Katie Arrington, a previous Wash100 awardee who currently performs the duties of DOD’s chief information officer, has released a memorandum directing the establishment of the Zero Trust Portfolio Management Office, or ZT PfMO, and the creation of the position of chief zero trust officer.
The directive-type memo took effect Thursday, July 17, and will be converted into a DOD instruction.
Learn more about zero trust and other critical IT efforts at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Navy Summit on August 26 at the Hilton McLean!
Table of Contents
What Is the DOD Zero Trust Portfolio Management Office’s Mission?
The ZT PfMO will coordinate, synchronize and advance the DOD Enterprise’s transition into a ZT cybersecurity architecture and modernize the department’s capability to prevent malicious actors from exploiting the department’s data and resources.
What Are the DOD Chief Zero Trust Officer’s Roles and Responsibilities?
The memo outlines the chief zero trust officer’s responsibilities, including publishing the DOD ZT Strategy and associated plans and roadmaps and establishing DOD enterprise strategic and execution milestones and definitions for the achievement of DOD ZT target and advanced capabilities. They also include ensuring ZT-related budgets are aligned with the achievement of target- and advanced-level ZT and supporting annual ZT funding assessments and advising on DOD component ZT budget planning.
The officer should also maintain awareness of department-wide budgetary actions that impact ZT adoption across the Pentagon and support the DOD Cyber Council and the DOD ZT Executive Committee regarding ZT implementation.
The document also details the responsibilities of the DOD CIO, the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering and other department officials regarding the implementation of the DOD ZT Strategy.
Related Articles
The United States’ review of the AUKUS security partnership is expected to conclude this fall, Axios reported Wednesday. Led by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, the review is examining how the trilateral agreement, which began under the Biden administration, aligns with the priorities of the Trump administration. Colby previously voiced skepticism over how U.S. resources are allocated under AUKUS, though he also said Washington should “do everything we can to make this work.” Learn about the latest AUKUS trilateral agreement developments at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Navy Summit, where maritime leaders and Navy experts will address the most critical
The U.S. Army has issued an organization-wide memo to guide the optimization of systems critical to operations. Signed by Leonel Garciga, the service’s chief information officer and a two-time Wash100 winner, the Defense Business System, or DBS, Determination and Implementation Guidance offers clarifications, ensures accountability and enhances governance of the Army’s IT infrastructure. What Is DBS? A DBS is an IT system being used within the Department of Defense to support core business operations, including financial management, budgeting, planning, contracting, logistics, and human resources training and management. It does not cover systems that are utilized for military, intelligence and national
The Catalyst Accelerator has named the six small businesses that will participate in its directed energy and electromagnetic warfare cohort. From August to November, the cohort will meet every two weeks to collaborate with subject matter experts and engage with government and commercial navigators to build connections and develop technologies for the warfighter. The cohort, The Catalyst Accelerator’s 15th overall, is the first to be executed in partnership with the U.S. Space Force’s Space Security and Defense Program. “The Space Security and Defense Program is excited to see such a diverse set of technologies in the Electromagnetic Warfare and Directed