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FAA Issues RFI for National Airspace System Transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography
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Federal Aviation Administration seal. FAA issued an RFI to move the National Airspace System to post-quantum cryptography.

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a request for information seeking industry partners capable of supporting the transition of the National Airspace System to post-quantum cryptography, or PQC.

FAA Issues RFI for National Airspace System Transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography

The FAA’s modernization efforts reflect the broader government push to upgrade legacy systems, a topic that will take center stage at Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22. Register now.

According to the sources sought notice posted on SAM.gov Tuesday, the FAA is seeking potential vendors to move its air traffic control infrastructure, as well as its IT and business systems to PQC as part of the agency’s modernization effort. Interested vendors can submit their responses to the RFI by April 10.

Why Is the FAA Exploring Post-Quantum Cryptography?

The effort is part of the FAA’s ongoing modernization of the National Airspace System, with a focus on advancing its air traffic control system to accommodate drones, advanced air mobility platforms, commercial space operations and other new entrants. To achieve this, the agency aims to strengthen cybersecurity defenses across its enterprise IT systems, including implementing crypto-agile security measures to address emerging threats from quantum computing.

What Challenges Does the FAA Anticipate?

The FAA acknowledges that it may encounter technical and operational hurdles when transitioning its systems to quantum-resistant algorithms. Potential constraints include limitations in vendor capabilities and system compatibility. A single provider may not have validated all required cryptographic primitives across every hardware and software layer, and some offerings may not be designed to support both FAA IT and operational technology environments. Additionally, integrating PQC into legacy NAS infrastructure and existing FAA business systems could require specialized expertise and coordination beyond what a single product suite can provide.

FAA’s Broader Modernization Efforts

The transition to post-quantum cryptography is part of the FAA’s broader push to modernize its operations. The agency recently launched the Accelerated Transformation of Legacy Applications and Systems program to update more than 200 applications and about 3,000 databases across its mission-support portfolio. It has also begun an internal restructuring aimed at strengthening safety oversight, modernizing air traffic systems and enhancing coordination across emerging aviation technologies.

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GAO Raises Concerns Over CMMC Assessor Capacity Amid Phased Rollout
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GAO logo. GAO warns that CMMC's long-term success is threatened by a lack of planning for external risks.

The Department of War’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0 program is officially underway, but a new federal watchdog report warns that its long-term success is threatened by a critical lack of planning for external market pressures. 

A Government Accountability Office report published Thursday reveals that the Pentagon has failed to systematically account for external factors that could stall implementation. Chief among these concerns is whether the private sector has enough certified assessors to handle the approximately 80,000 defense contractors now requiring Level 2 certification. 

GAO Raises Concerns Over CMMC Assessor Capacity Amid Phased Rollout

The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 will bring together government and industry leaders to discuss evolving cyberthreats, federal cybersecurity policy and initiatives affecting the defense and civilian sectors. Register now.

What Is the CMMC Program?

CMMC is DOW’s framework for verifying that contractors follow required cybersecurity practices when handling government data. The model was introduced in 2020 and later revised as CMMC 2.0 to simplify compliance and reduce the number of certification tiers.

Under the updated structure, the program includes three levels of cybersecurity maturity aligned with the sensitivity of data handled by contractors:

  • Level 1: Basic safeguards for federal contract information
  • Level 2: Implementation of all 110 controls from the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 to protect controlled unclassified information
  • Level 3: Additional protections from NIST SP 800-172 to defend against advanced threats

The Pentagon began the phased rollout of CMMC in November 2025, marking the end of the program’s voluntary phase and requiring contractors seeking certain defense contracts to begin meeting certification requirements.

What Risks Could Affect the CMMC Assessment Ecosystem?

DOW currently relies on third-party assessor organizations to verify that companies are protecting sensitive government data. The Cyber AB, an external nonprofit organization, administers the certification program and accredits organizations that conduct contractor assessments. As of December 2025, The Cyber AB had authorized 92 CMMC third-party assessment organizations to conduct Level 2 certification assessments. However, GAO investigators found that the DOW has not documented how it will mitigate the risk if these private sector assessors cannot meet the demand. 

“By assessing and documenting key external factors and developing approaches to address them, DOD would better understand program implementation risks,” the GAO noted, warning that relying on waivers to bypass requirements could undermine the entire program’s intent to verify security.

GAO: DOW Still Evaluating Training Needs

The government watchdog also noted that DOW is still determining how extensively the acquisition workforce must be trained to administer and enforce the CMMC program.

Officials within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment must evaluate existing training materials and determine whether new courses or expanded training requirements are needed, the report said.

The Defense Acquisition University has already developed several training offerings to support implementation, including:

  • Cybersecurity 1010, an introductory course covering CMMC program requirements and regulatory clauses tied to defense contracts
  • Cybersecurity 1020, which explains how cybersecurity requirements flow through the acquisition process and apply to subcontractors
  • Cybersecurity 1030, a course for senior acquisition personnel focused on selecting appropriate certification requirements for procurements

DAU also provides webinars and online resources describing CMMC regulatory requirements and implementation guidance.

However, GAO said officials have not yet determined the full scope of workforce training required to ensure acquisition personnel can effectively implement the program.

How Prepared Is the Defense Industrial Base for CMMC Compliance?

The urgency of the GAO’s warning is underscored by industry data showing a massive readiness gap. An October 2025 CyberSheath report indicated that only 1 percent of the defense industrial base was fully prepared for the CMMC final rule. The State of the DIB Report 2025 also noted that while 69 percent of contractors claim compliance through self-assessments, only 30 percent have undergone validated third-party checks.

As the Pentagon continues its phased rollout of CMMC requirements, GAO is calling on the DOW secretary to have the department’s chief information officer assess and document key external factors that may impede CMMC implementation, ensuring the Pentagon has a clear road map for addressing those challenges. DOW concurred with the recommendation.

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AFRL, Ursa Major Achieve Supersonic Speeds With ARMD Missile Demonstrator
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​​Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, commander of AFRL. Bartolomei said the ARMD test strengthens U.S. deterrence

The Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator, or ARMD, powered by Ursa Major’s Draper liquid rocket engine, achieved supersonic speeds and validated concepts of operations during a recent flight test, the Air Force Research Laboratory said Thursday.

According to Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, commander of the ARFL and a technology executive officer for the Air Force, the effort strengthens deterrence and the nation’s capability to fight in future conflicts.

“We are not just building a single missile; we are forging a new path toward a cost-effective, mass-producible deterrent for the nation,” he stated.

AFRL, Ursa Major Achieve Supersonic Speeds With ARMD Missile Demonstrator

Air Force leaders will talk about initiatives that strengthen the nation’s warfighting capabilities and other priorities at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30. Get your tickets today.

Chris Spagnoletti, CEO of Ursa Major, noted that the flight demonstrates that a vehicle powered by a safe, storable and throttleable liquid rocket engine can be developed and deployed quickly and at lower cost.

“We went from contract to flight-ready of an all up round and propulsion system in just eight months,” he shared.

Ursa Major is in contract for the continued maturation of the Draper liquid rocket engine. In December, the company said it conducted a static fire test of the ARMD.

What Is the Draper Engine?

Draper is a 4,000-pound-thrust storable liquid rocket engine developed to support hypersonic defense, in-space propulsion and rapid launch missions. It is a tactical and storable variant of the company’s Hadley system, which has reached Mach 5 speeds aboard Stratolaunch’s Talon-A vehicle in previous tests. 

In an interview with Breaking Defense in December, Dan Jablonsky, former CEO of Ursa Space, explained that Draper is storable and can remain in a system for extended periods, potentially for more than a decade, while still maintaining readiness for launch. The executive added that the engine can be deployed at very high altitudes and in space.

What Is Ursa Space?

Ursa Major is an aerospace and defense company that develops technologies designed to operate across land, sea, air and space missions. It develops and manufactures propulsion systems for hypersonic platforms, solid rocket motors and space mobility applications.

Ursa Major conducts engineering, testing and core operations at its headquarters in Berthoud, Colorado, while its additive manufacturing operations are based in Youngstown, Ohio.

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NRO Advances AI, Quantum Sensing to Support Growing Data Demands
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NRO Director Chris Scolese. NRO is prioritizing AI and quantum sensing to accelerate processing of space-based data.

National Reconnaissance Office Director Chris Scolese, a five-time Wash100 Award winner, revealed that the agency is prioritizing advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum sensing, to accelerate the delivery and analysis of space-based intelligence data.

NRO Advances AI, Quantum Sensing to Support Growing Data Demands

AI is rapidly transforming how the government and military process data, as evidenced by the NRO’s focus on leveraging advanced technologies. Learn more at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18. Sign up now!

How Is the NRO Evolving Its Satellite Architecture?

Speaking at the Goddard Space Science Symposium hosted by the American Astronautical Society on Thursday, Scolese acknowledged that its customers need faster access to information. To meet this need, the NRO launched more than 200 satellites over the past few years to expand the capability, resilience and speed of its overhead systems.

Many of these satellites are part of a proliferated architecture, enabling multiple spacecraft to operate together, providing faster revisit times and increased capacity to collect imagery and intelligence data.

What Role Does Artificial Intelligence Play?

Scolese has been urging government and industry partners to take full advantage of the NRO’s expanding space and ground architecture to facilitate data collection. But with satellite networks gathering more data, processing and delivery have become key priorities. The NRO director noted that advanced computing, particularly AI and machine learning, helps manage, organize and verify data for diverse users, such as military personnel, policymakers, analysts, first responders and environmentalists. Because these users need information in different formats, AI helps organize and present data while ensuring it can be traced and verified.

Why Is NRO Investing in Quantum Sensing Technologies?

Alongside AI, the NRO is exploring quantum sensing technologies and working with commercial companies and universities on related research in areas such as quantum photonics, detectors, radio frequency sensing and laser technologies. According to Scolese, these technologies could enable highly accurate detection and new insights for scientific research and policy analysis.

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Pentagon, UK MOD to Establish Common Data Standards for Counter-Drone Technologies
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Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll. Driscoll said establishing common counter-UAS standards will strengthen collective security

The Department of War and the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence have signed a joint declaration of intent to establish common data standards for counter-unmanned aerial systems, or C-UAS, to enable data-sharing with allies and accelerate deployment of new capabilities.

The Joint Interagency Task Force 401, or JIATF-401, led the effort and will adopt the new data standard as a requirement for all systems entering its C-UAS marketplace, the Army said Thursday.

Established in 2025, JIATF-401 is tasked to deliver counter-drone capabilities to protect warfighters and U.S. personnel.

How Will Common Data Standards Impact Counter-Drone Operations?

According to Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF-401, the lack of common data standards has been a barrier to the integration of advanced capabilities. He added that establishing common standards provides a faster way for vendors to provide their technologies to warfighters.

Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, a 2026 Wash100 winner, also commented that the standards will strengthen U.S. alliances and the defense industrial base.

“This agreement is a prime example of our commitment to modernization and strengthening our alliances,” Driscoll stated. “By establishing common standards with key allies like the United Kingdom, we not only enhance our collective security but also strengthen our defense industrial base and create new opportunities for streamlined foreign military sales.”

The Army leader also shared plans to expand the effort to five other nations. By mid-2026, he said up to 25 countries would be able to acquire C-UAS capabilities from the marketplace.

What Is the JIATF-401 Counter-UAS Marketplace?

JIATF-401’s C-UAS marketplace is intended to streamline how DOW and interagency partners evaluate equipment by providing access to validated technologies and performance data.

In February, DOW said the marketplace reached initial operational capability. Its catalog currently offers over 1,600 C-UAS systems and components.

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Daniel Morgan Named DOT Chief Product & Technology Officer
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Daniel Morgan. DOT’s first chief chief data officer at DOT has been named chief product and technology officer.

Daniel Morgan, the Department of Transportation’s inaugural chief data officer, has been appointed as DOT’s chief product and technology officer and has joined the Senior Executive Service. 

In a LinkedIn post, Morgan said the move marks a new chapter after more than a decade overseeing DOT’s enterprise data strategy. He also highlighted the collaborative nature of his work, noting that many of the recognitions earned during his tenure reflected team accomplishments across the department.

“Data will always be a team sport, and I am proud of all we got done – inside DOT, across government and with the Chief Data Officers’ Council,” he added.

What Were Morgan’s Responsibilities as DOT’s Chief Data Officer?

As DOT’s first chief data officer, Morgan led the department’s data program and data compliance efforts.

In this capacity, he managed DOT’s data strategy, oversaw data quality initiatives, and supported data sharing and development of data products to inform decision-making across the department.

Who Is Daniel Morgan?

Morgan is a federal data leader who joined DOT in 2014 after serving as an associate director at PhaseOne Consulting Group, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He previously served as vice chair of the CDO Council from 2020 to 2023.

Earlier in his career, he held managerial and senior consultancy roles at Accenture, RGS Associates and SENSA Solutions. As a management consultant, he advised clients on IT governance, enterprise architecture and open government initiatives.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

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Aretum’s Rohit Gupta Soars as Northrop Grumman’s Kathy Warden Gains Ground in Wash100 Popular Vote
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Top 10 Leaderboard in the 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote Competition week 5

The 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote race is deep into the middle of the competition with supporters across the government contracting community continuing to rally behind their favorite leaders.

The Wash100 Popular Vote is an annual contest where the GovCon community can show their support for the most influential government and industry leaders recognized by the prestigious Wash100 Award.

Hung Cao, under secretary of the Navy, has widened his lead and now holds 2,206 votes, maintaining a commanding first-place position as the competition heads deeper into its latest week.

But the race is far from over—and several leaders remain within striking distance as voting activity continues to surge. Vote for your favorite Wash100 winners today to see them advance!

Rubio, Gabbard Battle for Top Spots

Holding steady in second place is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has earned 1,541 votes so far, but Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem are right on his heels.

The battle for the top five remains one of the most closely watched dynamics in this year’s competition. Will we see industry break in? Cast your votes today! 

How Is the Top 10 Changing?

Beyond the top tier, the competition is intensifying between industry and government as executives and officials climb the leaderboard.

Exiger CEO Brandon Daniels is holding strong in sixth place with 931 votes, followed by Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in seventh place with 860 votes.

Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler holds eighth place with 490 votes, but the fight for the top 10 is tightening.

Rohit Gupta, president of Aretum, is one of the biggest movers in the latest rankings, jumping three spots to ninth place with 404 votes as supporters rally behind him.

Just behind him is AT&T Public Sector President Tang Pham, who now sits in 10th place with 403 votes — only a single vote separating the two.

Who Will Excel in Tight Races Across the Board?

Several leaders are clustered closely together just outside the top 10, meaning a surge of votes could quickly shake up the rankings.

Gen. Michael Guetlein of the U.S. Space Force currently holds 392 votes, followed by SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh with 361 votes.

Seven-time Wash100 winner, Parsons Chair, President and CEO Carey Smith ranks 13th with 327 votes, while Department of War CISO Kirsten Davies follows closely with 302 votes.

Other GovCon leaders drawing strong support in the vote include 2025 Popular Vote winner DeEtte Gray, president of U.S. operations at CACI, who currently ranks 15th with 297 votes. Close behind is Stephanie Mango, president of CGI Federal, in 16th place with 285 votes, while John Mengucci, president and CEO of CACI, holds 17th place with 269 votes, reflecting continued engagement from the GovCon community as the competition progresses.

With many candidates separated by fewer than 50 votes, the middle of the leaderboard remains one of the most energetic parts of the competition.

Every Vote Can Shift the Rankings

Further down the list, several leaders are still making moves.

Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, climbed two spots to reach 137 votes, while Northrop Grumman Chair, CEO and President Kathy Warden moved up one position with 133 votes.

Srini Attili, CEO of SAIC, currently holds 18th place with 229 votes, narrowly ahead of John Phelan, Secretary of the Navy, who sits in 19th place with 228 votes, underscoring how tightly grouped candidates are in the middle of the leaderboard.

John Heneghan, president of ECS, ranks 20th with 213 votes, followed by Daniel Driscoll, Secretary of the U.S. Army, in 21st place with 204 votes. Just behind him is Michael Duffey, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of War, who currently holds 22nd place with 194 votes.

Further down the leaderboard, Matt Tait, CEO of ManTech, sits in 23rd place with 174 votes, followed by La’Naia Jones, chief information officer at the Central Intelligence Agency, in 24th place with 166 votes. Sonny Bhagowalia, assistant secretary and chief information officer at the Department of Homeland Security, currently holds 25th place with 160 votes.

Rounding out this group, Lt. Gen. Michele Bredenkamp of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency stands in 26th place with 150 votes, while Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, holds 27th place with 137 votes, reflecting the broad representation of defense, intelligence and industry leaders competing in the Wash100 Popular Vote.

Will You Cast Your Vote in the Wash100 Popular Vote?

The Wash100 Popular Vote gives the GovCon community an opportunity to support the leaders shaping the future of government and industry.

With rankings shifting daily and several tight races forming across the leaderboard, every vote can make a difference.

Visit the Wash100 Popular Vote page today to cast your ballot and help determine which leaders rise to the top of the 2026 Wash100 rankings.

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Army Expands Use of Enterprise Contracts to Streamline Procurement
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U.S. Army logo. The Army is expanding its use of enterprise contracts to streamline procurement.

The U.S. Army is expanding its use of enterprise contracts to streamline procurement, promote competition and leverage enterprisewide buying power as part of efforts to modernize acquisition.

Army Expands Use of Enterprise Contracts to Streamline Procurement

The Army’s push toward enterprise contracts reflects ongoing changes in how the service approaches acquisition and modernization. Reserve your seat at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 18 to hear from government and industry leaders discussing priorities, technology developments and other trends shaping the military service.

The service said Wednesday it has awarded 14 enterprise contracts in the past eight months, consolidating 118 separate agreements into unified vehicles and enabling the Army to achieve an 88 percent reduction in total contracts.

According to the Army, the contract consolidation reduces administrative workload, eliminates redundant procurement processes and could generate up to $5.3 billion in savings over the life of the initial contracts.

How Do Enterprise Contracts Transform Army Procurement?

Enterprise contracts allow the Army to purchase technology and services under a single enterprisewide agreement with pre-negotiated pricing and terms, reducing the need for repeated negotiations.

“Our strategic shift to enterprise contracts is fundamental to how we modernize the force,” said Brent Ingraham, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology. “By consolidating hundreds of disparate contracts, we are leveraging the Army’s buying power at an enterprise scale, which has potential to yield billions in taxpayer savings and streamline acquisition processes.”

The contracts also use an “a la carte” purchasing model, allowing program managers to order only the commercial products or services needed. 

Danielle Moyer, executive director of Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground, said the Army uses its collective buying power to negotiate significant discounts and overall spending reductions, noting that the terms and prices are pre-negotiated and available to all users without additional fees.

“It creates fairness and predictability across all parties and avoids industry having to answer the same questions to different contracting officers within the Army on the same product they sell over and over,” Moyer added.

What’s Next for Army Enterprise Contracting?

The Army said the next phase of enterprise contracting could consolidate hundreds more agreements, particularly for software and digital platforms.

“We will continue to aggressively expand this model across the force, especially for our most critical software and digital platforms, as it is essential to driving modernization and delivering predictable, rapid capabilities into the hands of our warfighters,” said Leonel Garciga, the Army’s chief information officer and a two-time Wash100 awardee.

How Do Enterprise Contracts Align With the Army’s Acquisition Modernization Efforts?

The strategy aligns with broader Army modernization initiatives, including the Army Contract Writing System, which replaced the legacy Standard Procurement System; the creation of portfolio acquisition executives to consolidate oversight of acquisition activities; and the Pathway for Innovation and Technology office, which works to accelerate collaboration with nontraditional vendors and adoption of emerging technologies.

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National Guard’s Chief Data & AI Officer on AI, Disaster Response and the Future of Mission Readiness
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Delester Brown. The National Guard Bureau CDAO spoke to ExecutiveGov for an interview about AI's capabilities and potential.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from concept to mission-critical capability for the National Guard—and industry will play a major role in making it operational. In an exclusive interview with ExecutiveGov, Dr. Delester Brown, chief data and AI officer of the National Guard Bureau, revealed how the Guard is prioritizing AI-driven tools for object detection, predictive analytics and data-enabled risk modeling to improve disaster response and operational decision-making, signaling major opportunities for technology providers supporting defense and homeland missions.

National Guard’s Chief Data & AI Officer on AI, Disaster Response and the Future of Mission ReadinessHear more from Dr. Brown during the Operationalizing AI at Scale-Bridging the Gap from Prototype to Mission Impact panel discussion at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18. He’ll discuss his perspective on how defense organizations are approaching AI adoption in practical, mission-focused ways, enabling interoperable ecosystems and operationalizing trustworthy data. Don’t wait — reserve your seat today! 

How Does AI Support Disaster Response and Operational Awareness? 

One of the National Guard’s most immediate use cases for AI lies in disaster response, where speed, visibility and resource coordination can mean the difference between life and death.

Dr. Brown pointed to object detection and asset relocation as key capabilities the Guard is exploring.

“One thing that you’ll hear me always staying focused on would be asset relocation and things like object detection,” he said, noting that the goal is to quickly identify and respond to people in danger during emergencies.

AI-enabled tools can help identify individuals in dangerous situations and direct personnel and equipment to the right locations more efficiently. As Dr. Brown explained, responders need the ability to understand the context of what they are seeing in real time: “We want to know the difference between a person hanging out on the roof [during] a flood [or] a person that may be underneath a collapsed building or structure.”

These capabilities extend beyond simple image recognition. By analyzing video feeds and data from aviation assets, AI tools can enhance situational awareness with augmented reality overlays, helping responders understand blast radiuses, environmental hazards or the impact of infrastructure failures such as pipeline ruptures. These insights help leaders determine how terrain and infrastructure might change during a crisis and where resources should be positioned ahead of time. 

Ultimately, these tools are designed to give users, like guardsmen, real-time decision support. Dr. Brown envisions a future where guardsmen can monitor evolving risk on a tablet or dashboard, allowing them to quickly assess how an emerging event, such as a regional power outage, might affect resourcing and readiness.

How Is the National Guard Implementing AI?

While AI is often discussed in terms of automation, Dr. Brown emphasizes a different concept: “amplified intelligence.”

Rather than focusing on AI as a replacement for human decision-making, he sees the technology as a way to enhance the expertise of leaders and personnel across the National Guard’s 54 states and territories. His role, he explained, is to advise senior leadership on how emerging technologies can strengthen mission effectiveness and ensure resources are applied to impactful use cases.

“I’m looking to enhance who we are — the best of you, of our government, the best of our department, the best of the National Guard.”

Dr. Brown is particularly focused on democratizing access to these tools, expressing, “I want to be able to have everyone at every echelon to be able to use [AI].” By implementing no-code environments and user-friendly systems, the Guard aims to ensure AI capabilities are accessible to personnel at every level, not just technical specialists. 

Equally important is maintaining an open and interoperable ecosystem. The Guard’s unique environment includes soldiers, airmen, civilians, state and local partners, tribal organizations, and academic collaborators. Any technology introduced into this ecosystem must be flexible and vendor-agnostic so that all stakeholders can participate and benefit.

Don’t miss Dr. Delester Brown in conversation with Artificial Intelligence Officer of the Defense Logistics Agency Ruksana Lodi and Robert Hammer, Deputy Executive Associate Director of the Office of Management and Administration, 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Reserve your spot today! 

How Is Emerging AI Shaping Defense Operations? 

Looking ahead, Dr. Brown sees several areas where AI will transform defense operations:

Supply chain intelligence: AI could track components across their entire lifecycle, from small parts to major platforms, improving logistics planning and maintenance readiness. Brown described the potential to follow everything “from the nuts and bolts … all the way onto maybe an aircraft or a tank,” tracking how those components move through deployments and maintenance cycles.

Cybersecurity operations: AI will increasingly play a dual role in cyber defense, where human operators working with AI systems must counter adversaries who are also leveraging AI-driven tools. Brown described this future environment as “AI and human versus AI and human.”

Edge-enabled decision support: Future systems may provide AI assistance directly to personnel in the field. Brown envisions a digital assistant that acts as a mission companion, saying he hopes one day there will be “a [tool] that is your battle buddy that flows with you in and out of combat… and helps enhance how you complete your mission.”

Digital twin technology:  Dr. Brown also highlighted the promise of digital twins for disaster recovery and operational resilience. By simulating infrastructure and operational environments in advance, organizations can reduce recovery times dramatically. If digital twins can shrink outages “from what used to be days and weeks and possibly months… to minutes and seconds, then we’re doing our job,” he said.

Continuing the Conversation on AI’s Future

Despite the rapid pace of technological advancement, Dr. Brown believes one factor remains essential: ongoing dialogue between government, industry and academia.

Open conversations—such as those taking place at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit—help spark new ideas, build partnerships and ensure that emerging technologies are applied responsibly and effectively across national security missions.

“We must continue to have the dialogue and discussion,” Brown said. “We can’t lose our spark.”

With innovations advancing faster than ever, he believes the next breakthrough may be closer than many expect. “The next is just around the corner.”

Join Dr. Brown and many other federal chief AI or information officers at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit, on March 18th, to learn more about how government leaders are thinking about the future of AI in their organizations, their key pain points and priorities. Register today! 

National Guard’s Chief Data & AI Officer on AI, Disaster Response and the Future of Mission Readiness

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DOW, ODNI Seek Proposals for AI Evaluation Harness & Benchmark Framework
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Department of War seal. DOW seeks proposals for an evaluation harness and benchmarks for artificial intelligence systems.

The Department of War, in coordination with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, is seeking industry proposals for an evaluation harness and government-defined benchmarks that would enable rigorous, reproducible and vendor-agnostic testing of artificial intelligence systems against criteria specified by the government.

DOW, ODNI Seek Proposals for AI Evaluation Harness & Benchmark Framework

Sign up for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18 to hear Cameron Stanley, chief digital and AI officer at the Department of War, and other federal, defense and industry leaders discuss the impact of AI, machine learning and automation.

What Features Are Required in the Evaluation Harness?

According to the commercial solutions opening notice published by the Defense Innovation Unit, the War Department is pursuing an evaluation harness that connects to AI models, facilitates evaluation workflows and measures their performance against benchmarks. The harness should support human-in-the-loop, agentic and adversarial evaluations. It should simulate an integrated environment to continuously test and monitor an AI model performance in challenging settings. Furthermore, the harness should generate evaluation reports and manage benchmark execution.

What Standards Must the New Benchmarks Meet?

Vendors must provide methodologies for creating benchmarks across unclassified, secret and top secret workflows that are resistant to gaming, adaptable as requirements and AI models evolve, and supported by training materials. These benchmarks should identify capabilities for particular missions, break those capabilities into measurable tasks and create realistic evaluation scenarios. They should also define clear scoring criteria, establish fair performance baselines using open models and ensure benchmarks are valid, reliable and capable of distinguishing different levels of performance.

Why Is the Government Expanding AI Evaluation Capabilities?

The government is pursuing new evaluation systems to address the rapid advancement of AI technologies. The new infrastructure should be able to evaluate newly released AI models against mission-specific benchmarks. In addition, the system should assess human-machine collaboration to determine whether joint operations yield better mission outcomes than either humans or automated systems alone.

The effort, dubbed “Mystic Depot,” follows calls by Pentagon leadership to accelerate the adoption of AI across warfighting and administrative operations, DefenseScoop reported. Interested vendors can submit their responses to the CSO by March 24.

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