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Army Continues Shift From PEOs With Capability Program Executive Enterprise Software & Services Activation
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Miranda Coleman, acting capability program executive. Coleman will lead CPE ES2 in an acting capacity

The U.S. Army has redesignated the Program Executive Office Enterprise as Capability Program Executive Enterprise Software and Services, or CPE ES2. Leaders of the former PEO unveiled its new name, logo and colors during an activation ceremony held on Feb. 25.

Army Continues Shift From PEOs With Capability Program Executive Enterprise Software & Services Activation

Gain a better understanding of ongoing and upcoming changes across the Army at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 12. The 11th annual edition of the Army Summit will enable industry to learn about the capabilities that the service needs to deliver on its 2030 goals through keynote speeches, panel discussions and networking opportunities. Secure your tickets here.

The move follows the Army’s redesignation of the PEO Simulation, Training and Instrumentation as CPE Simulation, Training, Test and Threat in February.

As part of the transformation, the Army also unveiled the renamed portfolios under CPE ES2:

  • Project Manager Integrated Personnel and Pay System–Army now operates as PM Human Resources and Force Management, or PM HR-FM.
  • PM Enterprise Business Systems and Convergence now operates as PM Logistics and Finance, or PM LOG-FIN.
  • PM Defense Integrated Business Systems now operates as PM Acquisition, Training and Readiness, or PM AT&R.
  • Project Director Enterprise Services now operates as PD Business Technology Solutions, or PD BTS.

What Is CPE ES2?

CPE ES2 is one of the Army’s 13 newly designated capability program executives. It will provide software and services that support operational readiness and mission-critical warfighting systems. CPE ES2 will also collaborate with the Office of the Chief Information Officer on technology initiatives, according to the Army.

Miranda Coleman, who serves as the acting capability program executive for CPE ES2, said the organization will focus on operationalizing low-code and no-code tools, accelerating delivery timelines, maturing Agile practices, and strengthening talent management in fiscal 2026.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I’m confident we’re off to a fantastic start,” Coleman commented.

Why Is the Army Transitioning From PEOs to CPEs?

The transition is part of the Army’s broader acquisition overhaul launched in November meant to reduce bureaucracy and accelerate capability delivery. The restructuring consolidates oversight under newly empowered portfolio acquisition executives, replacing PEOs with a framework that aligns programs under broader capability portfolios. PAEs will oversee different capability areas, each headed by a CPE.

Brent Ingraham, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said the model is intended to better align acquisition strategies with operational concepts and ensure that soldiers receive capabilities without delay.

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War Department Issues Cyber Developmental Test & Evaluation Manual
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DOW seal. The Department of War has issued the Cyber Developmental Test and Evaluation manual.

The Department of War has released DOW Manual 5000.103, establishing policy and procedures for cyber developmental test and evaluation, or cyber DT&E, across all department systems.

War Department Issues Cyber Developmental Test & Evaluation Manual

The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 will address the rising tide of global cyber threats and the urgency of meeting the 2027 zero trust deadline. Sign up now to join the discussion.

According to the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, the Cyber DT&E manual was approved by Under Secretary Emil Michael, effective Feb. 25.

What Does the Cyber DT&E Manual Require?

The guidance directs DOW components to plan, fund, execute and report cyber DT&E activities across a system’s lifecycle, from science and technology through production, fielding, sustainment and post-deployment updates. It applies to pre-acquisition efforts, major acquisition programs, adaptive pathways and systems in sustainment.

Cyber DT&E evaluates a system’s ability to prevent, detect, analyze and recover from cyber events, generating data to inform risk decisions, design trades and production approvals. It requires programs to obtain Risk Management Framework authorization decisions and integrates testing into mission engineering, prototyping and operations.

What Is the Manual’s Impact on the DOW Cyber Community?

The manual institutionalizes mission-focused cyber testing across acquisition, sustainment and technology efforts, requiring cyber validation before operational reviews and tying performance directly to production, fielding and risk decisions. Cyber DT&E now measurably informs Risk Management Framework determinations, including interim authority to test and authorization to operate decisions.

The guidance formalizes the use of cyber ranges, digital engineering, and adversarial testing, and expands the focus on attack surface and supply chain risk. It also increases workforce and funding requirements for qualified personnel, tools and infrastructure to support lifecycle testing.

How Are Responsibilities Assigned?

The USW(R&E) oversees implementation and approves cyber test plans for select programs. The under secretary for acquisition and sustainment, chief digital and AI officer, and DOW chief information officer align the policy with cybersecurity, intelligence and AI strategies.

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OpenAI Reaches Classified AI Deployment Deal With DOW
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Artificial intelligence. OpenAI reached an agreement with DOW to deploy AI models on classified networks.

OpenAI said it has reached an agreement with the Department of War to deploy advanced artificial intelligence models on classified networks, outlining what it described as a multi-layered safeguard structure governing the use of its systems.

The company made the announcement on Saturday after President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to cease using Anthropic’s AI tools and War Secretary Pete Hegseth, a 2026 Wash100 Award recipient, indicated Anthropic would be designated a “supply chain risk.”

OpenAI Reaches Classified AI Deployment Deal With DOW

The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18 will convene senior defense, intelligence and industry leaders to examine how advanced AI capabilities are being deployed across government environments. Discussions will focus on responsible implementation, security considerations and scaling AI tools to support mission execution. Register now.

OpenAI said the agreement allows deployment of its models in classified environments while maintaining three core “red lines:” no use of its technology for mass domestic surveillance, directing autonomous weapons systems and high-stakes automated decision-making without human approval.

In a post on social media platform X, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said the DOW “agrees with these principles.” He noted that the DOW “displayed a deep respect for safety and a desire to partner to achieve the best possible outcome.”

What Guardrails Govern the Classified OpenAI Deployment?

OpenAI said the deployment will be cloud-only and will retain the company’s full safety stack, including technical safeguards designed to prevent misuse.

It reiterated that it will not provide models without guardrails or deploy systems on edge devices, citing concerns that edge deployment could create pathways for autonomous lethal weapon use. Cleared forward-deployed engineers and safety researchers will remain involved in the deployment to help ensure compliance with agreed-upon safeguards.

The contract language, according to OpenAI, permits lawful military use consistent with U.S. law and DOW policy and references existing legal authorities governing intelligence activities, including restrictions on domestic surveillance and use involving U.S. persons.

What Happened With Anthropic?

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei rejected what the department described as its “best and final offer,” citing concerns about removing guardrails related to domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems.

OpenAI said it does not believe Anthropic should be designated a supply chain risk. According to Altman, his company asked the DOW to offer the same contractual framework to all AI companies.

“We have expressed our strong desire to see things de-escalate away from legal and governmental actions and towards reasonable agreements,” he wrote.

How Does This Fit Into the Pentagon’s Broader AI Rollout?

The classified agreement follows the DOW’s recent partnership with OpenAI to integrate a custom version of ChatGPT into the GenAI.mil enterprise AI platform for unclassified work.

According to the department, GenAI.mil has surpassed 1 million unique users within its first two months and provides access to large language models across the agency’s approximately 3 million personnel.

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CISA Names Nick Andersen Acting Director
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Nick Andersen. The CISA executive assistant director for cybersecurity has been named the agency’s acting director.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has named Nick Andersen, executive assistant director for cybersecurity, acting director as Madhu Gottumukkala moves to a new position at the Department of Homeland Security, ABC News reported.

CISA Names Nick Andersen Acting Director

Leadership transitions at agencies like CISA highlight ongoing developments across the federal cybersecurity community. The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 will convene federal and private sector leaders for discussions on key cybersecurity issues. Register now!

In January, the White House renominated Sean Plankey, former director for cyber policy at the National Security Council, to serve as director of CISA. He has yet to receive a Senate confirmation hearing.

What Will Be Madhu Gottumukkala’s New Role at DHS?

Gottumukkala, who has been serving as acting CISA director and deputy director, will transition to the role of director of strategic implementation at DHS, according to a department official.

A DHS official said Gottumukkala “has done a remarkable job in a thankless task of helping reform CISA back to its core statutory mission” and “will continue his work to save taxpayer money” in his new position.

Who Is Nick Andersen?

Andersen serves as CISA’s executive assistant director for cybersecurity. In that role, he leads efforts to address cyberthreats and vulnerabilities and strengthen the security and resilience of U.S. critical infrastructure.

The U.S. Marine Corps veteran previously served as principal deputy assistant secretary and performed the duties of assistant secretary for the Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response.

He has also held leadership roles in the private sector, including president and chief operating officer at Invictus and chief information security officer for the public sector at Lumen Technologies.

Earlier in his career, he served as federal cybersecurity lead and senior cybersecurity adviser to the federal chief information officer at the White House, as well as chief information security officer for the state of Vermont. Andersen holds graduate degrees in cybersecurity and information security and assurance, as well as a certificate in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

What Is CISA?

CISA is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security that defends national, digital and physical infrastructure from cyberthreats.

CISA has taken several recent actions to address urgent cyber risks across federal networks, including issuing an emergency directive to mitigate critical Cisco SD-WAN threats; releasing a guide to advance secure operational technology communications; issuing a directive to strengthen edge device security; and publishing guidance to address insider threats.

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NASA Appoints Interim Heads for Space Operations, CCP
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Joel Montalbano and Dana Hutcherson. Montalbano and Hutcherson stepped into interim leadership roles at NASA.

NASA has appointed Joel Montalbano as acting associate administrator for the Space Operations Mission Directorate and Dana Hutcherson as acting Commercial Crew Program manager.

The agency said Thursday the leadership changes follow the previously announced retirement of Kenneth Bowersox as SOMD associate administrator. Both Montalbano and Hutcherson had been serving as deputies in their respective roles.

“Strong leadership is essential to advancing NASA’s mission, and Joel Montalbano and Dana Hutcherson are exceptionally well-qualified to serve in these acting roles,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. He added that their experience will support U.S. objectives in low Earth orbit and future deep space efforts.

SOMD oversees a broad portfolio that includes CCP, the Commercial LEO Development Program, the International Space Station Program and the Human Research Program.

Who Is Joel Montalbano?

Joel Montalbano previously served as ISS program manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where he led the overall management, integration and operation of the orbiting laboratory. The ISS program represents a multibillion-dollar, multinational effort involving 15 partner nations.

Earlier in his career, Montalbano served as deputy ISS program manager, director of NASA’s Human Space Flight Program in Russia and a NASA flight director. He began his aerospace career at Rockwell in 1988 and was inducted into the Senior Executive Service in 2008.

Montalbano is a recipient of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and multiple NASA Exceptional Service Medals. He also received the Astronaut’s Silver Snoopy award.

Montalbano holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Iowa State University.

In his new role, he focuses on advancing a commercial LEO economy as NASA prepares for the eventual retirement of the ISS while maintaining U.S. leadership in space operations.

Who Is Dana Hutcherson?

Dana Hutcherson previously served as deputy program manager for systems engineering and integration within CCP, managing certification efforts for Boeing and SpaceX crew transportation systems. She also led the program’s Launch Vehicle Systems Office and earlier served as a NASA flow director in the Launch Vehicle Processing Directorate.

Before joining NASA, Hutcherson worked at United Space Alliance as an airframe engineer and later served in an engineering leadership role.

Her recognitions include the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award, NASA’s Space Flight Awareness Leadership Award and the Outstanding Leadership Medal.

Hutcherson earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida.

In her new role as acting program manager, she will oversee efforts with industry partners to ensure safe, reliable and cost-effective crew transportation to LEO destinations, including the ISS.

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Pentagon to Phase Out Anthropic’s Claude After Trump Blacklists AI Firm
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Pentagon. The Department of War will begin a six-month phased rollback of Anthropic's AI platform Claude.

President Donald Trump has directed all federal agencies to immediately cease use of Anthropic’s artificial intelligence technology, escalating a high-stakes dispute between the Pentagon and the AI firm over military guardrails.

“I am directing every federal agency in the United States government to immediately cease all use of Anthropic’s technology. We don’t need it, we don’t want it and will not do business with them again!” Trump wrote Thursday on Truth Social.

The order includes a six-month phase-out period for the Department of War and other agencies currently using Anthropic’s Claude models, according to coverage by The Wall Street Journal.

The decision follows weeks of mounting tension between the Pentagon and Anthropic over whether the company would lift safeguards limiting how its models can be used in military contexts.

For the latest intel on how the Department of War is using AI, attend Chief Digital and AI Officer Cameron Stanley’s keynote at Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18!

Why Did the Pentagon Move Against Anthropic?

At the center of the dispute is a Pentagon demand that Anthropic allow its AI models to be used for all lawful military purposes, without restrictions embedded in the company’s terms of service.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei publicly rejected what the War Department described as its “best and final offer,” stating that the company could not agree to remove guardrails related to mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems.

According to Axios, the Pentagon plans to designate Anthropic as a “supply chain risk,” a label typically applied to companies tied to adversarial nations. The move would sever a contract reportedly valued at up to $200 million and bar Anthropic from future government work. Contractors working with the War Department may also be required to certify that they are not using Claude in covered workflows.

Defense officials have argued that once the military procures a tool, it must retain full discretion over lawful use cases without negotiating operational boundaries with a private vendor.

The clash intensified amid broader national security sensitivities following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, an operation in which Claude was reportedly used within classified systems.

What Does This Mean for Military AI Operations?

Claude is currently the only AI model deployed in the military’s classified systems, according to Axios. Defense officials acknowledged disentangling it will be complex, particularly as AI has become embedded in sensitive planning and operational workflows.

The phase-out raises immediate questions about replacement providers. Elon Musk’s xAI recently signed an agreement enabling the use of its Grok model in classified environments, though sources told Axios it may not serve as a like-for-like substitute. Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT are available in unclassified systems, and discussions are underway about expanding access in classified settings.

The decision also complicates matters for Palantir, which integrates Claude into some of its defense work and may now need to pivot to alternative models.

In a statement, Amodei said that if the Pentagon chooses to offboard Anthropic, the company will work to ensure a smooth transition and avoid disruptions to ongoing military operations.

Pentagon to Phase Out Anthropic’s Claude After Trump Blacklists AI Firm
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Air Force Awards 4 Engine Development Contracts for Future Collaborative Combat Aircraft
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U.S. Air Force seal. The Air Force awarded engine development contracts to mature designs for future autonomous aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force has awarded four propulsion development contracts to Beehive Industries, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney and a team of GE Aerospace and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions to mature designs for future autonomous aircraft, including Combat Collaborative Aircraft, or CCA, Increment 2 and other autonomous collaborative platforms, Breaking Defense reported Wednesday.

Air Force Awards 4 Engine Development Contracts for Future Collaborative Combat Aircraft

As the Air Force moves forward with new propulsion development efforts for autonomous aircraft, defense stakeholders continue to track the service’s broader modernization priorities. Reserve your spot at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30 to connect with peers across government and industry and stay informed on developments impacting the air and space community.

The companies will conduct early-stage engine design work, according to an Air Force spokesperson.

“This multi-vendor approach ensures the Air Force has a variety of options to power the diverse and evolving fleet of ACP and CCA Increments,” the spokesperson said.

What Is Increment 1 of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program?

Increment 1 is the first round of the Air Force’s drone wingmen Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. For the initial phase, the service selected commercially available propulsion systems.

“To meet program schedule requirements, the CCA Increment 1 program solves operational problems by incorporating available, low risk propulsion solutions,” the Air Force spokesperson said. “The Air Force is maturing propulsion designs in different power classes in support of future ACP and CCA Increments that optimize cost, range, and mass.”

What Are the Details of the USAF Contracts Awarded to GE-Kratos Team & Honeywell?

The GE Aerospace-Kratos team secured a $12.4 million Air Force contract to design a next-generation engine for small CCA. Under the program’s initial phase, the team will complete the preliminary design of the GEK1500 engine to meet performance requirements while targeting cost objectives intended to support affordable mass production.

Honeywell received an Air Force prototype contract to design a propulsion system for an autonomous aircraft based on its SkyShot 1600 engine. The SkyShot 1600 features a flexible architecture that can support turbojet or turbofan configurations for various mission profiles.

What Is Air Force CCA?

CCA is the Air Force’s initiative to develop semi-autonomous aircraft designed to operate alongside crewed platforms, complement major weapons systems and serve as force multipliers for the joint force. As part of the Next Generation Air Dominance Family of Systems, the program seeks to integrate open-systems architectures to facilitate the continuous iteration of autonomy and mission systems capabilities. 

The Air Force has begun integrating and testing its Autonomy Government Reference Architecture across multiple vendor platforms as part of the CCA program.

In December, the service designated Northrop Grumman’s semi-autonomous prototype aircraft, Project Talon, as YFQ-48A under the program.

In August 2025, the Air Force announced that the YFQ-42A prototype, developed with General Atomics, completed its inaugural flight as the platform transitioned into flight testing.

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AMC’s Gail Atkins Says Digital Transformation Is an Immediate Priority in Army’s OIB Modernization
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Army Materiel Command. An AMC official discussed the ongoing modernization of the Army OIB

Brig. Gen. Gail Atkins, deputy chief of staff for logistics and operations at the Army Materiel Command, identified digital transformation as an immediate priority in the modernization of the organic industrial base, or OIB, the Army said Monday.

AMC's Gail Atkins Says Digital Transformation Is an Immediate Priority in Army's OIB Modernization

Get updates on government modernization initiatives directly from defense leaders at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22. The event will also feature speakers from across government and industry to discuss future plans for enterprise IT, user experience, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Tickets are available here.

At an event hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association, Atkins highlighted the Army’s work with industry to adopt commercial best practices and technologies to meet the service’s modernization requirements.

“We are all in on digital twinning,” the official shared on AMC’s efforts to strengthen the OIB.

As part of the Army’s 15-year modernization plan for the OIB, AMC invested nearly $100 million in facility and equipment upgrades across its sites.

“We are literally mapping our factory floors and censoring them so that while we are manufacturing or repairing, we are iterating and planning for what the next piece needs to be,” Atkins added.

What Actions Is the Army Taking to Modernize Its OIB?

AMC established the OIB Operations Center following a recent comprehensive, 90-day review of the OIB in late 2025. The OIB Integration Cell is responsible for ensuring that OIB’s long-term plans align with the Army’s strategic objectives. Meanwhile, the OIB Operations Center is in charge of accelerating OIB modernization.

“We embarked not only on a modernization plan, but a re‑imagination, and we must completely iterate and reimagine what our industrial base needs to be,” Atkins added.

Why Is the Army Modernizing Its OIB?

The Army is moving forward with a 15-year upgrade of its OIB to improve safety for personnel on production lines and increase efficiency and quality through greener manufacturing practices across all facilities to support the 2030s Army.

The OIB comprises 23 government-owned depots, arsenals and ammunition plants, some of which have been in use since the ‘70s,” Breaking Defense reported.

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ORNL Establishes Next Generation Data Centers Institute to Tackle AI Energy Demands
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Oak Ridge National Laboratory logo. ORNL formed the Next Generation Data Centers Institute

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has formed the Next Generation Data Centers Institute, NGDCI, which will unite the lab’s expertise and facilities in a mission to ensure the security, efficiency and reliability of the nation’s artificial intelligence infrastructure.

According to ORNL, NGDCI will utilize its Modeling Energy Growth Associated with Data Centers, or MEGA-DC, to forecast the costs and economic benefits of infrastructure upgrades to guide decision-makers in figuring out a pathway for scalable AI data center growth.

ORNL Establishes Next Generation Data Centers Institute to Tackle AI Energy Demands

The Potomac Officers Club will host the Building Mission-Ready AI Infrastructure: Designing a Data and Security Foundation for the Future panel at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18 to explore strategies for building a scalable, secure AI infrastructure. The event will bring together AI experts from across industry and government to explore how the technology is transforming GovCon. Sign up today to secure your spot.

How Will NGDCI Respond to Growing Energy Demands of AI Centers?

AI-specific workloads drive increased energy consumption across data centers. Training a single large language model consumes hundreds of megawatt-hours of electricity, noted the ORNL.

To address the issue, the new institute will conduct research on six areas key to supporting the rapid expansion of AI:

  • Develop next-generation thermal management systems that would reduce energy and water use at AI data centers
  • Design power system architectures to improve how electricity flows from source to server
  • Identify grid integration strategies designed to ensure data centers stabilize rather than strain local and regional power systems
  • Integrate autonomous platforms to optimize workloads and energy use
  • Extend cybersecurity protections, including cyber-informed engineering and quantum-safe communications, to data centers
  • Utilize integrated systems modeling to better understand how AI infrastructure will affect U.S. energy systems, jobs, materials and economic competitiveness through the 2030s and beyond.

How Did Industry React to NGDCI’s Formation?

Executives from the energy and AI ecosystem have expressed support for the NGDCI. Forrest Norrod, executive vice president and general manager of the data center solutions business group at AMD, emphasized the importance of resilient, power-aware systems to maintain grid stability while enabling efficient AI use at scale.

Meanwhile, Ian Buck, vice president of hyperscale and high-performance computing at NVIDIA, underscored the company’s long-standing partnership with U.S. national laboratories, including ORNL, adding that continued collaboration under NGDCI and the Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission will help better integrate AI infrastructure with the nation’s energy systems and strengthen U.S. energy security.

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DOW Sets 2027 Deadline to Fully Retire Manual System Access Request Process
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Department of War logo. DOW set a 2027 deadline to phase out manual requests for system access.

The Department of War has set a final deadline of Sept. 30, 2027, to fully decommission its decades-old, paper-based System Authorization Access Request process.

All systems must transition to automated identity, credential and access management workflows to modernize how access is requested, authorized and provisioned, the Department of War’s chief information officer said Feb.19, citing a December 2025 memorandum from the DOW chief information security officer.

DOW Sets 2027 Deadline to Fully Retire Manual System Access Request Process

As agencies retire legacy infrastructure, the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 will convene top officials and executives to discuss the deployment of advanced AI, cybersecurity and enterprise IT capabilities. Don’t miss this opportunity to align with the strategies and partnerships shaping the future of the public sector. Register now.

What Is Driving the Shift to Automated Workflows?

The directive replaces the DD Form 2875 SAAR process, which relies on manual routing and static documentation that no longer scales to enterprise operational demands.

The new framework, detailed in the ICAM Workflow Implementation Guide, aligns access management with zero trust principles by shifting from manual signatures to attribute-driven decisioning. Under this model, access is granted based on real-time authoritative data, such as official personnel records, security clearance status and completion of required training.

While low-risk requests can be approved automatically based on these attributes, higher-risk or privileged access will require system-enforced attestation from supervisors or data owners.

A primary driver of this transition is the requirement for automated “joiner, mover, and leaver” management. To reduce insider threat risks, user accounts must now be disabled within 24 hours of a separation notification.

Furthermore, the system will generate immutable audit logs for every stage of the access lifecycle — from request to deprovisioning — to strengthen oversight and support defensive cyber operations.

What Is the Road Map to Automation?

Phase 1: Setting the Digital Foundation
The first six months focus on infrastructure readiness. Organizations must audit their existing system inventories and establish technical bridges to approved ICAM providers. Success in this stage is defined by successful pilot tests and the formalization of automated attestation matrices for high-risk data.

Phase 2: Scaling Enterprise Performance
From early 2026 through mid-year, the focus shifts to production and rapid expansion. After a “first wave” of prioritized systems establishes baseline benchmarks for provisioning speed, the department will scale toward a 50 percent adoption target. This period marks the transition from simple role-based access to more sophisticated, data-driven permissions. 

Phase 3: Final Integration and Operational Steady-State
Leading up to the September 2027 deadline, the final systems will migrate away from the legacy SAAR ecosystem. This phase is less about deployment and more about decommissioning; manual PDF processes are retired and legacy records are archived. Once the transition is complete, the program will pivot from an implementation project to an operational service.

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