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Coast Guard Seeks to Accelerate Innovation Through CG-RAPTOR
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U.S. Coast Guard logo. USCG unveiled CG-RAPTOR to accelerate the development of new technologies to meet urgent requirements.

The U.S. Coast Guard has launched the Office of Rapid Response and Prototyping, or CG-RAPTOR, to help identify and accelerate the development of new technologies to meet urgent operational requirements.

USCG said Friday CG-RAPTOR is a key component of the Force Design 2028 initiative, enabling the service to experiment with applications and business processes before making enterprise investments.

“With Force Design 2028, we are completely changing the game on how the Coast Guard delivers our mission through operational agility, integration and automation,” said Capt. Chad Brick, the inaugural chief of CG-RAPTOR. 

“CG-RAPTOR feeds on this transformative approach, rapidly driving cutting-edge technology directly into the hands of our operators for a more effective workforce and to protect our nation’s maritime interests,” Brick added.

What Is CG-RAPTOR? 

CG-RAPTOR is the Coast Guard’s rapid-response innovation engine designed to identify, prototype and rapidly field breakthrough technologies to address operational gaps.

The office aims to accelerate the “idea-to-operations” cycle by promoting close collaboration among operators, industry leaders and subject matter experts to facilitate the delivery of new technologies every 30 days. To drive informed requirements and decisive action, CG-RAPTOR has been conceived to leverage real-time feedback, eliminate information silos and fosters a risk-tolerant culture.

In 150 days, CG-RAPTOR has introduced advanced unmanned systems, secure communications platforms, real-time readiness tracking capabilities and personnel management tools. 

According to USCG, the office was scheduled Friday to host a demonstration in San Diego for Coast Guard personnel, showcasing cutting-edge sensor data and video feed integration designed to provide a unified operational picture and enhance tactical situational awareness.

What Is Force Design 2028?

Launched in April 2025, Force Design 2028 is the Coast Guard’s roadmap for ensuring readiness to meet future national requirements. Through the initiative, the service aims to promote a culture of innovation to protect the homeland, deliver peace through strength and counter adversaries.

The initiative focuses on four campaigns: people; organization; acquisition and contracting; and technology. Efforts under the acquisition and contracting campaign include eliminating bureaucratic delays, increasing the service’s engagement with the Defense Innovation Unit and developing a contract-tracking system to improve transparency and accountability.

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Johns Hopkins APL Providing Expertise to Advance Navy’s Next Generation Jammer
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Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory logo. APL worked with the Navy to support the development of a new EW capability

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is working with the U.S. Navy to develop the AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band, or NGJ-MB, an electronic warfare system capable of disrupting, denying and degrading enemy air defense, communications and early warning technology. 

APL said Tuesday that its scientists and engineers provide the Navy with advice and expertise to mature a solid-state amplifier and phased array antennas for the NGJ-MB. 

The Maryland-based not-for-profit university-affiliated research center has been involved in the Navy’s NGJ-MB program since its initial concept development in 2001. 

Johns Hopkins APL Providing Expertise to Advance Navy’s Next Generation Jammer

Engage with defense and industry leaders and forge partnerships that advance warfighter capabilities at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit on Aug. 27. Sign up today to secure your spot. 

What Is the AN/ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band?

NGJ-MB replaces the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, also known as TJS, the external carriage airborne electronic attack platform installed on the EA-18G Growler. TJS first reached initial operational capability in 1971 and flew on the Growler’s predecessor, the EA-6B Prowler. 

According to Brian Geesaman, mission area executive for Precision Strike at APL, NGJ-MB offers enhanced jamming at greater distances. 

“Advanced technologies like the NGJ give the U.S. a critical edge over its adversaries,” he added. 

What Other Navy Programs Does APL Support?

Beyond electronic warfare, Johns Hopkins APL supports several Navy efforts. The laboratory teamed up with the Navy in 2024 to validate the Autonomy Baseline Library, software designed to rapidly analyze uncrewed surface vehicle operating systems and determine suitability for specific mission needs. 

APL also partnered with the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Naval Surface Force Atlantic to equip the USS Bataan with a hybrid metal 3D printer. The system enables onboard production of stainless steel parts, supporting expeditionary maintenance.

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VA Seeks Industry Input on Enterprise ERP Modernization
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VA logo. VA issued an RFI seeking industry input on ERP platform modernization.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has released a request for information to gather industry feedback as it plans a potential overhaul of its enterprise resource planning environment, signaling early steps toward a large-scale modernization of administrative, IT and service management systems.

Responses to the RFI, which the VA posted on SAM.gov on Friday, will be used to inform future acquisition decisions related to a departmentwide ERP capability supporting more than 600,000 users. 

VA Seeks Industry Input on Enterprise ERP Modernization

VA’s ERP planning comes as federal health agencies intensify broader healthcare IT modernization efforts across government. Leaders from the Veterans Health Administration, Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization office and Defense Health Agency are set to discuss enterprise modernization, data strategy and next-generation health IT at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit on Feb. 12, 2026. Register now!

What Is the Purpose of the VA’s ERP RFI?

VA is seeking detailed information from vendors capable of delivering a scalable, secure and integrated ERP platform to replace or transition from its current ServiceNow environment.

According to the notice, the RFI is intended to assess market capabilities, identify technical approaches and evaluate how industry offerings could meet VA’s operational, security and compliance requirements.

What ERP Platform Capabilities Is the VA Evaluating?

The VA expects ERP platforms to address enterprise service management, asset and inventory tracking, workflow automation, and real-time reporting.

It is interested in products that can support large-scale workloads, extensive data tables and mission-critical processing while maintaining high availability, disaster recovery and performance optimization across enterprise environments.

A central focus of the RFI is the VA’s intent to understand how vendors would integrate a new ERP platform with existing federal systems through secure application programming interfaces and pre-built connectors. The agency specifically asked vendors to detail experience integrating with tools such as Power BI, Jira, Splunk, Nuvolo and electronic health record systems.

Vendors are also requested to describe how they would migrate VA data from ServiceNow while preserving data integrity, security and role-based access controls, including protections for sensitive health and personally identifiable information.

What Role Do AI, Analytics and Automation Play in the VA ERP Effort?

The VA is seeking insight into how artificial intelligence could enhance ERP operations, including the use of generative and agentic AI for ticket triage, predictive analytics, virtual agents and real-time assistance.

The agency also requested details on reporting and analytics capabilities, such as customizable dashboards, key performance indicator tracking, real-time updates and predictive insights accessible to non-technical users.

What Compliance and Security Standards Apply?

Responses must address compliance with federal security and accessibility requirements, including Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program High certification, Federal Information Security Management Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and Section 508 standards.

Responses to the RFI are due by Tuesday and are limited to 12 pages with no marketing materials permitted.

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DIU, DAWG & Navy Launch $100M Prize Challenge for Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator
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DIU Acting Director Emil Michael. DIU, DAWG and the U.S. Navy launched the Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator prize challenge.

The Defense Innovation Unit has collaborated with the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, or DAWG, and the U.S. Navy to launch a prize challenge offering up to $100 million to develop an Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator prototype.

DIU, DAWG & Navy Launch $100M Prize Challenge for Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator

DIU Acting Director and Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael is one of the speakers at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. He joins other top defense and GovCon industry leaders who will discuss the technologies and strategies driving the future of warfare and U.S. national security. Register now!

The orchestrator is intended to enable commanders to task and coordinate large numbers of autonomous systems across domains by translating human intent into machine execution, DIU said in a press release published Jan. 13.

“This solicitation’s approach is the new standard—we’re moving fast to deliver tangible capabilities to the warfighter. Selected performers will be shoulder‑to‑shoulder with operators, and they will be proving that their capability works in an operational environment,” said Hon. Emil Michael, acting director of DIU and under secretary of war for research and engineering.

What Is the Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator For?

The Autonomous Vehicle Orchestrator is intended to enable effective command and control of autonomous systems as they are increasingly deployed across multiple domains. As these systems grow in number and variety, a scalable, vehicle-agnostic orchestration layer is needed to manage fleet-level operations. The orchestrator would serve as a human-machine interface that converts commander intent received through voice, text or haptic input into coordinated actions while preserving human oversight.

“The Department’s fleet of autonomous vehicles is the future of warfighting – but they are nothing without the intelligence and experience of the operator,” said Michael Dodd, acting deputy director of DIU and assistant secretary of war for critical technologies.

“This Prize Challenge will deliver a human-machine interaction layer that will directly impact the lethality and effectiveness of these systems,” Dodd continued.

What Are the Prize Challenge Details?

The prize challenge is organized into a series of iterative sprints that tackle increasingly complex elements of the problem. Vendors are evaluated for selection before the initial sprint, and only those who complete a sprint may advance to the next phase, while unsuccessful participants are eliminated from further consideration. The challenge will remain open through Jan. 25, during which multiple awards totaling up to $100 million are expected to be issued.

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Adm. Kevin Lunday Takes Helm of US Coast Guard
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Adm. Kevin Lunday. The admiral assumed command of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Adm. Kevin Lunday officially took command of the U.S. Coast Guard during a swearing-in and assumption of command ceremony on Thursday at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and a previous Wash100 awardee, joined senior leaders of USCG and Joint Force members during the transition of command, USCG said Thursday.

What Are DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s Thoughts on Adm. Kevin Lunday?

Noem said President Trump wanted to revitalize the Coast Guard, equip it with the best available technology, ships and aircraft, and recruit the men and women necessary to carry out the mission. 

“With almost 40 years in the Coast Guard, and with command experience that has ranged from the Indo-Pacific to the Persian Gulf to cyberspace, Kevin Lunday was the man for the job,” the DHS secretary added.

In October, the president nominated Lunday for the position.

Who Is Adm. Kevin Lunday?

As the U.S. Coast Guard’s 28th commandant, he will lead the service’s transformation efforts through Force Design 2028 and strengthen operational readiness.

In this capacity, Lunday will oversee operations to secure, control and defend the U.S. border and maritime approaches; respond to crises and contingencies; and facilitate the flow of commerce that is key to U.S. maritime dominance, economic prosperity and strategic mobility.

He previously served as acting commandant of the Coast Guard, a position he assumed in January 2025.

Before accepting the acting commandant role, Lunday served as the 34th vice commandant of the service from June 2024 to January 2025.

Lunday is a career national security attorney and judge advocate who previously served as head of the Atlantic Area; commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District in the Pacific; commander of Coast Guard Cyber Command; and director of exercises and training at U.S. Cyber Command.

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Michael Obadal: Army to Issue New Software Directive
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Michael Obadal. The Army under secretary said the service is set to release its new software directive in the next few weeks.

Army Under Secretary Michael Obadal said the military branch is updating its software directive and is set to release it “in the coming weeks,” Federal News Network reported Friday.

Michael Obadal: Army to Issue New Software Directive

As the Army moves closer to releasing its updated software directive, the changes signal a broader evolution in how the service approaches digital capabilities. The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit offers an opportunity for government and industry leaders to engage on the Army’s priorities and direction. Register now!

The service plans to update the document on an annual basis to keep pace with the evolving operating environment.

What Are Army CIO Leonel Garciga’s Thoughts on the New Software Directive?

Leonel Garciga, the Army’s chief information officer and a two-time Wash100 awardee, said the upcoming software directive will include “fine-grained tuning” on low-code, no-code tools, according to Breaking Defense. He also called the directive a “living document.”

“A lot of what you’re going to see is taking the stuff that’s kind of already now institutionalized out and thinking through those new things that need to be institutionalized and putting them in,” Garciga said. “We don’t want to do one document that lives forever and like 80 percent is done so who cares at that point. So how do you take this from shelfware to something that’s more operational.”

In December 2024, the Army CIO signed five policy memos seeking to advance software modernization and accelerate cybersecurity through DevSecOps.

Why Is the Army Changing Its Software Funding Policy?

According to Obadal, the Army is also canceling its existing policy on software funding to enable the service to “apply the appropriate type of money to the applicable use case” and gain greater flexibility in how it uses procurement, operations and maintenance, research, development, testing and evaluation funds for software.

“For many years, as many of you know, we’ve been trapped by the color of money. We try to buy modern, agile software with rigid funding authorities. Predictably, it doesn’t work,” he said Thursday during the AFCEA NOVA Army IT Day event.

What Is Army Budget Activity 8?

The under secretary noted that the Army is advancing Budget Activity 8, or BA-8, to enable program managers to move beyond hardware-focused budgeting model and access funding through a software-specific appropriations category.

“We’re going to pursue Budget Activity 08 for our software, which would realign funding from various appropriations to new software and digital technology in its own budget activity,” Obadal said.

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GAO Urges Navy to Improve Operational Testing Processes, Infrastructure for New Vessels
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Logo of the Government Accountability Office. GAO issued a new report on the Navy's operational testing processes

The Government Accountability Office has identified shortfalls in the way the U.S. Navy plans and conducts operational testing to validate new vessels’ capabilities to counter adversary threats.

In a report published Thursday, the congressional watchdog revealed that the Navy does not involve fleet organizations when planning operational tests, missing the opportunity to gain direct user feedback, and has not taken coordinated action to establish a digital test infrastructure.

GAO Urges Navy to Improve Operational Testing Processes, Infrastructure for New Vessels

Get insider insights from upcoming Navy initiatives at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit on Aug. 27. The event will bring together defense agency and industry leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding the Navy and to build partnerships that will ensure stronger warfighter capabilities. Get your tickets today. 

What Issues Did GAO Discover in Its Review of the Navy’s Operational Testing?

According to the report, the Navy’s current policies do not ensure that people working in ship operations are consistently represented in test planning and execution, which could prevent the service from guaranteeing that the fleet’s needs and requirements are reflected.

The report also raised concerns over the Navy’s program-centric approach to funding and developing digital test tools, which GAO said is hindering investments in new shipbuilding capabilities and impairs the effectiveness of operational testing.

Additionally, GAO found that the service has no plans to replace its aging self-defense test ship used for remotely validating if a system can protect ships from incoming missiles. The watchdog warned that gaps in or the total loss of a self-defense test could endanger ships and warfighters in a conflict.

What Actions Must the Navy Take to Improve Its Vessel Operational Testing?

GAO made three recommendations to the Navy: ensure that policy and practices integrate user representatives from fleet forces organizations, make a decision that outlines steps for maintaining self-defense operational testing capability and establish a plan for investing in the development and sustainment of digital infrastructure.

The Navy did not agree with the first suggestion, but partially concurred with the second and concurred with the third recommendations.

GAO’s Previous Navy Reports

The report comes as the Navy faces wider challenges across ship sustainment. In 2025, the watchdog found that the Navy struggled to maintain its surface fleet despite receiving $1 billion in maintenance funding. GAO also urged the Navy in a March report to develop a comprehensive ship industrial base strategy aligned with the National Defense Industrial Strategy. 

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SpaceX Launches New Batch of NRO’s Proliferated Architecture Satellites
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Falcon 9 launch. The National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-105 mission launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket

The National Reconnaissance Office has confirmed the launch of the NROL-105 mission, deploying a new batch of satellites to orbit as part of the agency’s proliferated architecture.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday, at 11:39 p.m. EST, the agency said in a post-launch press release.

NROL-105 is SpaceX’s first national security launch for 2026 and NRO’s 12th overall mission for its proliferated architecture.

The agency shared that it plans to conduct approximately a dozen launches throughout the year to support its national security objectives.

What Is NRO Building in Space?

NRO started deploying satellites for its proliferated architecture in May 2024. SpaceX, together with Northrop Grumman, is also building the satellites for NRO, Space.com reported.

According to the agency, it now has hundreds of satellites in orbit, which enhances mission resilience and delivers persistent coverage with reduced revisit times and accelerated data processing.

NRO plans to launch more satellites to expand its proliferated structure in 2029.

When Was the NROL-77 Mission Launched?

NRO and the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command also worked with SpaceX for the launch of the NROL-77 mission in December.

In a statement, Col. Kathryn Cantu, director of the NRO Office of Space Launch and NROL-77 mission director, shared that the partnership between NRO and SSC reinforces the nation’s space superiority.

“As space becomes increasingly contested, this partnership enables us to rapidly deploy advanced intelligence capabilities while maintaining the agility and resilience needed to address emerging threats,” the official added.

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Retired Air Force F-15s Join NASA Effort to Advance Quiet Supersonic Research
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F-15 aircraft. Two retired F-15s join NASA’s flight research fleet to help advance the X-59 program.

NASA is expanding the capabilities of its flight research fleet with the addition of two retired U.S. Air Force F-15 aircraft, strengthening the agency’s ability to support high-speed aeronautics testing tied to its quiet supersonic research goals.

The aircraft have been integrated into operations at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, where they will support the Flight Demonstrations and Capabilities project, NASA said Friday. One of the jets will be returned to flying status as an active research aircraft, while the second will be used to sustain long-term operations by supplying parts for the fleet.

Why Are F-15s Important to NASA’s Supersonic Research?

NASA said the F-15 remains suited for flight research due to its ability to operate at high speeds and altitudes while carrying experimental hardware. The aircraft’s design allows researchers to mount instruments externally and adapt onboard systems for specialized test missions. Its ground clearance also enables the installation of test equipment that would not fit beneath many research aircraft.

At Armstrong, engineers will modify the aircraft’s software, avionics and flight controls to meet mission-specific requirements.

How Do the Aircraft Support the X-59 Mission?

The F-15s will support testing associated with NASA’s Quesst mission, which centers on the X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin. The X-59 is designed to reduce the disruptive sonic boom produced during supersonic flight into a quieter “thump,” a key step toward enabling commercial supersonic travel over land.

NASA already operates modified F-15s capable of safely flying at altitudes up to 60,000 feet, aligning with the X-59’s planned cruise altitude of approximately 55,000 feet. The newly added aircraft will receive similar modifications, enabling them to operate within the same high-altitude flight envelope and to support data collection throughout the program’s life.

Where Did NASA’s F-15 Aircraft Come From?

The two F-15s were transferred from the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field following their retirement from military service. After completing their final Air Force flights, the aircraft arrived at NASA Armstrong in late December 2025.

NASA has a long history of operating F-15s for research, dating back to the aircraft’s early years.

“Dozens of scientific experiments have been flown over the decades on NASA’s F-15s and have made a significant contribution to aeronautics and high-speed flight research,” said Troy Asher, director for flight operations at NASA Armstrong.

What Comes Next for F-15?

While their immediate priority is supporting X-59 testing, Asher said both aircraft are expected to provide long-term value beyond the quiet supersonic mission. The addition of the F-15s positions NASA to resume collaboration with external partners, including the Department of War and commercial aviation companies.

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DOE Issues RFI for Genesis Mission Support, AI Workforce Development
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DOE seal. DOE has issued a request for information to support Genesis Mission technical needs and AI workforce development.

The Department of Energy has issued a request for information seeking feedback from public and private organizations on addressing technical challenges associated with its Genesis Mission and developing a skilled workforce to support artificial intelligence in science and engineering.

DOE Issues RFI for Genesis Mission Support, AI Workforce DevelopmentSecure your spot at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18 to learn how AI is advancing innovation that is reshaping government and military operations.

The RFI invites educational and industrial institutions, philanthropic organizations, think tanks and research institutions to submit responses by March 4, the agency said Friday. 

What Is DOE’s Genesis Mission?

The Genesis Mission is a DOE-led effort to mobilize national laboratories, industry and universities to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation through high-performance computing, AI and quantum computing.

“The Genesis Mission will double the productivity and impact of American science and engineering in a decade and address some of the most challenging problems of this century. It will lead to new industries and highly skilled jobs for our next generation. We are going to prepare them for these opportunities,” said Dario Gil, DOE’s under secretary for science.

Why Is Workforce Development a Key Focus?

DOE said achieving the mission’s objectives will require training approximately 100,000 scientists and engineers over the next 10 years. The agency aims to establish a robust pipeline for AI-enabled science and engineering that spans undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral education, with an emphasis on developing dual competencies in AI and a core scientific or engineering discipline.

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