Hardware Podcasts

Rethinking Contested Logistics with Austin Gray, Co-Founder of Blue Water Autonomy

Tough Tech Vets · 6 Jan 2025 · 39m · Episode 3

What this episode covers

Austin Gray, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Blue Water Autonomy, discusses the company's development of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for contested logistics, drawing on his experience as a Navy Intelligence Officer and his time working in a drone factory in Ukraine. Gray argues that the US Navy needs a fleet of cheap, attritable vessels rather than relying solely on large, expensive ships, and highlights the critical need to improve the government feedback loop to accelerate the adoption of such technology by warfighters. He details the significant regulatory and operational hurdles of testing USVs in commercial harbors, such as Boston Harbor, and emphasizes that defense tech offers a rewarding career path for veterans who can leverage their unique credibility and understanding of national security needs.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Blue Water Autonomy, StarCube, DIU, SpaceX, Royal Caribbean, FedEx, Amazon, Flexport, Facebook, X, Uber Eats, New North Ventures
Also
Task Force 59, SoCon, Anderol

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