Running Through Walls

Beyond the Battlefield Deep Dive with Navy CTO Justin Fanelli

In this episode, Morgan Hitzig interviews Navy Chief Technology Officer Justin Fanelli to unpack the findings of the first annual Beyond the Battlefield survey, which examines how to accelerate the transfer of private‑sector technology to the warfighter. Fanelli explains the Navy’s current acquisition bottlenecks, the role of rapid prototyping, and emerging partnerships with commercial innovators. He highlights specific technologies—such as AI‑driven analytics, autonomous systems, and advanced communications—that are poised to reshape naval operations. The conversation underscores the strategic shift toward a more agile, demand‑driven procurement model that puts warfighter needs at the forefront.