The Army is preparing to overhaul its command and control systems through a data-driven modernization effort aimed at ensuring warfighting superiority in future conflicts, Lt. Gen. Jeth Rey, deputy chief of staff, G-6, said during a conference in Augusta, Georgia.
Table of Contents
Accelerating Network and C2 Modernization
At the core of the Army’s transformation is the next-generation command and control initiative, which seeks to retire 13 legacy systems and replace them with a full-stack ecosystem that incorporates artificial intelligence, large language models and machine learning to integrate intelligence, sustainment and fires data.
Rey said the Army aims to deliver these capabilities to warfighters within 30 months. “We are working to put commander back into command and control,” he said, emphasizing the importance of assured communications across all environments — from handheld devices and sensors to tanks, helicopters, and command posts.
The effort builds on the Army Unified Network Plan, which shifts the service’s focus from networks as an end to networks as pathways for data. Zero trust architecture will be incorporated to strengthen cyber defenses and protect operations in contested environments.
Industry Collaboration
Rey underscored that private sector partnerships will be critical in realizing the Army’s modernization goals. Industry, he said, can help overcome legacy architectures, accelerate innovation and deliver systems with built-in cyber protections.
“Our solution is a strong, data-driven network for our Army. It’s not just about technology. It’s about people,” Rey said. He called on Army leaders to invest in their teams, train as they fight and foster innovation to ensure Soldiers can make faster, better-informed decisions than adversaries.
“Our success, their lives depend on what we’re doing each and every day,” he said. “We can’t fail.”
Preparing for Non-Kinetic Threats
The G-6 deputy chief of staff cautioned that adversaries are rapidly expanding capabilities in areas such as cyberattacks, electronic warfare and drone operations. “The next war may not be kinetic only. It’s going to be non-kinetic,” he said.
Citing Ukraine as an example, Rey pointed to the growing role of drones and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. “Drones are changing the way we do business,” he said. “Think about what could happen if a non-kinetic strike does hit us. Those blackouts we’ve been experiencing, we shouldn’t take those lightly.”
Harnessing Data for Decision Advantage
Commanders today are often confronted with “data overload,” Rey said, making it difficult to act quickly on the battlefield. The Army’s modernization effort is designed to ensure the right data reaches the right warfighter at the right time.
“We still have to find out how to use emerging technologies, AI tools, in order to help us with the commanders to make better and more informed decisions,” he said.
Related Articles
The White House on Thursday tapped Jim O’Neill, deputy secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, to serve as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Washington Post reported. Hear experts discuss the latest tech advancements, policies and more at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit on Dec. 4. Save your spot now for this GovCon networking event! O’Neill’s appointment came days after Susan Monarez’s dismissal as head of the CDC over federal vaccine policy. According to people familiar with the matter, O’Neill will continue to serve as deputy to HHS Secretary Robert F.
Oliver Wise announced on LinkedIn Friday that he has stepped down as acting under secretary for economic affairs and chief data officer of the Department of Commerce. He officially departed the department on Aug. 30. “I leave with deep gratitude and immense respect for the public servants across Commerce and the federal government who devote their careers to the national interest,” said Wise. Oliver Wise’s Career Highlights Wise served in the department for over three years, overseeing the strategic direction of the Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis as the acting under secretary for economic affairs. As CDO, he spearheaded
Leonel Garciga, the U.S. Army’s chief information officer and a two-time Wash100 awardee, has signed a memorandum providing guidance for the service branch to ensure that artificial intelligence products used within the Army comply with records management, or RM, privacy protections and the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. The Aug. 26 memo was posted on the Army Publishing Directorate’s website. The document requires application and system owners to capture, sustain and manage records generated through AI tools and low-code/no-code platforms. They must ensure that all user interactions, including prompts and AI-generated content, are properly identified, retained and secured as