Image: Shane Tews, American Enterprise Institute
What’s new: A 30 minute podcast by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).
Why it’s important: This tech podcast reaches influential conservative policy makers, but had never addressed PNT, a fundamental tech utility and infrastructure.
What else to know:
- RNT Foundation Directors RADM Jeff Hathaway, USCG (ret) and Mr Dana Goward, SES, USCG (ret) spoke with the host.
- If you would rather read the discussion instead of listening to it, a transcript is available. Links to the podcast and transcript are at the site linked below.
Why America’s GPS Dependency Is a National Security Crisis (with Dana A. Goward and Jeff Hathaway)
The GPS is essential to modern navigation, communication, and critical infrastructure. However, the United States faces serious threats to GPS technology, many of which are rarely discussed publicly. In addition to the looming threat from Russian and Chinese weaponry, increasing orbital debris and severe space weather have the potential to damage or destroy American satellites, causing a complete collapse of our navigational systems. A sustained disruption could significantly impair navigation, timing, and communications systems nationwide.
America has more satellites than any other country, and our economy depends heavily on space-based positioning, navigation, and timing services. Former members of the National Security Council and outside advisers have called GPS “a single point of failure for America.”
To discuss this matter, Shane is joined by two experts in GPS policy. Dana A. Goward is president of the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation and a former member of the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board, which advises the government on GPS policy. He took this role after retiring from service in the Coast Guard and as the United States maritime navigation authority. Also joining Shane is Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jeff Hathaway (ret.), a longtime navigator and board member of the foundation.
Transcript and podcast here
Image: RNT Foundation
What can you do? How can you help?
PNT is the quiet backbone of everything — power, finance, transportation, defense. Too many leaders still don’t see the risk.
But you do.
You understand the systems, the dependencies, the failure chains. That insight is rare — and it’s exactly what your country needs.
So speak up.
Reach out to government leaders, industry decision‑makers, and your fellow citizens.
Show them why resilient PNT isn’t a feature — it’s the necessary foundation.
And when you get a response, tell us. Every conversation strengthens the mission.
