This episode of Building the Base features an interview with Thomas Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of Domino Data Lab, who has an interesting background in finance and a strong passion for contributing to national security. Hosted by Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts, the conversation dives into Thomas’s transition from a hedge fund to defense tech, and how his background has informed his leadership in AI and data science. Thomas credits his recent swell of patriotism to a desire to build the best possible future for his 17 month old twins.

Five key takeaways from this episode:

1. Domino Data Lab's success began in the commercial sector, and has since expanded to defense. In areas like mine detection using unmanned underwater vehicles, their technology has helped reduce model deployment times from 6 months to 2 weeks.
2. Thomas challenges the myth that DoD is slow, saying that some DoD projects can be faster than commercial ones, especially when working with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), citing the successful Project Ammo for the Navy.
3. “AI primes” bring not just systems integration skills, but also deep knowledge of data science and AI.
4. While policy is important, the real concern for defense is trust in AI models. Thomas advocates for public-private partnerships to develop sensible regulations based on the impact of AI systems.
5. For entrepreneurs and startups looking to break into defense tech, Thomas advises doing thorough research and preparing for the “valley of death.” Founders should plan for long-term cycles (3+ years), understand the realities of defense procurement, and be prepared to educate investors and boards about the unique challenges.