Episode 43: American Hero, Entrepreneur and Covid survivor.
Founder and Executive of Department 13 Inc (D13), D13 is a privately held company that focuses on transformative security and defense technologies as it pertains to Counter-Drone and Airspace management. D13’s first product, MESMER®, is a Counter Drone Defense Platform for military and commercial security applications. MESMER offers end users a non-kinetic solution that automatically detects drones, and then stops, redirects, or safely lands the drones.
Mr. Hunter is a technical and operational expert on explosive detection and remediation, weapons detection, Electronic Countermeasures (ECM), and personnel location technologies. During his career, Mr. Hunter served as an advisor to the Chinese Olympics, National Academy of Sciences (NAS), DoD’s Defense/Justice Program Steering Group’s (JPSG) Bomb Detection Technology Program, National Institute Justice’s Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), the National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board (NBSCAB), and the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA).
Mr. Hunter is a former U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Officer with multiple deployments to Afghanistan and Bosnia. He is a Bronze Star Award recipient for actions in combat.
Welcome to the Pandocap Show!
Q: Can you share a bit about your journey with our audience?
A: My journey started on the battlefield of Afghanistan, as a company commander in 2002, serving in Kandahar. We had to deal with Radio Controlled Improvised Explosives Devices (RCIED) and we had to deal with electronic warfare at that time, and developed products over the course of the year. When I got out of the military I went to work at the National Institute Of Justice, running research and development programs for the federal government. Then I worked on developing jammer/ electronic warfare systems for the US marine corps, called the chameleon system. We started identifying new approaches to electronic warfare. We started looking at this technique of controlling digital radio protocols, which is now called protocol manipulation. When I got out of that position, I met some really smart guys and we said, “Hey why don’t we start a company”? So in 2010, Department 13 was formed right around a restaurant diner table, much like most start-up companies. Later that year in 2015, we raised about $30 million dollars in capital and went public on the Australian Stock Exchange. Department 13, a counter-drone air space management company was born.
Q: The pandemic has impacted everyone worldwide and I know you have a unique story. Can you share your experience?
A: From a business standpoint, the pandemic has actually affected every company in the world. But it's also presented opportunities. Right before things got crazy in early March, we had already made arrangements to support a customer that acquired one of our systems and so we were lined up to leave on March 9th of this year, we landed on the 11th, and on the 12th they closed all visas in India. On the 13th we’re still waiting for our systems to come out of customs. Then on 15th, we’re now transporting up to the next location 7 hours away from Deli, and we’re meeting with customers, seeing how we’re going to do our demonstration. The system doesn't come out of customs till the 20th of March and so we had to extend the stay, and on the 20th of March, we got the system. We went out in the evening, trying to test the drones and the next thing I know, my fever goes spiking high. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. As soon as I got to the front door of the hotel, the worker’s eyes lit up because I had a 102 fever. Turns out I tested positive for Covid19. At the end of the day, it was a life changing experience and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to not only get covid in India but to be treated in India.
Q: When you think of some of the things you went through and what we’re going through today, in the Us and around the pandemic. Compared to India, how do you feel the US is doing in regards to the pandemic.
A: I think the U.S is responding as a reflection of our society, when I was in India, people were all in it together, people didn't bash each other, or belittle anybody. People respected each other, people wore masks, there were no attacks, it wasn’t politicized in any other way. You come to the United States and all I see is that it is being used as a political weapon on both sides that should not have been there. Depending on which side of the fence you sat on, you attack one another, and we’re not grateful for anything we have in the United States. We probably could’ve done a better job at all levels, federal state, and global responses. I think we could’ve had a better strategy.
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