In this episode of Building the Base, Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula sit down with Jamie Jones Miller, CEO of Northeastern University's Arlington campus and Interim Director of the Kostas Research Institute. Drawing from her journey from Capitol Hill legislative work on the House Armed Services Committee to the Pentagon's Office of Legislative Affairs, and now leading national security research in academia, Miller discusses the critical need for "unicorn talent" that bridges policy, technology, and leadership. She explains why universities must align with defense priorities, the importance of matching talent pipelines to technology strategies, and how academia can serve as a vital connector in the national security ecosystem.

Five key takeaways from today's episode:

1. Employers want "unicorn talent" who can seamlessly operate across policy, technology, and leadership domains, with Miller noting they "want the people who can figure out how to look into the future and see what's coming."
2. Policy, technology, and security are now inseparable, as Miller reflects that these domains "can't stand on its own anymore" and require integrated approaches to education and problem-solving.
3. Academia must align with defense priorities, with Miller asking "what is the next critical technologies list at DOD gonna look like?" to ensure universities invest where "the investments are going to be made."
4. Talent strategy must match technology strategy, as Miller challenges organizations: "Do you have a talent pipeline plan? How many engineers do you need to hire in the next 12 to 18 months?"
5. Start with real problems, not solutions, emphasizing the need to ask "what are your pain points?" and build trust through delivery rather than rushing to help without understanding actual needs.