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Navy Pilots New Medical Platform OpMed CDP Aboard USS Carney
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Cmdr. John de Geus, chief health informatics officer for the Navy. De Geus discussed the OpMed CDP's recent trial

The U.S. Navy conducted an initial pilot testing of the Operational Medicine Care Delivery Platform, or OpMed CDP, aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney in early December.

The service said on Dec. 30 that USS Carney will be the first ship to use OpMed CDP to support daily medical operations once fielding is completed. 

Navy Pilots New Medical Platform OpMed CDP Aboard USS Carney

Leaders from across the federal and defense health landscape will participate in the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit on Feb. 12 (rescheduled due to the fall’s government shutdown). The annual GovCon conference hosts panel discussions on the most pressing topics in healthcare, including modernization and the integration of artificial intelligence. Click here to purchase your tickets today.

During the 12-day test, the ship’s crew was trained to use the system.

According to Cmdr. John de Geus, chief health informatics officer for the Navy, the pilot provided insights into OpMed CDP. The platform will next move to the next phase of the program, which is an extended pilot to validate effectiveness and resilience.

What Is OpMed CDP?

OpMed CDP was developed by the Joint Operational Medicine Information System, also known as JOMIS, to deliver interoperable tools for documenting and coordinating care in deployed environments. It supports routine check-ups, laboratory and pharmacy records, damage control resuscitation, surgery, and patient stabilization.

The system operates in offline or low-connectivity environments.

“The JOMIS ecosystem will transform the way our clinicians, physicians and corpsmen provide care to warfighters in operational settings to maintain patient data flow through the continuum of care,” said Lt. Cmdr. Erik Lawrence, chief nursing informatics officer for JOMIS assigned to the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

OpMed CDP is designed to integrate with the Military Health System’s electronic health record MHS GENESIS. 

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US Space Command Applies AI Tools to Operational Planning at APEX Summit
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Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of the U.S. Space Command. Whiting comments about USSPACECOM's AI strategy published in March

The U.S. Space Command harnessed the capabilities of artificial intelligence to streamline planning across its command and its components at the Augmented Planning and Execution, or APEX, Summit held in Colorado from Nov. 18 to 21.

Over 70 leaders across the command and its components participated in the summit, providing insights to advance the 2026 Coordinated Campaign Order, USSPACECOM said Dec. 30.

According to Genna Ibsen, supervisory program analyst for USSPACECOM’s Joint Operations Division J3, the summit had two goals: refine the command’s approach to human-machine teaming and develop a governance model for the responsible use of AI in operational planning.

US Space Command Applies AI Tools to Operational Planning at APEX Summit

Get more insights into AI use cases across GovCon at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 19. The event will host panel discussions featuring top voices from across industry and government to discuss how AI, machine learning and automation are revolutionizing the world today. Get your tickets today. 

What Happened at APEX Summit?

During the summit, USSPACECOM divided participants into four teams, each with access to three different AI tools to support operational planning. Participants curated inputs — procedural documents, references and manuals — into the AI tools based on campaign objectives and command guidance to generate contributions for the campaign order.

Ibsen explained that using different AI tools is critical to expose participants to structured campaign‑order, self‑directed exploration and engineer‑guided collaboration prompting methods, allowing them to compare outcomes and refine directives.

Staff members validated AI-generated output for inclusion into the 2026 Coordinated Campaign Order.

What Is USSPACECOM’s AI Strategy?

The summit is aligned with USSPACECOM’s AI/Machine Learning and Data Analytics Strategy published in March. Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of the command and a Wash100 awardee, said the strategy is critical for adapting to “what is emerging as an era-defining technology that demonstrates significant and growing relevance to national security.”

“We must lead the way in ensuring a safe and secure space domain for our nation, our Allies and Partners, and the rest of the world,” he added. 

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Army Launches New AI, Machine Learning Officer Career Track
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US Army logo. The Army establishes an AI/ML career field for officers.

The U.S. Army has created a new artificial intelligence and machine learning career pathway, laying the foundation for a dedicated cohort of uniformed officers focused on operationalizing AI-enabled capabilities.

“This is a deliberate and crucial step in keeping pace with present and future operational requirements,” Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Orlandon Howard said Tuesday. 

“We’re building a dedicated cadre of in-house experts who will be at the forefront of integrating AI and machine learning across our warfighting functions,” he added. 

Army Launches New AI, Machine Learning Officer Career Track

The Army’s decision to establish a dedicated AI and machine learning career pathway signals its serious approach to long-term force modernization. At the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 18, senior leaders and practitioners will discuss how initiatives like this support the service’s broader transformation goals. Register now!

How Will the 49B AI/ML Career Field Be Implemented?

The Army will phase in the new 49B AI/ML career field, designated as an area of concentration, beginning in January through the Volunteer Transfer Incentive Program. Officers selected during this initial cycle will be reclassified by the end of fiscal year 2026.

The 49B AOC will be open to officers eligible for VTIP, with candidates possessing advanced academic or technical backgrounds in AI- and data-related disciplines considered especially competitive. The Army said it is also examining the potential expansion of the specialty to warrant officers in the future.

What Will AI/ML Officers Be Responsible for?

Officers selected into the 49B field will receive graduate-level education and training focused on building, deploying and sustaining AI-powered systems. Their role will focus on applying AI and ML to operational challenges, including decision support, logistics and the use of autonomous systems.

“Establishing the 49B AI/ML career path is another key investment to maintain our decisive edge as an Army,” said Howard, noting that the effort is “about building a force that can outthink, outpace, and outmaneuver any adversary.”

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USSOCOM Seeks Starlink & Starshield Integration for AC-130J Gunship
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USSOCOM logo. The command has issued an RFI for the integration of SpaceX's Starlink & Starshield onto the AC-130J Ghostrider

The U.S. Special Operations Command, or USSOCOM, and Air Force Special Operations Command, or AFSOC, have issued a sources sought notice to explore the integration of Starlink and Starshield satellite communication systems onto the AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft.

What Is the Goal of the Starlink/Starshield Integration on AC-130J?

According to the request for information published Tuesday on SAM.gov, the effort aims to enable beyond-line-of-sight, or BLOS, satellite connectivity on the Ghostrider gunship, which provides tactical air support and battlefield surveillance for ground troops, to support various networked mission systems.

What Capabilities Will Be Required From the Potential Contractor?

The potential contractor should be able to provide a ruggedized, removable installation for special operations aircraft that utilizes off-the-shelf secure SATCOM terminals and controllers for harsh global operations, with potential roll-on/roll-off capability. The design should be compatible with other C-130 variants, while minimizing size, weight and power, or SWAP, efficiency.

In addition, the company should provide reliable network connectivity, support open-source interfaces and architecture and be ready to collaborate with third-party integrators. Interested companies should submit their responses by Jan. 30.

Following the 2022 launch of Starshield, SpaceX’s encrypted constellation designed for national security missions, Pentagon units have pursued the integration of the flexible, affordable terminals into their operations, reported DefenseScoop.

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OPM Addresses Federal Retirement Delays, Points to Outdated Systems
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OPM's Scott Kupor. OPM Director Scott Kupor said federal retirement processing delays are due to outdated tech and processes.

The Office of Personnel Management has responded to congressional concerns over delays in federal retirement processing, the Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

OPM Addresses Federal Retirement Delays, Points to Outdated Systems

Register now for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 to gain exclusive insights into government modernization initiatives, tackling outdated legacy systems and exploring next-generation artificial intelligence, cyber and enterprise IT.

Why Is Federal Retirement Processing Delayed?

OPM Director Scott Kupor, in a letter to House Democrats, stated that the backlog in federal retirement processing is primarily due to outdated technology and cumbersome procedures, rather than staffing shortages.

“The main issues with federal HR, we have found, are not low staffing levels, but inefficient and outdated technology and antiquated, cumbersome regulations and processes,” said Kupor.

Democrats earlier pointed to reduced staffing levels and a surge of retirements under the Deferred Retirement Program as contributors to the backlog.

What Is OPM Doing to Speed Up Retirement Processing?

The agency’s new Online Retirement Application, or ORA, is designed to replace manual, paper-based processes and help expedite previously stalled applications by shifting them to a fully digital system.

“As of today, ORA applications are being completed in approximately 40 days, compared with 90 days for paper-based applications. I am fully confident that this 40-day time period will continue to be reduced as we are able to get the payroll providers fully integrated into the new system,” said Kupor.

He also noted that 1,500 backlogged applications were fast-tracked electronically to payroll and then to OPM, bypassing slower manual processes.

“These applications had been sitting for months — and were likely to be sitting for months longer; ORA enabled us to address this challenge,” said Kupor.

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White House AI Action Plan: Progress & Policy Changes Since July
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Artificial intelligence. Agencies have released AI guidelines and strategies, building on the White House Action Plan.

Since the White House released its AI Action Plan in July, federal policymakers and agencies have taken key steps to implement components of the plan to accelerate U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.

White House AI Action Plan: Progress & Policy Changes Since July

Explore innovative AI use cases and connect with GovCon leaders at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 19. Reserve your seat today to be part of this transformative conversation.

The plan outlines over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating AII innovation, building American AI infrastructure and leading in international AI diplomacy and security. 

Major follow-on actions by agencies touch on procurement, regulation, standards and broader agency AI strategies.

Challenging Restrictive State AI Laws

In December, the White House issued an executive order targeting state AI laws that could interfere with national policy objectives. The order directs the creation of an AI Litigation Task Force to review and potentially challenge laws deemed “unconstitutional, preempted, or otherwise unlawful,” which could potentially hinder innovation. 

The EO delivers on the AI Action Plan released by the White House in July. One of the key policies cited in the plan is to cut red tape and eliminate regulations that hinder America’s leadership in this critical technology.

How Are Federal AI Procurement Rules Evolving?

One of the notable policy shifts linked to the AI Action Plan is the Office of Management and Budget’s procurement guidance, which was released in December.

The OMB memo outlines contractual requirements to ensure that large language models, or LLMs, procured by the federal government comply with unbiased AI principles, including truth-seeking and ideological neutrality. According to the policy, agencies should avoid requirements that compel a vendor to disclose specific model weights and other sensitive technical information. 

In LLM solicitations, OMB requires agencies to request information from a vendor, including acceptable use policy; information about the model, system or data cards; end user resources; and mechanism for end user feedback.

Agencies are expected to revise their procurement procedures and policies to incorporate these standards by March 11.

What AI Strategies Are Federal Agencies Adopting?

Several federal agencies have released or updated AI strategies in alignment with broader AI Action Plan goals. These plans focus on responsibly integrating AI into missions while promoting innovation and governance.

Department of Health and Human Services

HHS launched its departmental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, emphasizing governance, workforce readiness, risk management and modernization of operations through AI to improve health and human services.

Department of Veterans Affairs

VA published a strategy to expand AI adoption across its services, aiming to streamline workflows, enhance healthcare delivery, accelerate benefits processing and strengthen public trust. The strategy outlines building data infrastructure, reshaping core workflows and developing an AI-ready workforce as central pillars, with pilots already improving administrative efficiencies and expanding AI-assisted tools for both clinical support and veterans services

State Department

The department unveiled its Enterprise Data and Artificial Intelligence Strategy for 2026, which aims to modernize diplomacy using AI and data. The strategy has two primary goals: pioneering advanced statecraft and accelerating AI adoption across operations. 

Army CIO Guidance

In August, the U.S. Army chief information officer issued guidance to ensure that AI products used within the service branch comply with records management, privacy protections and the Freedom of Information Act. The document requires system and application owners to treat prompts as the foundation for generating and refining content when using AI tools. They must also capture and manage all aspects of the AI interaction to support compliant record management. 

Where Does Federal AI Policy Go From Here?

With agency plans in motion and procurement rules evolving, the focus now turns toward implementation and impact. Upcoming deadlines for updated procurement policies and new agency deployments will shape how the federal government operationalizes AI. These developments will be critical in determining not just regulatory compliance but how AI ultimately transforms government services and international engagement.

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How GSA’s OneGov Is Attempting to Simplify Federal Tech Procurement
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General Services Administration's logo. GSA is signing OneGov agreements with technology companies

The General Services Administration has been making OneGov agreements with some of America’s biggest technology companies, including Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon Web Services, OpenAI and xAI. 

OneGov, according to GSA, is intended to leverage the federal government’s collective spending power to standardize terms and pricing and streamline agencies’ access to vital IT tools. 

In April 2025, Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service and a Wash100 awardee, called the procurement strategy a “big win” not just for government but for industry as well. 

“We’re creating a more consistent, scalable and efficient way to buy technology—one that benefits agencies, [original equipment manufacturers] and taxpayers alike,” he said. “We expect this approach to have similar success and benefits across other categories.”

How Does OneGov Work?

Agencies traditionally award separate contracts for the same services, leading to duplicative efforts and premium pricing. 

Under a OneGov agreement, GSA directly negotiates with original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, to eliminate markups and secure discounts of up to 90 percent off. 

Although a significant portion of the government’s technology purchases go through value-added resellers, Lawrence Hale, assistant commissioner of the IT category in GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, assured that OneGov will not eliminate resellers. 

According to the official, resellers can serve as authorized partners or subcontractors for OEMs, FedScoop reported. 

OneGov is also intended to improve security and transparency. 

Which Technologies Are Covered By OneGov?

Right now, OneGov is focusing on securing discounts for digital offerings, such as cloud, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and productivity tools. 

GSA’s deal with Google, for instance, provides agencies access to AI-optimized commercial cloud capabilities, Gemini large language models, NotebookLM deep research platform and and agentic tools for only $0.47 per agency.

Meanwhile, Palo Alto Networks is offering agencies up to 60 percent discounts on its AI, cloud, software and other digital defense services.

What Is GSA’s Long-Term Plan for OneGov?

GSA wants OneGov to eventually evolve and include other technology areas, including hardware, platforms and infrastructure. 

Moreover, the agency hopes that the OneGov strategy will establish a deeper partnership with tech companies. 

Hale commented that the initiative is more than just “one-time purchases,” NextGov/FCW reported in September. 

“If your solutions deliver measurable value, whether that’s cost savings, security improvements or operational efficiency gains, there’s a clear path to expanding those solutions across agencies,” he explained. “This creates the business case for companies who invest in government specific enhancements or customization.”

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Marine Corps Unveils Drone Training Initiative
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Drone swarm. The U.S. Marine Corps has unveiled a drone training program.

The U.S. Marine Corps has introduced a training and certification program to rapidly expand the number of qualified operators of small attack drones.

What Is the Goal of the USMC Drone Training Program?

The Department of War said Wednesday the initiative seeks to formalize training for operators of small attack drones, including Neros Archer and other first-person-view, or FPV, systems built from commercial off-the-shelf technology.

The training program supports the department’s plan to deploy tens of thousands—and eventually hundreds of thousands—of attack drones across all service branches starting in March 2026. The framework, which builds on recent FPV drone competitions and operational certifications, aims to certify FPV attack drone operators across all reconnaissance battalions, infantry and littoral combat units by May.

What Training Does the Program Offer?

Developed by Training and Education Command, the program includes six pilot courses and eight certifications covering operator, payload specialist and instructor roles.

“We are fielding these courses as pilot programs to move quickly while maintaining our commitment to quality training and safety,” said Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, commanding general of Training and Education Command. “This allows us to validate all aspects of the training, from prerequisites and instructional methods to resourcing needs and certification standards, ensuring that we refine and perfect the curriculum before it becomes part of our long-term training framework.” 

How Will the Marine Corps Implement the Drone Training Program?

The Marine Corps has designated seven organizations as regional training hubs authorized to immediately launch pilot courses. These hubs include schools under Training and Education Command, the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Special Operations Command.

The Weapons Training Battalion at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, will operate as the interim central hub to help standardize training, safety and certification. The battalion will also gather lessons learned and lead efforts to adapt training to new payloads, platforms and evolving operational requirements.

How Is the Pentagon Ramping Up Drone Dominance Efforts?

The DOW is accelerating its push to dominate the future battlefield with unmanned aerial systems, issuing new policies, forming interagency task forces and streamlining acquisition to rapidly build and field drones for U.S. forces.

In early December, the Pentagon issued a request for information under its Drone Dominance program, signaling plans to procure more than 200,000 small UAS capable of one-way attack missions by 2027. The effort will include four phases, allowing commercial firms to compete to supply low-cost, attritable systems. 

In July, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a Wash100 awardee, issued a memo reshaping the department’s drone policy, rescinding restrictive acquisition rules that previously limited production and access to small drones. The guidance directs authorities closer to operational commanders and aims to expand the U.S. drone manufacturing base by qualifying hundreds of American products for military purchase. 

To address evolving threats posed by hostile drones, the War Department established the Joint Interagency Task Force, or JIATF, 401 in August, replacing the Joint Counter‑small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office. Director authorities include streamlined procurement and up to $50 million in discretionary funding to accelerate counter‑UAS delivery to warfighters.

The task force brings together interagency expertise to unify and speed up counter‑drone acquisition, testing and operational deployment.

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MITRE: Partnerships Can Strengthen US Defense Industrial Base, Supply Chains
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MITRE logo. MITRE published a new report on the benefits of working with allies to bolster the defense industrial base

The United States can strengthen domestic defense production by expanding supply chains with trusted allies, according to MITRE.

In a Dec. 19 report titled Strengthening the Defense Industrial Base through Supply Chain Diversification and Partnerships, the not-for-profit organization identified three key actions for allied cooperation: exporting U.S. defense systems, sourcing components from allied suppliers, and jointly developing or producing advanced technologies.

How Can Partnerships Augment Domestic Capabilities?

MITRE explained that different countries already hold absolute or comparative advantages in specific sectors, such as advanced radar technologies, naval shipbuilding and cybersecurity.

A recent partnership between the United States and Finland illustrates how allied supply chains can complement domestic industry. Under a memorandum of understanding, the two countries will jointly construct up to four Arctic security cutters, or ASC, in Finnish shipyards before transferring shipbuilding expertise to support follow-on construction in the United States. The phased approach enables the U.S. Coast Guard to address urgent Arctic capability gaps while laying the groundwork for onshore ASC production and strengthening the domestic shipbuilding industrial base, the White House said.

Accessing complementary capabilities through structured partnerships can expand available capacity, augmenting the domestic defense ecosystem, and facilitating technology and specialization exchange between allied nations.

Additionally, the report revealed that a distributed supply base is more challenging to target, bolstering collective physical and cybersecurity, and it creates redundancy for critical components and materials.

How to Address Risks Associated With Defense Diversification

The report warned that broader international supply networks introduce coordination challenges, policy misalignment and increased exposure to external disruptions.

MITRE emphasized the need for aligned policies, especially export controls. The recommendation is aligned with President Donald Trump’s April 2025 executive order to reform the foreign defense sales system to improve transparency and accountability and revitalize the defense industrial base.

The U.S. must also establish strong intellectual property protections and implement investment screenings to prevent risks. 

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US Army 2025 Review: Transformation Drives Acquisition Reform, AI & Modernization
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US Army logo. The U.S. Army closed 2025 with sweeping transformation initiatives.

The U.S. Army closed out 2025 amid a broad set of organizational, technological and acquisition reforms aimed at accelerating modernization and reshaping how the service fights, buys and governs digital capability.

The Army’s 2025 Year in Review, published by the service branch on Dec.15, highlighted significant events, including its 250th birthday and the launch of transformation initiatives intended to streamline force structure, compress decision timelines and redirect resources toward lethality and operational relevance.

Announced in May, the Army Transformation Initiative served as a throughline for many of the year’s acquisition and governance decisions.

US Army 2025 Review: Transformation Drives Acquisition Reform, AI & Modernization

At the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 18, senior Army leaders and the industrial base will examine what this transformation means, with discussions centered on force design, acquisition reform and progress toward the Army’s 2030 objectives. Register now to gain insight into how the service is advancing a unified network and aligning modernization priorities with operational demands.

How Did Acquisition Reform Accelerate Under the Army Transformation Push?

Acquisition reform became one of the most tangible expressions of the transformation effort.

The Army announced the creation of six portfolio acquisition executives to streamline oversight and accelerate delivery of weapons and technologies. It also deployed AI-enabled tools under the CORA initiative, reversing the AROC acronym of the Army Requirements Oversight Council, to identify outdated acquisition requirements and reduce bureaucratic friction.

In November, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said the service plans to procure at least 1 million drones over the coming years while strengthening the domestic industrial base. Additional reforms included a new procurement model for tactical radios, streamlined foreign military sales procedures and an Army-led effort to establish an online marketplace for counter-drone technologies.

How Did the Army Reshape Its Global and Operational Posture?

One of the most visible structural changes came in December with the activation of Western Hemisphere Command. The move marked a  shift in how the Army organizes regional operations and security cooperation, signaling an effort to better align command structures with the evolving demands of geopolitics and homeland security. The transition ceremony underscored the Army’s intent to modernize not only its platforms and networks, but also its command and control of forces globally.

Personnel decisions also reinforced the Army’s transformation agenda. In September, Brent Ingraham was sworn in as assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology following Senate confirmation. He now serves as the Army’s acquisition executive, science adviser to the secretary of the Army, senior procurement executive and senior research and development official.

How Did Artificial Intelligence Advance Across Army Operations?

Artificial intelligence emerged as a recurring enabler across both battlefield and enterprise initiatives throughout 2025.

In November, the Army tested AI-aided target recognition as part of its Next Generation Command and Control prototype experiments, seeking to accelerate decision-making and fire missions in contested environments. Earlier in the year, the service rolled out a generative AI platform designed to streamline internal communications, reclassify personnel descriptions and support innovation across the force.

At the network level, the Army launched NETCOM Edge in January, introducing an AI- and machine-learning-enabled analytics environment to improve network operations and data-driven decision-making.

How Did Network, Cyber and Governance Reforms Support Transformation?

To align technology delivery with operational urgency, the Army reorganized Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications and Network in December, restructuring oversight to speed deployment of NGC2 capabilities.

That move is in line with the release of the second version of the Army Unified Network Plan, which outlined how the service will converge networks, improve resilience and enable multidomain operations.

Cyber and data governance also took center stage. Throughout the year, Army Chief Information Officer Leonel Garciga, a two-time Wash100 awardee, issued policy memoranda addressing the use of cybersecurity services across the Army’s unified network, cross-domain solutions-as-a-service, software assurance, data aggregation and the application of AI within records management and FOIA requirements.

What Does 2025 Signal for the Army’s Path Forward?

Taken together, the Army’s actions in 2025 reflect a deliberate shift toward speed, integration and enterprise-wide alignment. Modernization is no longer framed as a collection of discrete programs, but as a coordinated reset spanning force structure, acquisition, networks and governance.

As the Army enters 2026, leadership has positioned transformation as a sustained operating model—one that prioritizes operational relevance, automation and rapid delivery across the entire force.

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