ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Host Wenchi Yu speaks with Ellen Chang, a former U.S. Navy intelligence officer turned defense-tech and impact investor, about how her “happenstance” career led from Taiwan to the Pentagon, Northrop Grumman, and the cutting edge of autonomous systems. Drawing on tours at sea, years in the reserves, and work on platforms like Global Hawk and Triton, Ellen explains how military needs and commercial innovation in drones and autonomy have converged. She shares why dual-use technology and new forms of public–private partnership are critical for Taiwan’s defense, and how Taiwan can leverage its talent, geography, and industrial base in the era of AI-enabled warfare. The conversation offers a rare, practical look at what it takes to build and fund defense technology that actually works in the real world.
00:00 Introduction to Ellen Chang and her background
00:33 Ellen's journey from Taipei to the US Navy
02:00 Her experience with autonomous systems and drones
04:16 Transition from defense contractor to investor
07:53 Growth of defense tech startups and industry shifts
12:28 Taiwan's emerging defense industry and US collaborations
15:54 MOUs, investments, and supply chain in Taiwan
21:43 US-Taiwan relations and defense tech strategy
27:30 Impact investing and regional security in Asia
32:42 Future outlook for defense innovation and geopolitics
Perspectives with Wenchi Yu
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkK1a7U8kP0TgXhvI5Bj70H4cPPlapCdQ&si=RuA_jZROR2ynRbxH
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