Insider Brief
- HELM Innovations founder Steve Hoffman discussed the need for the U.S. Department of War to prepare for quantum technology and improve the transition of emerging technologies into military capabilities.
- Hoffman argued that DoW should combine warfighter requirements with exposure to emerging technologies through prototyping, experimentation and early operator feedback.
- The discussion also highlighted the U.S.-UK Quantum Security Forum, which HELM Innovations is sponsoring to bring government, defense, industry and investment leaders together around quantum technology and security.
PRESS RELEASE — HELM Innovations Highlights Urgency of Operationalizing Quantum Technology in Fed Gov Today Interview
Founder and President Steve Hoffman discusses how DoW can better connect emerging technology with warfighter needs, experimentation and operational transition
HELM Innovations, LLC Founder and President Steve Hoffman joined Francis Rose on Fed Gov Today to discuss why the Department of War must begin preparing now for the disruptive potential of quantum technology—and how the Pentagon can improve the broader process of moving emerging technologies from promising concepts to operational capabilities.
The September 2 interview, “Why the Pentagon Can’t Afford to Wait for Quantum,” examines a challenge extending well beyond quantum: how DoW can more effectively connect warfighter needs, emerging technologies, commercial industry, private capital, rapid prototyping and experimentation to accelerate technology transition.
“Quantum represents the kind of disruptive technology we cannot afford to approach reactively,” Hoffman said. “Its full military impact is still emerging, but the time to connect technologists, operators, industry and investors—and begin identifying where quantum can create operational advantage—is now.”
During the interview, Hoffman describes the need for a more connected defense innovation ecosystem that can move promising technologies through a deliberate but accelerated path: understanding operational problems, identifying emerging solutions, prototyping rapidly, putting capabilities into the hands of warfighters, experimenting in realistic environments and transitioning successful technologies into programs that can scale.
A key element of that approach is balancing requirements pull with technology push.
Traditional defense innovation often begins with an identified warfighter requirement. But truly disruptive technologies can create capabilities users may not yet know are possible—and therefore cannot be expected to request.
Hoffman points to the iPhone, ChatGPT and Starlink as examples of technologies whose applications and impact became far clearer once users could experience what the technology enabled.
“Sometimes innovation starts with a clearly defined operational problem,” Hoffman said. “Other times, we need to put emerging capabilities in front of operators and let them help us discover the mission applications. DoW needs to be able to do both.”
That philosophy is central to HELM Innovations’ work connecting emerging technologies with warfighter needs, experimentation and operational transition.
HELM is also a sponsor of Phase Meridian’s inaugural U.S.-UK Quantum Security Forum, taking place September 22 at the U.S. Naval Academy. Organized by Gib Armstrong and Phase Meridian, the invite-only forum brings together leaders from the United States and United Kingdom across government, defense, industry and investment to focus on moving quantum technologies toward operational readiness, commercialization and allied interoperability.
“The U.S.-UK Quantum Security Forum is exactly the kind of engagement we need,” Hoffman said. “Gib Armstrong and Phase Meridian are bringing the right communities together before quantum reaches full maturity—creating the relationships and conversations that can help turn scientific advancement into national security capability.”
The forum reflects a central point of Hoffman’s Fed Gov Today interview: the United States cannot wait for disruptive technologies to mature before determining how they fit into future military operations.
The challenge is particularly important as the pace of commercial innovation increasingly outstrips traditional government technology-development cycles. Hoffman argues that government, established defense companies, emerging technology firms and private investors all have roles to play in shortening the distance between innovation and operational use.
That includes creating opportunities for early warfighter feedback, reducing barriers between prototyping and acquisition, and developing financing approaches that allow companies to invest in new capabilities before traditional demand signals are fully established.
“Technology transition is ultimately about getting useful capability into the hands of the warfighter,” Hoffman said. “If we can connect operational problems, emerging technology, experimentation, industry and capital more effectively, we can move faster—and be better positioned when the next disruptive technology arrives.”
Watch or listen to the full interview: Why the Pentagon Can’t Afford to Wait for Quantum
