Webinar: SVDG Talks APFIT: “Accelerating the Procurement & Fielding of Innovative Technologies”

Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) is a pilot program, launched in Fiscal Year 2022, to provide procurement funding for innovative projects that have completed development and are ready to transition into operational use. Funding amounts between $10M-$50M are awarded to projects with small business or non-traditional performers - in coordination with a Service, Combatant Command, Defense Agency, or other organization customer - to accelerate initial production and reduce the overall procurement timeline. 

In its 3rd year of execution, with a budget that has nearly doubled year over year since inception, APFIT is a critically important program, and signal, from DoD's Office of the Under Secretary of Research and Engineering.  In this webinar, SVDG welcomed the Assistant Secretary of Defense who oversees the APFIT program, the former National Security Advisor to the Chairman of the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, who conceived of and has championed and secured initial funding for the program, the Chief of Staff and Head of Investor Relations at Shield AI, a VC-backed defense startup and APFIT awardee, and the CTO of Microsoft's Strategic Missions and Technology practice, to discuss the program in concept and execution; the evolution of the awards process and industry participants; how the Department and Congress measure the success of the program; and what lessons learned we can leverage to scale the desired outcomes for the program over time.

Panelists included:

• Mr. Thomas 'Shotgun' Browning, ASD Mission Capabilities (PTDO), DoD

• Ms. Biz Peabody, Chief of Staff and Head of Investor Relations, Shield AI

• Mr. Mike MacKay, CEO/Founder, Monument Strategy & Solutions, Former NSA, Rep. Ken Calvert

• Dr. William Chappell, CTO, Strategic Missions & Technology, Microsoft