HSDF THE PODCAST

Welcome to “HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum
 Borders aren’t just lines on a map—they’re living systems shaped by authorities, partnerships, and the ability to outpace adversaries who adapt fast. We bring together decades of military and law enforcement leadership to unpack what actually determines success: the legal frameworks that govern National Guard and active-duty roles, the intelligence architecture that connects U.S. agencies with Mexican counterparts, and the upstream moves that expose tunnels, stash sites, and convoy routes before they reach the fence.
 Featuring:
MG (Ret.) John F. King, U.S. Army
Chief (Ret.) Manny Padilla, Former CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner
General Laura Richardson, U.S. Army (Retired) (moderator)
 This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium
Follow HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security. Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion. For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

Welcome to “HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum
 Speed decides who stays safe. We pull back the curtain on how America can out-iterate fast-moving threats at the border and beyond, connecting acquisition reform, AI-first systems, and operator needs to real-world outcomes. From the National Defense Authorization Act to the Safer Skies authority push, we lay out how procurement must shift from slow “programs of record” to agile “characteristics of need” that deliver capability when it matters.
 Featuring:
MG (Ret.) John F. King, U.S. Army
Chief (Ret.) Manny Padilla, Former CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner
General Laura Richardson, U.S. Army (Retired) (moderator)
 This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium
Follow HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security. Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion. For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

Welcome to “HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum
 Our panel unpack the two levers that change everything: faster acquisition and specialized training. Gear that works in rugged border terrain must be ready for stadium perimeters and complex RF environments, and it has to arrive without emptying existing deployments. With only a few DHS components holding mitigation authority, we dig into why legislative fixes and interagency partnerships matter, and how a finite workforce can be stretched across 11 event cities through standardized playbooks and interoperable command-and-control.
 Featuring:
Matt Becker, Vice President and Division Manager, Leidos 
Erik Sorensen, Assistant Chief, Defense Capability Group/C-UAS Operations Coordinator, U.S. Border Patrol
James “JT” Thom, Executive Director, Domain Awareness Security Operations, Air and Marine Operations, CBP 
David Aguilar, Former CBP Acting and Deputy Commissioner and former Chief of Border Patrol (moderator)
 This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium
Follow HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security. Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion. For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

Welcome to “HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum
 The threat isn’t arriving someday; it’s already overhead. We pull back the curtain on how cartels are adapting small UAS tactics, what we’re seeing at the border in real time, and why chasing point solutions is a losing game. Instead of a brittle “counter-drone” wall, we’re building an air domain awareness fabric that starts with detect, track, and identify, then applies the right mitigation for the place and moment.
  Featuring:
Matt Becker, Vice President and Division Manager, Leidos 
Erik Sorensen, Assistant Chief, Defense Capability Group/C-UAS Operations Coordinator, U.S. Border Patrol
James “JT” Thom, Executive Director, Domain Awareness Security Operations, Air and Marine Operations, CBP 
David Aguilar, Former CBP Acting and Deputy Commissioner and former Chief of Border Patrol (moderator)
 This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium
Follow HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security. Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion. For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

Welcome to “HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum
 From 10,800 apprehensions to record lows a few months later - Deputy Chief Slosar walks through the policies that shape the flow, tech that expands domain awareness, and people who deliver law enforcement outcomes where it counts. It’s a frank, ground-level look at what “control” means today and why it remains fragile without resilient comms and interoperable intelligence at the edge.
 Featuring:
Deputy Chief Walter Slosar, U.S. Border Patrol
David Aguilar, Former CBP Acting and Deputy Commissioner and former Chief of Border Patrol (moderator)
 This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium
Follow HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security. Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion. For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.