CHDS hosted former United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics (better known as TOPGUN) instructors—Captain Chris “Pops” Papaioanu and Commander “Wild Bill” Resavy—who shared insights on innovation and implementing institutional change with Emergence Cohort 2402.
Their work with DAUNTLESS, an innovation unit under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), focuses on solving complex operational and tactical problems. Their success depends on clarity, adaptability, and rapid testing—principles which resonated with CHDS participants working to drive change from the mid-level of their organizations.
The instructors explained that small, agile teams can create a significant impact within large systems, and that’s exactly what they are doing within the military today.
“We’re a problem-solving and innovation group inside the military,” Captain Papaioanu explained. “We report directly to the INDOPACOM Commander to solve hard problems at the tactical and operational levels of war.”
Captain Papaioanu leads DAUNTLESS—a lean team of 11 active and former military personnel, most of whom are former TOPGUN instructors. They partner with more than 80 hand-selected subject matter experts and thought leaders across military, government, and commercial organizations to bring best practices into defense strategy.
Their presentation focused on practical tools: how to align context before initiating change, how to scale initiatives, and how to navigate resistance within bureaucratic settings. These are the same challenges CHDS participants face daily in homeland security roles.
“They see both sides of the problem,” Captain Papaioanu said. “They recognize better ways to handle challenges, but don’t always have the authority to act. We gave them tools we’ve used to influence change without formal power.”
One concept they shared was the “prism effect.” Commander Resavy described how misalignment in context can distort conversations and stall progress.
“A piece of light through a prism reflects differently depending on where it enters. That’s how bureaucracy works when you’re not unified on the end-state objective,” he said, noting that getting everyone on the same page is key. “We try to break that down so everyone’s aiming toward the same goal.”
Another key takeaway was the importance of scaling change. One student shared a frustration, often found in larger agencies: after three months of trying to drive an initiative, there was still no traction gained.
Captain Papaioanu offered an analogy: “Start with the big toe, not the whole elephant. Build momentum and trust. Then expand,” he said, adding that real change starts small and grows through credibility and consistency.
The instructors also stressed the value of rapid testing and iteration. DAUNTLESS doesn’t wait for perfect solutions. Instead, they rapidly prototype, test, and refine.
“Let’s whiteboard a solution: let people poke holes in it, and then go try it,” Captain Papaioanu said. “We can do that inside a large organization.”
The session also tackled national security strategy, focusing on China’s expanding influence and the increasingly blurred lines between foreign and domestic threats.
“There are national security challenges China is presenting that go well beyond the DoW and could impact each American family—such as threats to cyber security and growing concerns to U.S.-based industries” Commander Resavy said. “So homeland security professionals are already dealing with these challenges.”
The former TOPGUN instructors stressed that countering these threats requires close coordination between military and homeland security professionals. They emphasized that national security depends on alignment between those defending abroad and those protecting the homeland.
At the end of the presentation, CHDS participants responded enthusiastically, and the DAUNTLESS team is already scheduled to return for future sessions, including the Executive Leaders Program.
As national security threats evolve, partnerships like this—between tactical innovators and homeland security leaders—are vital. “It was just as valuable for us to be there and exchange ideas. We’ve never shied away from collaborating with people from different backgrounds. Diverse thought is critical,” said Commander Resavy. “When we align on a shared threat and a common goal, we bring every part of the government together into a truly joint effort.”
