.

The current defense procurement system is overly complex and needs to be simplified to allow for more effective and timely innovation.

The current administration presents a unique opportunity to rethink defense procurement, moving away from traditional methods to a more innovative, venture-first approach.

We need to focus on the total cost of ownership and the mission impact of new technologies to ensure they benefit those protecting us.

Government partners are increasingly recognizing that the iterative process of developing technology is a feature, not a bug, and that it leads to better outcomes than traditional funding models.