#187: NATO Leading Innovation - DIANA Chief Commercial Officer Ryan Benitez

#187: NATO Leading Innovation - DIANA Chief Commercial Officer Ryan Benitez

February 13, 2026 · 29 min · Episode 187

About this episode

Ryan Benitez discusses how NATO DIANA is driving innovation and technology development in defense.

The speed of innovation has long been the difference between military success and failure. Countries and militaries that rapidly develop, deploy and evolve technology thrive. Those who lag…flounder. America, NATO and the world order are being challenged…and innovated against…at a faster pace than ever before.  From the Global SOF Symposium in Athens, Greece, I sat down with Ryan Benitez of NATO DIANA to talk about how innovation, technology, and rapid capability development are shaping the future of defense across the Alliance. As the DIANA’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ryan explains her work inside one of NATO’s most forward-leaning organizations. DIANA, the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, connects startups, researchers, and industry leaders to solve some of the most urgent challenges facing allied militaries.  From emerging technologies to dual-use solutions, DIANA is helping NATO move faster, stay adaptable, and maintain an edge in an increasingly competitive global environment. Ryan also shared how her experience in the Navy and Venture Capital informs her approach to modern innovation, why collaboration between nations and private industry is…

People in this episode

Host: Fran Racioppi

Guest: Ryan Benitez

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NATO, DIANA, Global SOF Symposium, Navy, Venture Capital

Places: Athens, Greece

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