HSDF THE PODCAST

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Law Enforcement and Military Coordination for Border Operations Part 1 Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

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

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Law Enforcement and Military Coordination for Border Operations Part 2 Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

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

Counter-UAS in Action: Protecting U.S. Borders from Unmanned Threats Part 1 Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

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

Counter-UAS in Action: Protecting U.S. Borders from Unmanned Threats Part 2 Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

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

The State of U.S. Border Patrol with Deputy Chief Slosar Feb 17, 2026

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HSDF would love to hear from you!

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

Innovation in a Dynamic Trade Environment: CBP’s Trade Enforcement Mission Part 1 Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

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

Trade just got harder, faster, and far more granular—and we’re on the hook to make it work at the border. With a surge of White House trade actions and hundreds of new tariff lines, the old duty math has evolved into a puzzle of components, end uses, and origin rules that demand proof down to where raw materials were pulled from the ground. We walk through how our teams turn policy into action, adjusting systems, issuing guidance, and enforcing at ports while keeping legitimate commerce moving at the speed of electrons.

Featuring:

Brandon Lord, Executive Director, Office of Trade Policy & Programs, CBP
Eric Choy, Executive Director, Trade Remedy Law Enforcement, Office of Trade, CBP
C. Shane Campbell, Executive Director (Acting), Cargo and Conveyance Security, Office of Field Operations, CBP
Brenda Smith, Former EAC for Trade, CBP (moderator)

This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium

Innovation in a Dynamic Trade Environment: CBP’s Trade Enforcement Mission Part 2 Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

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

Goods don’t talk, but the data around them does—and that’s where the real border work begins. We take you inside how Customs and Border Protection secures modern commerce by pairing AI with seasoned human judgment to spot risky shipments, speed trusted trade, and protect consumers and industries from harm.

Featuring:

Brandon Lord, Executive Director, Office of Trade Policy & Programs, CBP
Eric Choy, Executive Director, Trade Remedy Law Enforcement, Office of Trade, CBP
C. Shane Campbell, Executive Director (Acting), Cargo and Conveyance Security, Office of Field Operations, CBP
Brenda Smith, Former EAC for Trade, CBP (moderator)

This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium

Enabling the Frontline: Acquisition, Enterprise Support, and Operational Needs Part 1 Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

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

Billions in new funding can change an agency—or break it. We sit down with CBP leaders to unpack how a seismic investment is being translated into real capabilities for the frontline: smarter hiring, better facilities, modern vehicles, and a data-centric approach to NII and biometrics that cuts friction while sharpening risk decisions.

Featuring:

Ntina Cooper, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services, CBP
Jody Hardin, Executive Director, Innovation and Strategy Directorate, Office of Field Operations, CBP
Earl Lewis, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of Acquisition, CBP
Ryan Scudder, Former EAC for Enterprise Services, CBP (moderator)

This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium

Enabling the Frontline: Acquisition, Enterprise Support, and Operational Needs Part 2 Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

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

What does it take to bring biometrics, non intrusive inspection tech, and AI to 328 ports of entry, hundreds of facilities, and far flung checkpoints you don’t even own? We pull back the curtain on modernization that works in the field, not just on slides, and share how we balance speed, safety, and accountability when the mission changes by the hour.

Featuring:

Ntina Cooper, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services, CBP
Jody Hardin, Executive Director, Innovation and Strategy Directorate, Office of Field Operations, CBP
Earl Lewis, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of Acquisition, CBP
Ryan Scudder, Former EAC for Enterprise Services, CBP (moderator)

This discussion took place December 12, 2025 at 8th Annual Homeland Security & Defense Forum Border Security Symposium

State of the Border Update with CBP Deputy Commissioner Modlin Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

HSDF would love to hear from you!

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
CBP Deputy Commissioner Modlin unpacks a rare moment of control at the border—and the ripple effects that follow. The conversation moves from raw field stats to strategic shifts, tracing how unprecedented removals, tighter international cooperation, and targeted network takedowns have reshaped the fight against cartels and transnational crime.
Featuring:
•John Modlin, Acting Deputy Commissioner, 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

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