Ho Lee is the Missions Lead at Applied Intuition, where he bridges the gap between warfighter mission needs and autonomy software development, ensuring solutions meet the real-world demands of military operations. He brings extensive experience leading complex, multidomain technology programs across the Marine Corps, Space Development Agency, Naval Air Systems Command, and U.S. Special Operations Command. Over his career, Ho has managed budgets ranging from tens of millions to over $700 million, led large cross-functional teams, and driven the development and deployment of cutting-edge capabilities such as unmanned systems autonomy, aviation command and control systems, and counter-UAS solutions. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA in Defense Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, where he gained critical insights into aligning government requirements with industry innovation.
My time at NPS was most impactful for the exposure to diverse peers and professors who challenged my thinking, broadening how I approach problems. It strengthened my ability to listen, learn, and apply an open, analytical mindset, skills I carry into both my military and industry work.
NPS helped me understand how industry thinks and what drives its incentives, something I hadn’t been exposed to before. My MBA project on leveraging venture capital, along with interviews with VC firms, gave me practical insight into how industry evaluates risk and innovation. That made me more effective at leading collaborative development efforts by aligning priorities, improving communication, and bridging the gap between government and industry.
The Saronic effort showed how powerful it is to have a warfighter “champion,” supported by NPS, to connect industry and government. That setup, bringing warfighters, students, and industry together creates a direct feedback loop that keeps development focused on real operational needs. With NPS acting as a bridge, it accelerates collaboration, reduces friction, and helps move solutions to the warfighter much faster.
One of the biggest operational gaps is in requirements—specifically how to adapt them in a rapidly changing technology environment. NPS can play a key role here as an incubator, bringing together students and warfighters from diverse backgrounds to help shape and refine requirements based on real operational needs.
Meaningful collaboration happens when NPS, industry, and the Fleet/Force work together early and continuously—warfighters define the problem, industry iterates solutions, and NPS provides resources while bridging the gap through events like JIFX and other government engagements.
Converge @ NPS stands out because it provides direct access to warfighters and NPS researchers, helping companies transition capabilities faster and avoid getting stuck in the “valley of death.” The buy-in from warfighters and access to government sponsors through NPS directly shapes where companies focus and prioritize their development efforts.
