EP 71 — Skydio’s Mark Valentine on How Sanctions Freed Them from Supply Chain Dependence

Synopsis

When China sanctioned Skydio, it forced complete supply chain independence — and battle-tested technology that now guides Ukrainian artillery strikes. Mark Valentine, Global Head of National Security Strategy at Skydio, shares how spectacular drone failures in Ukraine drove breakthrough GPS-denied navigation and frequency-hopping capabilities. From F-16 pilot to Microsoft's SecDef Fellow to leading Skydio's national security strategy, Mark breaks down why New York City's 600 dock-based drones outperform military's one-to-one operator approach, and how Microsoft's "learn-it-all" culture translates to defense innovation.