Boots-n-Bytes

Latest Episodes:

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 10 Jun 23, 2026

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LTC David Paddock and CW4 James Yantis look ahead at where AI is taking the Army, covering the two key trends shaping the force: the rise of agentic AI and the push to get AI capability down to the tactical edge. They discuss what it will take to make both work operationally and explore the emerging roles of operational data teams and the 49B MOS. The conversation tackles how commanders must think about risk as automation increases, why auditability is essential in AI-enabled systems, and how the Army needs to balance leveraging fast-moving commercial AI with the unique demands of the battlefield. A forward-looking episode for leaders at every level who want to understand what the Army's AI-enabled future actually requires.

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 9 Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

LTC David Paddock sits down with CW3 Victor Fernandez, a cyber defense expert and information system security manager at AI2C, to tackle the risks and vulnerabilities that come with integrating AI into Army organizations. They cover why most AI security concerns aren't new, how to use Army-authorized platforms safely, the dangers of hallucinations and prompt engineering pitfalls, and the key framework for managing AI risk. Whether you're a developer, a staff officer, or a unit leader, this episode gives you the practical security mindset you need before fielding AI in your formation.

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 8 Jun 23, 2026

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In Episode 8 of the Army AI Integration Center podcast, host Lieutenant Colonel David Paddock sits down with Captain Natalie McGrath to explore how AI can become a practical, tangible tool for soldiers and NCOs at the small unit level. They discuss AI-powered personalized training, digital twins to improve simulations and fault diagnosis, and how large language models can streamline the administrative burden of NCOERs, awards, and counseling statements. The conversation also covers computer vision applications for property inventories, risk management automation for field exercises, and AI-assisted marksmanship coaching, while emphasizing that AI is a decision-support tool, not a replacement for the judgment and leadership that commanders bring to their formations.

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 7 May 19, 2026

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Working as a Team: In this episode, host Lt. Col. David Paddock sits down with Capt. Brian Curtin, an Apache pilot, Carnegie Mellon AI scholar, and current AI2C researcher to explore what it really means to put a human in the loop. They discuss why AI systems need human judgment for ethical grounding and contextual reasoning, how military leaders can build trust in AI tools without falling into automation bias, and what it looks like to design training that prepares soldiers to use AI as an assistant not a decision maker. From the cockpit to the command post, this conversation bridges the gap between operational experience and cutting-edge AI science.

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 5 May 19, 2026

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In this episode of the Army AI Integration Center Podcast, Lt. Col. David Paddock sits down with CW3 James Hamilton to unpack what it really takes to prepare a military organization for AI adoption. They dive deep into data hygiene and governance and explore how legacy Army structures need to adapt their data pipelines to support modern machine learning workflows. The conversation also tackles the critical security challenges unique to AI, from prompt injection attacks to the discipline required at every level of an organization to keep data trustworthy and systems secure. Hamilton and Paddock discuss how commanders can build trust in AI tools by starting with low-risk, high-reward use cases, and why failing fast is actually part of the process.

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 6 May 19, 2026

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What does it take to build a functioning AI team in the Army? Lt. Col. David Paddock talks with Capt. Bryce Wilkins, an AI Scholar Program graduate and ORSA at the Center for Army Analysis, about the key roles on an Army AI team, the unique challenges of working with data in classified environments, and what separates military AI work from the civilian sector. They also dig into talent retention and why the things that keep soldiers in uniform apply just as much to AI specialists.

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 4 May 19, 2026

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In Episode 4, Lt. Col. Paddock is joined by Command Sergeant Major Harold Sampson, a 26-year intelligence professional, to tackle the uncomfortable truth behind a striking statistic: 95% of corporate AI projects fail to deliver measurable value. The episode introduces a powerful mental model: AI transformation is 10% technology, 20% data, and 70% change management, and most organizations get it backwards. Through real-world examples from the field, CSM Sampson explains how overlaying AI on broken processes only accelerates dysfunction, and why "thawing the frozen middle" of an organization is often the hardest and most critical leadership challenge. Leaders are urged to conduct honest readiness assessments, take deliberate and incremental steps, communicate the vision clearly to their workforce, and plan for the full cost.

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 3 May 19, 2026

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Episode 3 brings Capt. Adam Patula onto the podcast to answer the question every Army leader needs to be asking: why does AI matter right now, and what changes if we don't act? The answer centers on speed. The modern battlefield is already operating at machine speed, and adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are actively developing AI-enabled capabilities across targeting, cyber, and autonomous systems. The episode explores how AI-driven pattern recognition is already transforming targeting cycles, logistics, predictive maintenance, and training simulations. Rather than replacing the human element, AI functions as a collaborative partner that amplifies institutional expertise and frees leaders to focus on critical thinking.

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 2 May 19, 2026

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In Episode 2, Lt. Col. David Paddock is joined by Capt. Adam Knapp to pull back the curtain on how large language models function; from the raw data they're trained on, to the reward mechanisms that shape their behavior, to the inference stage where they generate responses. The episode breaks down four key capabilities that make modern LLMs so powerful: system prompts, chain-of-thought reasoning, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and tool access. Hallucinations, reward hacking, and training biases are addressed honestly, along with practical guidance on how to use these tools with appropriate skepticism.

Boots-n-Bytes - AI for the Modern Warfighter - Ep. 1 May 15, 2026

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In the debut episode of the Army AI Integration Center Podcast, Lt. Col. David Paddock sits down with Capt. Thomas Canchola to cut through the hype and establish a clear foundation for what artificial intelligence actually is. At its core, AI is statistics performed at scale: pattern recognition applied to massive datasets, not magic, and certainly not science fiction. The conversation covers the critical differences between AI tools and why applying the wrong tool to the wrong problem leads to failure. Hallucinations, training data limitations, and the importance of human-in-the-loop decision making are unpacked in plain language.

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