From Seabed to Space: Inside NRL’s Game-Changing Tech & Congress’s Big Protest Dilemma

Original broadcast: 8/17/25

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, the spotlight is on breakthrough innovation and policy debates shaping the federal landscape. Captain Randy Cruz, Commander of the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), shares how NRL scales cutting-edge technology “from seabed to space.” He explains the lab’s mission, deep scientific expertise, and collaborative approach with industry, other services, and academia. From early remote-control aircraft in the 1920s to today’s hydrogen power systems, hypersonics, corrosion prevention, and uncrewed vessel operations, NRL focuses on solving problems and getting game-changing capabilities into the fleet. Cruz highlights Innovation Days as a targeted way to connect with industry and move promising technologies from concept to deployment.

In the second segment, Kenneth Patton, Managing Associate General Counsel at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), discusses trends in federal contract protests. He notes filings have dropped significantly in the past decade, partly due to the Department of Defense’s enhanced debriefing process, which gives companies more information upfront. Patton explains the effectiveness rate of GAO’s protest process, addresses the long-running “loser pays” debate in Congress, and emphasizes the need for better data before reforming procurement rules. The episode blends technology insights with procurement policy realities, offering valuable perspectives for both government and industry leaders.

Inside NRL: The Navy’s 100-Year Secret to Game-Changing Innovation

Captain Randy Cruz, Commander of the Naval Research Laboratory, explains how NRL drives innovation for the Navy, Marine Corps, and beyond. With over 4,000 personnel—including more than half of the Navy’s PhDs—the lab takes a bottom-up approach, tackling problems with creativity and scientific rigor. Cruz describes NRL’s long history of pioneering technology, from remote-controlled aircraft in the 1920s to today’s advances in hypersonics, hydrogen power systems, corrosion prevention, and uncrewed underwater and aerial systems. The lab works closely with other service research organizations, industry, and academia to ensure technology scales effectively into operational use. A major outreach tool is NRL’s Innovation Days, which focus on specific tech areas and showcase patents and licenses for industry to develop. Cruz emphasizes NRL’s mission, expertise, and collaborative culture, noting their work spans “from seabed to space” and includes critical contributions in space science and cyber capabilities.

Key Takeaways:

1. NRL has a century-long legacy of pioneering technologies, many still shaping operations today.
2. Innovation Days target specific tech areas, connecting industry with ready-to-scale government inventions.
3. Collaboration across services, industry, and academia is essential to turning research into real-world capabilities.

The Truth About Federal Contract Protests—and Why Fewer Are Happening

Kenneth Patton, Managing Associate General Counsel at GAO, outlines current trends in federal contract protests. Over the past decade, protests have declined 32% across government and 48% at the Department of Defense, partly due to DOD’s enhanced debriefing process, which gives losing bidders detailed feedback and reduces the need to protest. Patton explains GAO’s “effectiveness rate”—about 50%—which measures how often protesters receive relief, either through sustained protests or voluntary agency corrective actions. He also addresses the recurring “loser pays” debate, where companies would pay costs if their protest is denied, noting past attempts lacked necessary data. Patton stresses that before reforming the protest process, agencies and Congress must collect detailed data on corrective actions and timelines to target changes effectively. He highlights GAO’s role as an independent, objective referee ensuring procurement laws are followed, while acknowledging protests are a small fraction of total procurements.

Key Takeaways:

1. Federal contract protests are declining significantly, especially at DOD.
2. Enhanced debriefings help contractors make informed decisions about whether to protest.
3. GAO urges Congress to gather more data before making major protest process reforms.