EP 1 — Micro-Ant's Charles McCarrick on Innovation and Opportunity in the DIB

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new podcast, DIB Innovators. This show is more than just a series of conversations; it's a celebration of the brilliant minds driving innovation within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). 

Hosted by Dave Graff, my fellow Co-Founder of RADICL, each episode of DIB Innovators delves deep into the journeys of DIB leaders who are at the forefront of technological advancements, national security, and the future of defense technology. 

Our mission with this podcast is not just to highlight achievements but to share the stories, experiences, and insights of those shaping our nation's defense capabilities. We believe that behind every technological breakthrough, there's a story of passion, challenge, and determination that needs to be told. 

Join us as we embark on this exciting journey, exploring the minds and motivations of those who are not only safeguarding our nation but also setting the pace for future innovations in defense technology.

In each episode, our host, David Graff, Co-Founder of RADICL, engages in in-depth conversations with DIB leaders who are at the forefront of driving technological progress, championing national security, and shaping the future of defense technology. 

With all that said, let’s dive into episode 1.

On this week's episode of the DIB Innovators podcast, David talks with Charles McCarrick, Founder, President, and Chief Scientist at Micro-Ant, a company that develops and manufactures custom antennas. Dave and Charles discuss what it's like to work in the Defense Industrial Base, including the excitement around innovation and the challenges of red tape. They talk about how Micro-Ant approaches security and IP protection, give advice to entrepreneurs on how to create better processes and discuss what the future holds for defense tech.

Topics discussed:

• Exciting aspects of working in the DIB, like innovation and partnerships.
• What Charles learned about business from growing up with older brothers, and how he wrote about it in the book Lessons My Brothers Taught Me. 
• The challenges of working in the DIB, especially the friction caused by red tape.
• How Micro-Ant thinks about security and how it goes about protecting its intellectual property.
• Advice for entrepreneurs who are just starting out with their innovations and how they can build their businesses through consistent processes and planning.
• How Micro-Ant won a competition at the Artic Circle by being the only one to close a link to a satellite.
• What the future holds for defense tech innovation, especially around resiliency.

Guest Quotes: 

"What I like about it is that there is a unique challenge to everyone. And every time a new proposal or request comes for either information or for design, there's always something new, and there's always some sort of innovation that allows us to have this product set apart. In other words, you're not going to find these things through an Internet search and find exactly what you want. So I think it's the innovative part of it, and it's also partnering up with other innovative companies and together supplying a system."

"The Department of Defense is always on the cutting edge of technology because they have to be ahead of what everybody else is doing. And a lot of times, things that get commercialized begin in that sector."  

"Process and planning. Those things are critical because the one thing that you need to be able to do is to have a process in place that gives you a reliable, consistent product." 

"Quality, more than anything else, is the thing that sets the character, the tone, and I think the eventual success of the business. It's the thing that will drive culture."

Get in touch with Charles McCarrick:  

LinkedIn

Website

Get in touch with your host, David Graff: 

LinkedIn 

Listen to more episodes: 

Apple 

Spotify 

YouTube