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Pete Hegseth Issues Memo Ordering Advana Restructuring
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Hegseth issued a memo to restructure the Advana program

War Secretary Pete Hegseth, a recipient of the 2025 Wash100, issued a new memorandum on the Advana program as part of the Department of War’s effort to accelerate artificial intelligence adoption and auditability.

The memo, issued by Hegseth’s office on Friday, tasks the Pentagon’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer to establish three distinct program components to transform Advana into a platform to harness the department’s extensive data assets and support warfighting, intelligence and enterprise missions.

Pete Hegseth Issues Memo Ordering Advana Restructuring

Department of War leaders will talk about the new innovations transforming military operations at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. Gain actionable insights from panel discussions on AI, quantum computing, and FutureG, and network with top industry representatives at this high-impact GovCon summit. Get your tickets here.

What Are Advana’s New Program Components?

Each program component will have technical leaders and will have access to enhanced engineering resources. The CDAO will oversee the programs and provide the Office of the Secretary of War with status updates every 45 days until the programs achieve full operational capability.

The three program components are:

  • War Data Platform, or WDP, will focus on standardized data integration to support AI and application development across the department.
  • Advana for Financial Management will support the under secretary of war comptroller‘s audit remediation teams in the mission to ensure that the DOW can achieve a clean audit opinion in fiscal 2027.
  • WDP Application Services will rationalize and migrate non-audit Advana applications to the new WDP architecture.

What Is Advana?

Advana was introduced during President Donald Trump’s administration to provide DOW users with analytics tools and services and data derived from the department’s over 400 business systems to support decision-making.

In March, Steven Morani, who was then acting under secretary of war for sustainment, issued a memo about the department’s intent to turn Advana into a formal program of record.

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Google Public Sector Survey Highlights AI Usage, Barriers Across Federal Agencies
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Jim Kelly of Google Public Sector. The company revealed a survey showing AI use in federal sector.

Google Public Sector released findings from a survey conducted by Government Executive showing that close to 90 percent of respondents from federal agencies have already adopted artificial intelligence or intend to do so. The research is based on responses from 250 federal IT leaders and influencers from both civilian and defense agencies, Google Public Sector said Wednesday.

Google Public Sector Survey Highlights AI Usage, Barriers Across Federal Agencies

Explore the growing impact of AI across government and industry at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18. Secure your spot today.

How Are Agencies Using Artificial Intelligence?

Government agencies are applying AI across a range of use cases, with 54 percent of respondents stating that they utilize AI to automate document and data processing. About 40 percent use it to streamline workflows to reduce manual effort, while 34 percent deploy AI-driven decision-support tools for fraud detection, resource planning and other tasks.

How Is Google Public Sector Supporting AI Adoption?

Jim Kelly, vice president of federal at Google Public Sector and previous Wash100 Award winner, said findings suggest that although many agencies already rely on AI for mission-critical tasks, concerns about security, workforce readiness and reliability persist.

To help address some of these challenges, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office at the Department of War deployed Google Cloud’s Gemini for Government on the Pentagon’s GenAI.mil platform, enabling more than three million civilian and military users to streamline everyday tasks, such as drafting routine communications and summarizing policy guidance.

Looking ahead, the company plans to help agencies tackle budget constraints, modernize legacy systems, and strengthen workforce skills over the next 12 to 18 months by leveraging Gemini for Government under the GSA OneGov Strategy and expanding access to Google Skills’ AI training resources.

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FedRAMP Seeks Comments on Proposed Updates to Close Out Authorization Act Reform
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FedRAMP logo. FedRAMP seeks comments on proposed reforms.

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program has rolled out a set of policy proposals aimed at bringing its overhaul under the FedRAMP Authorization Act to a close.

FedRAMP released on Tuesday six requests for comments, or RFCs, to align the program with its updated statutory role and Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-24-15, following nearly a year of testing and engagement with the cloud security community.

What FedRAMP Changes Are Being Proposed?

The RFCs propose new requirements for reporting independent assessment costs, a revised authorization designation system that distinguishes FedRAMP approvals from agency authorizations to operate and expanded FedRAMP Marketplace listings that would include services still in the preparation phase.

Other proposals introduce a new authorization step that leverages external security assessments for limited, low-risk use cases; a temporary sponsorless Rev5 certification path for certain providers; and requirements for machine-readable authorization data tied to defined implementation timelines.

Why Release Six FedRAMP RFCs at the Same Time?

Rather than issuing changes incrementally, FedRAMP opted for a single, coordinated release of the RFCs. The program office said the approach reflects the close connection between the proposed updates and aims to avoid creating a prolonged period of uncertainty for the FedRAMP ecosystem.

To reduce the burden on stakeholders, comment deadlines were staggered across the six proposals. Comment periods will remain open through mid-February and March, depending on the proposal.

FedRAMP said it will address questions about the RFCs during upcoming community update meetings and plans to host at least one special event focused on the changes. 

Data gathered will be used to improve the proposed updates.

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USPTO Unveils SPARK Pilot Program to Incentivize Standards Participation
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USPTO Director John Squires. USPTO has unveiled plans to develop the SPARK Pilot Program.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has announced the Standards Participation and Representation Kudos—or SPARK—Pilot Program, a new initiative aimed at expanding participation in standards development organizations, a.k.a. SDOs, by small and medium-sized businesses, universities and nonprofit organizations.

The SPARK program is the first initiative of the Standard-Essential Patent Working Group, following its Dec. 25 launch, USPTO said Wednesday.

What Is the SPARK Pilot Program?

The SPARK pilot program is designed to encourage broader U.S. participation in SDOs by offering a limited number of acceleration certificates to qualifying entities that make substantive technical contributions or otherwise play an active role in the standards-setting process.

The certificates can be used to speed up the review of patent applications or appeals before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, helping participants recoup some of the time and resources committed to standards work.

“The SPARK program recognizes that small and medium-sized businesses, universities, and non-profits bring critical expertise and innovative thinking to standards development, but often lack the resources of larger enterprises to sustain participation. By offering meaningful incentives here at the USPTO, we’re continuing to invest in broader and more robust U.S. representation in the very forums where tomorrow’s technologies are taking shape today,” said John Squires, under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the USPTO.

What Is the Challenge With Technical Standards?

Technical standards underpin progress in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, telecommunications and manufacturing, but many smaller U.S. organizations lack the resources to consistently be involved in standards bodies, even though decisions made there can directly affect market access and competitive positioning.

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Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)
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AI. This is our first in a series of our comprehensive listing of chief AI officers in the federal government
  • Federal chief AI officers are quickly becoming some of the most powerful decision-makers in government
  • These public servants are influencing compliance requirements, cloud standards and many more key technologies
  • Hear directly from top federal chief AI officers like these at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18!

Federal chief artificial intelligence officers are fast becoming some of the most influential decision-makers in government. They are shaping how AI is adopted, governed and scaled across federal agencies.

From the White House and intelligence community to civilian agencies like the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Treasury, these leaders are creating policy for responsible AI use while aggressively pushing mission-driven innovation. Their strategies influence everything from compliance requirements and cloud standards to workforce development, pilot programs and acquisition priorities.

Why Do Chief AI Officers Matter for GovCons?

For GovCons, these officials matter because they define trusted, secure and deployable AI at the federal level. Understanding their priorities—risk management, transparency, data readiness and real-world impact—gives contractors a clearer view of where opportunities are emerging and how to align offerings with the government’s evolving AI agenda.

Let’s dive into the backgrounds of these top federal AI officers and how they’re defining technological excellence.

Note: This is part one of an ongoing series. Over the next couple of months, we’ll be sharing further iterations and will link to them here.

Be part of the federal AI conversation at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18! Get the latest business opportunities directly from top federal officials and industry experts. Check out cutting-edge panel discussions including Integrating AI into Legacy Federal Systems: Architectural Patterns That Work and Does Your AI Play Well With Others? Position your GovCon firm organization for what’s next in federal AI. Secure your seat now!

Who Are the Top AI Officers in Government?

Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)

David Sacks

AI and Crypto Czar, White House

Sacks has been the leading influential force behind President Trump’s AI initiatives. He mostly wrote Trump’s December executive order limiting states from regulating AI, according to Politico.

Sacks in July said the White House’s AI Action Plan provided a path for the U.S. to lead the world in AI through global partnerships, innovation and infrastructure. Sacks has also advocated for a free market approach to federal funding for AI startups, CNBC reported.
 

 

Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)

Jeremy Walsh

Chief AI Officer, Food and Drug Administration

Walsh became the FDA’s first AI chief in 2025. He has more than 10 years of experience as a chief technologist at Booz Allen where he championed the development, production and delivery of revolutionary AI and cloud services for the healthcare industry, according to Chief Data Officer Magazine.

Walsh in 2025 coordinated a proactive timeline to internally scale use of AI in all FDA centers after a new generative AI pilot for scientific reviewers was completed. The GenAI tools allowed agency scientists and professionals to reduce time spent on manual tasks that often bogged down the review process.

 

Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)

Gregory Barbaccia

Federal CIO, Office of Management and Budget

Barbaccia serves as the federal chief information officer, supervising the integration of secure and reliable technology in the federal government. He won a coveted Wash100 Award in 2025, recognizing his excellence and innovation in serving both the public and private sectors.

He was part of an Office of Personnel Management effort in 2025 called Tech Force to better recruit premier technologists to the federal government and advance AI adoption. Barbaccia in May called on government CIOs to build trust by being transparent with colleagues, other federal agencies and the public.
 

Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)

Lakshmi Raman

AI Director, CIAs the CIA’s AI director, Raman is pioneering innovative AI use at the spy agency. She said in June that she’s excited about agentic AI, where agents take action for an operator, according to FedScoop.

Raman has been at the CIA for nearly 24 years, starting as a software developer. She’s led critical efforts in analytics, data science and intelligence integration across the intelligence community. 

In a 2024 CIA podcast, Raman discussed how integrating large language models in generative AI was crucial to the agency’s open source mission. The CIA, she said, has a collection of AI professionals, engineers and data scientists helping the agency ensure its data is AI ready. It is also incorporating the technology into applications it uses regularly.

 

Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)

Scott Flanders

CIO, Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Flanders became CIO with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2024 after serving as acting CIO and deputy CIO. As deputy CIO, he strategized and supervised the delivery of IT and information services critical to the NRC’s mission, according to OrangeSlices.ai.

Flanders in September developed an AI Compliance Plan for the NRC, with a goal of delivering trustworthy and compliant access to software tools. The plan specifically emphasizes utilizing enterprise-licensed services, FedRAMP-approved cloud environments and NRC-certified commercial AI properties.

AI is emerging as an essential capability across the federal government. Hear the newest requirements from top federal AI officials like these at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18! Get your pressing questions answered during Q&A sessions. Spark collaborations with other GovCon titans and score that big contract. Don’t wait—buy your ticket today! 

 

Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)

Helena Fu

Office of Critical and Emerging Technologies Director, Department of Energy

Fu is leading the DOE’s exploration of emerging technologies such as AI, biotechnology and quantum computing to fight national security threats and improve access to clean and affordable energy. She told the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in September 2024 that the agency designed, developed and operates two of the world’s fastest super computers with a third in development.

This advancement in supercomputing capabilities has helped the DOE become the top producer of unclassified and classified scientific data, which propels AI models. Fu said the agency has been performing other advanced AI work including performing “red-teaming” exercises to examine how AI could be misused for chemical, biological and nuclear threats.

 

Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)

Paras Malik

Chief AI Officer, Department of Treasury

Malik joined the Department of Treasury in June to lead the agency’s strategic use of AI. Malik in September drafted an AI strategy that focused on AI use cases including financial detection and risk analysis. It also covers economic forecasting, market monitoring, and procurement spending and oversight.

As part of a focus on AI learning and risk management, the Department of Treasury has launched a small pilot of a secure AI-based chat service with a goal of helping staffers better learn the practical applications of AI tools across a variety of functions. For more challenging workloads, the agency’s AI Sandbox allows experimentation in more secure environments while allowing offices and divisions to test and evaluate AI systems.

 

Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)

Charles Worthington

Chief Technology Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs

Worthington is leading the VA’s effort to “capitalize” on AI to help it overcome hurdles in providing cost-effective and timely care. He told lawmakers in late 2025 that the VA was leveraging machine learning in workflows and in clinical operations for faster disease detection, according to FedScoop. Worthington said the VA is also utilizing AI to better find veterans at greater risk for suicide or drug overdoses. 

Worthington sees other use cases for AI at the VA. These include imaging, decision support and natural language processing. The VA has issued research in the medical device realm on the usefulness of AI imaging. Known as GI Genius, the agency has integrated the capability at more than 100 facilities, according to Healthcare IT News.

Niki Maslin

Chief AI Officer, Environmental Protection Agency

Maslin in October authored both the EPA AI Compliance Plan and its AI Strategy. The Compliance Plan describes how the EPA will meet federal regulations for responsible AI use by improving governance, creating a yearly AI use case repository and delivering on risk management practices. The Compliance Plan rates EPA’s AI maturity level as a two out of five and has a goal of helping the agency eventually reach a level of three or four.

The EPA AI Strategy outlines an approach to broaden AI use in the agency by bolstering infrastructure and employee readiness with a big focus on risk management and compliance with federal rules. It details how the EPA plans to fill a few positions to create an agency-wide AI Digital Services Consulting Team, which will provide technical consulting and lead in the development and procurement of applied AI workforce learning systems.

Valerie Szczepanik

Chief AI Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission

Szczepanik is leading a newly-formed AI task force at the SEC to spur innovation and improve efficiency of the organization’s operations, Reuters reported in August. This unit will consolidate agency-wide efforts and encourage interdepartmental teamwork to navigate the AI lifecycle.

She was previously director of the SEC’s Strategic Innovation and Financial Technology Office. Szcepanik has also served as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

Top US Federal AI Officials: A Comprehensive List (Part 1)
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Pentagon Announces Realignment of Innovation Ecosystem
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Emil Michael. The under secretary of war for research and engineering discussed the DOW innovation ecosystem’s realignment.

The Department of War has initiated efforts to transform and unify its innovation ecosystem to rapidly deliver technological capabilities to warfighters.

“We are rolling out the red carpet for innovators who want to work with the War Department,” Emil Michael, under secretary of war for research and engineering, said in a statement published Monday.

“This new structure creates a stronger identity for our innovation ecosystem and gives industry a more direct path to move technology into the hands of the American warfighter,” added Michael, who also serves as DOW’s chief technology officer.

Pentagon Announces Realignment of Innovation Ecosystem

Michael will take part in an in-person fireside chat at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. Join Michael and other senior defense and industry leaders as they share their insights on the latest strategies and defense innovation aimed at helping the U.S. maintain its technological edge in an increasingly contested environment. Save your seat today!

What Organizations Have Been Designated as DOW Field Activities?

DOW has designated the Defense Innovation Unit, or DIU, and the Strategic Capabilities Office, or SCO, as field activities to streamline innovation efforts and accelerate the delivery of advanced technologies to warfighters.

Who Leads the Defense Innovation Unit?

Owen West, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former energy trader at Goldman Sachs, has been named director of DIU, which will continue to provide rapid contracting, technology scouting and commercial adoption services as it works with the Mission Engineering and Integration Activity to align operational problems with commercial solutions.

West, who previously served as assistant secretary of war for special operations and low-intensity conflict, will directly report to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a previous Wash100 awardee, as a principal staff assistant.

What Is the Role of SCO as a DOW Field Activity?

As a DOW field activity, SCO will continue to prototype disruptive and near-term capabilities that deliver strategic impact. While it will retain its statutory reporting relationship to the DOW deputy secretary, SCO will operate under the CTO to eliminate duplication and sharpen its focus on rapid capability delivery.

Who Is Cameron Stanley?

As part of the realignment, Cameron Stanley, a defense technology executive, has been appointed as DOW’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer, or CDAO. In this capacity, he will lead AI adoption efforts across intelligence, warfighting and enterprise use cases.

Stanley most recently served as national security digital transformation lead at Amazon Web Services, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Before joining AWS, he served as AI development and oversight lead and head of Project Maven within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.

The U.S. Air Force Academy graduate also served as U.S. Southern Command’s senior science and tech adviser and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s liaison to the U.K.

What Are the 6 Execution Organizations Operating Under the DOW CTO?

As part of the realignment, six execution organizations will operate under the DOW CTO. They are the CDAO Office, DIU, SCO, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Office of Strategic Capital and the Test Resource Management Center.

Meanwhile, a newly created CTO Action Group, or CAG, will coordinate innovation alignment, improve accountability, remove legacy barriers and enhance transparency on transition decisions. In support of CAG, military services will reorganize their innovation efforts and submit service innovation plans to better align research, experimentation and acquisition with innovation outcomes.

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William Adkins Named NRO Principal Deputy Director
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NRO PPD William Adkins. William Adkins has been appointed principal deputy director at the National Reconnaissance Office.

The National Reconnaissance Office has appointed William Adkins as principal deputy director, the agency announced Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

What Will William Adkins Do at NRO?

According to his NRO profile, Adkins will be responsible for managing the agency’s day-to-day operations and exercising decision authority delegated by the NRO director.

“He brings a wealth of knowledge in space, intelligence, and defense earned through years of experience in government and industry,” NRO said in its post on X.

Who Is William Adkins?

Adkins is a national security and space policy executive, a seasoned space systems engineer and a former congressional staffer with extensive experience across national security and civil space domains. He spent more than nine years on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, where he served as the staff lead for military and intelligence space programs.

He previously served for more than 10 years as president of Adkins Strategies, providing strategic consulting, government relations and business development support to intelligence, national security and civil space clients.

Adkins was staff director of the House Committee on Science’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, overseeing legislative initiatives and NASA-related oversight. He also spent three years at the CIA as a project manager and systems engineer and more than a decade at the NRO in project management roles. Earlier in his career, Adkins worked as a space systems engineer at the Naval Research Laboratory.

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GSA Announces Full Implementation of Transactional Data Reporting
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Josh Gruenbaum. The GSA Federal Acquisition Service commissioner commented on full TDR implementation.

The General Services Administration has fully implemented Transaction Data Reporting, or TDR, to expand its use of more accurate and reliable data in federal procurement.

GSA said Monday the initial TDR implementation resulted in annual cost avoidance of $20.2 million.

In June 2025, the agency added 62 new products and cloud services special item numbers to TDR to increase transparency into government procurement and product pricing.

“GSA is committed to executing President Trump’s Executive Order to consolidate procurement,” said GSA Administrator Edward Forst. “This program mirrors what the private sector is already doing, and will lead to smarter purchasing, helping us streamline procurement.”

In March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to consolidate federal procurement of goods and services within GSA to remove waste and duplication and enable agencies to focus on their mission of delivering services to citizens. 

What Are FAS Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum’s Thoughts on Full TDR Implementation?

“From day one, the Trump Administration has made it clear that government must work better, spend less and deliver real value to the American people,” said Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service.

“Fully implementing TDR will equip our contracting officers with comprehensive data on purchased items and their prices so they can negotiate effectively and serve as uncompromising fiduciaries of taxpayer dollars,” added Gruenbaum, a previous Wash100 awardee.

What Is a TDR in GSA?

TDR is the mechanism GSA uses to collect data on prices paid for products and services sold through the Multiple Award Schedule, or MAS. The data is used by contracting officers to compare prices, support negotiations and inform purchasing decisions.

TDR replaces certain traditional sales reporting and tracking requirements, reducing administrative effort for contractors and making it easier for small businesses to participate in the MAS program.

GSA expects to realize approximately $50 million in total annual cost avoidance once mandatory reporting is fully established across the agency.

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Defense Health Agency Posts Notice for OMNIBUS IV On-Ramp Opportunity for Small Businesses
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Defense Health Agency logo. DHA posted new information on its upcoming OMNIBUS IV on-ramp proposals solicitation

The Defense Health Agency has issued a pre-solicitation notice for an on-ramp opportunity under the OMNIBUS IV multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract vehicle to support military medical research and development.

According to the notice published on SAM.gov Monday, the government will award multiple contracts to qualified small businesses. 

Defense Health Agency Posts Notice for OMNIBUS IV On-Ramp Opportunity for Small Businesses

Join DHA officials Jesus Caban and RDML Tracy Farrill at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit on Feb. 12. The event, rescheduled due to the fall’s government shutdown, will convene experts from across government and industry to discuss challenges and cutting-edge technologies changing the way healthcare is delivered. Get your tickets today.

What Is the OMNIBUS IV Contract Vehicle?

OMNIBUS IV is a contract designed to support medical research, development, test and evaluation activities across the Military Health System and the Department of War. The vehicle has a cumulative ceiling of $10 billion and includes an ordering period running through June 2032 if all options are exercised.

To date, 51 task orders, valued at a total of $600 million, have been awarded under OMNIBUS IV. Previous awardees include General Dynamics Information Technology and Cognosante.

What Research Areas Are Covered Under OMNIBUS IV?

The contract vehicle supports a broad range of military health research areas, including medical simulation technologies, infectious diseases, military health and performance, joint battlefield healthcare, radiation health effects, clinical and rehabilitative medicine, chemical and biological readiness, and genomics.

The government plans to release the official OMNIBUS IV on-ramp RFP in the coming weeks.

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How Defense Tech Enabled the US Operation to Capture Nicolás Maduro
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EA-18G Growler. The UAS is a central EW tool of the U.S. Navy and were a part of the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

The U.S. military’s overnight operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro offered a rare, real-world look at how advanced defense technologies are shaping modern military operations.

Known as Operation Absolute Resolve, the Jan. 3 mission combined airpower, intelligence, cyber effects, electronic warfare and space-based capabilities to execute a high-risk raid deep inside contested airspace, according to senior Pentagon officials. More than 150 aircraft and drones launched from dozens of locations across the Western Hemisphere, enabling U.S. forces to apprehend Maduro and exfiltrate without losing personnel or aircraft, DefenseScoop reported.

How Defense Tech Enabled the US Operation to Capture Nicolás Maduro

The operation’s reliance on non-kinetic effects, stealth ISR and spectrum dominance mirrors many of the themes set to be discussed later this month at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit, hosted by Potomac Officers Club on Jan. 29, where defense leaders like Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael and industry executives will examine how emerging technologies are moving from concept to combat relevance. Save your spot now!

What Technology Was Used in Operation Absolute Resolve?

Operation Absolute Resolve relied on a tightly integrated stack of air, space, cyber, intelligence and electronic warfare technologies rather than a single platform or weapon system.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said the mission was months in the making and involved coordination across the Department of War, the intelligence community and law enforcement agencies. The force included bombers, fighters, ISR aircraft, rotary-wing platforms and remotely piloted drones, all operating under a unified command-and-control architecture.

That level of integration reflects how modern military operations increasingly depend on data, connectivity and synchronized effects to reduce risk and preserve surprise.

How Did the US Military Disable Venezuelan Defenses During the Maduro Raid?

US forces suppressed Venezuelan defenses by layering space, cyber and electromagnetic effects ahead of kinetic actions, creating what Caine described as a “pathway overhead” for the inbound force.

As U.S aircraft approached Venezuela, the military “began layering different effects provided by U.S. Space Command, U.S. Cyber Command and other members of the interagency,” Caine said during a press briefing. Those non-kinetic effects were followed by targeted kinetic actions to ensure the safe passage of helicopters into Caracas.

This approach reflects a growing emphasis on shaping the operational environment before physical engagement, a concept often described as left-of-launch and a central focus of the Defense R&D Summit panel on Non-Kinetic Considerations for Left of Launch Defeat.

Why Did the US Use More Than 150 Aircraft and Drones to Capture Maduro?

The sheer scale of the operation underscores how complex modern raids have become, particularly when conducted in defended airspace and under intense time constraints.

More than 150 aircraft launched from 20 different bases across the Western Hemisphere, including assets from the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Air National Guard, Caine said, Breaking Defense reported. The force included F-22s, F-35s, F/A-18s, EA-18Gs, B-1 bombers, E-2 command-and-control aircraft and numerous drones.

“Failure of one component of this well-oiled machine would have endangered the entire mission,” Caine said, highlighting the precision required to synchronize such a large joint force.

What Role Did Drones and ISR Play in Tracking Nicolás Maduro?

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities were essential to building a detailed picture of Maduro’s movements, habits and security posture ahead of the operation.

Caine said months of intelligence collection allowed planners to understand where Maduro lived, how he moved and when he would be most vulnerable. That intelligence picture was continuously updated during the raid, with air and ground ISR assets providing real-time information to the assault force.

Such persistent ISR is increasingly seen as foundational to modern military success, particularly for high-value target operations in urban environments.

Why Is the RQ-170 Sentinel Important for Stealth Surveillance Missions?

Stealth ISR platforms like the RQ-170 Sentinel are uniquely suited for operating over heavily defended capitals such as Caracas.

While the Pentagon has not officially confirmed the RQ-170’s role, the aircraft was spotted returning to Puerto Rico shortly after the operation, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported. Experts said its low observable design makes it far more survivable than conventional ISR platforms in environments protected by Russian-made S-300 air defense systems.

“You cannot park an MQ-9 over the capital of Venezuela and expect that thing to survive,” retired Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell commented. “But an RQ-170 has a much better potential to be able to surveil when there is an integrated air defense system.”

The platform’s ability to complement satellite ISR by filling coverage gaps and providing unpredictable revisit rates highlights why stealth ISR remains a critical investment area for the U.S. military.

How Did Electronic Warfare Help US Forces Enter Caracas?

Electronic warfare capabilities likely played a central role in degrading Venezuelan radars and communications during the operation.

Among the aircraft involved were EA-18G Growlers, the Navy’s primary electronic attack platform, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Growler is designed to locate, jam and suppress enemy radar and communications systems, creating openings for strike and mobility assets.

“The Growler forms the mainstay of U.S. air power’s EW component,” electronic warfare expert Thomas Withington told the Journal, noting that the aircraft would have been well suited to counter Venezuela’s aging air defenses.

The operation reflects a broader resurgence of electronic warfare as a core element of military operations, driven in part by lessons from the war in Ukraine.

Did Cyber Operations Cause the Power Outages in Caracas?

Widespread power outages reported across Caracas during the raid prompted questions about whether cyber operations played a role in disrupting Venezuela’s electrical grid.

President Donald Trump suggested American “expertise” contributed to the blackout, while Caine confirmed that Cyber Command effects were layered into the operation without providing technical details.

Chuck Brooks, president of Brooks Consulting International and an Executive Mosaic GovCon Expert, said the blackout underscores how cyber capabilities could increasingly be used alongside kinetic force.

“Energy infrastructure is at the heart of a country’s operations,” Brooks wrote in an expert contribution shared with Executive Mosaic. “When it fails, communications falter, water systems degrade, hospitals rely on backups and national morale plummets.”

Brooks noted that industrial control systems and SCADA networks were not designed for hostile cyber environments, making them theoretically vulnerable to disruption that is precise, reversible and less visible than physical strikes.

What Does Operation Absolute Resolve Show About the Future of Non-Kinetic Warfare?

The mission highlights how cyber, electronic warfare and space-based effects are becoming as decisive as traditional firepower in modern conflict.

Rather than destroying infrastructure outright, non-kinetic tools can blind, confuse or delay an adversary long enough to achieve mission objectives. Brooks said that blending cyber with electromagnetic and space effects reflects exactly the type of hybrid strategy military planners have been discussing for years.

If such capabilities were employed during Operation Absolute Resolve, it would signal a continued shift toward integrating offensive cyber operations into conventional force projection.

Why Does the Maduro Operation Matter for Defense R&D and Acquisition Leaders?

Operation Absolute Resolve serves as a live case study in how advanced technologies move from development to operational impact, a persistent challenge often described as crossing the “valley of death.”

Capabilities such as stealth ISR, electronic warfare and cyber effects have existed for years, but the Maduro raid demonstrated how they can be fused into a single operational architecture. That transition from innovation to execution will be a central topic at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29.

Keynote speakers include Hon. Emil Michael, under secretary of defense for research and engineering, and Hon. Michael Duffey, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. Together, their portfolios span the full lifecycle of defense innovation, from early research to scaled deployment. Make sure your GovCon company is represented at this pivotal networking event.

For defense leaders and industry partners, Operation Absolute Resolve underscores why investments in non-kinetic capabilities, ISR dominance and multi-domain integration are no longer optional but foundational to future military success.

How Defense Tech Enabled the US Operation to Capture Nicolás Maduro
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