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AFRL Undergoes Organizational Restructuring to Accelerate Delivery of Warfighting Capabilities
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Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. Bartolomei commented about AFRL's restructuring

The Air Force Research Laboratory has announced an organizational restructuring aimed at aligning its research enterprise with mission priorities and accelerating the delivery of advanced military systems.

AFRL said Friday that the redesign integrates research and development efforts across key domains to improve collaboration, reduce redundancies and streamline processes.

AFRL Undergoes Organizational Restructuring to Accelerate Delivery of Warfighting Capabilities

Explore how the AFRL’s new organizational structure and other changes across the Air Force will impact the service’s partnership with industry at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30. The event will feature top Air Force leaders, including the service’s vice chief of staff, Gen. John Lamontagne. Sign up today to secure your seat.

What Are AFRL’s New Directorates?

The new framework organizes AFRL into seven major entities, including five new mission-focused directorates.

The new Foundational Technology Directorate will oversee basic research that enables the lab to develop new capabilities. Meanwhile, three additional new directorates — Air Warfare, Space Warfare, and Information and Spectrum Warfare — will focus on maturing technologies and reducing risk across their respective domains.

The Technology Transition Office, AFRL’s system integrator, will connect the laboratory with mission partners, industry and the acquisition community to accelerate the delivery of capabilities. It will also integrate efforts from AFWERX, SpaceWERX and other partnership and engagement functions to streamline the transition pipeline.

How Will the Restructuring Impact the Systems Technology Office and 711th Human Performance Wing?

The Systems Technology Office will continue its existing mission, advancing technology development and delivery across the enterprise.

The 711th Human Performance Wing will also maintain its current structure, focusing on human performance initiatives to support warfighter readiness.

Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, commander of AFRL, said the redesign aligns scientists and engineers more closely with operational challenges.

“By building a more integrated enterprise, we are creating clear pathways to accelerate innovation and ensure our ideas become capabilities,” he stated. “We are not just creating technology; we are delivering technological systems to provide an advantage for the fight.”

Broader Air Force Reforms

AFRL’s restructuring aligns with broader organizational changes across the Air Force to accelerate the delivery of advanced capabilities to warfighters. In January, the service redesignated the Defense Acquisition System as the Warfighting Acquisition System. 

The Air Force also shifted from program executive officers to portfolio acquisition executives, who are responsible for managing integrated mission portfolios, including aircraft, weapons, and command and control systems. The new structure is intended to streamline decision-making and tie accountability more closely to operational outcomes.

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NIST NCCoE to Advance Asset Visibility in Operational Technology Environments
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Cybersecurity. NIST's NCCoE is launching a new project to enhance asset visibility in operation technology environments.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, or NCCoE, is launching a new project aimed at enhancing visibility into operational technology, or OT, environments across critical infrastructure sectors, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

NIST NCCoE to Advance Asset Visibility in Operational Technology Environments

NIST’s efforts to enhance asset visibility highlight the need to strengthen cybersecurity. Learn more about how the government and industry are addressing rising cyberthreats at Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21. Register now!

Why Is NIST Prioritizing OT Asset Visibility?

According to NCCoE Director Cherilyn Pascoe, the project follows discussions with multiple critical infrastructure sectors that identified asset management and visibility as a primary challenge. Pascoe noted that visibility is difficult in industrial control systems due to legacy equipment and distributed environments.

The OT cybersecurity project builds on earlier NCCoE efforts in water and wastewater cybersecurity and on guidance for transit agencies implementing NIST’s cybersecurity framework. It is intended to address concerns about threats to OT environments targeting critical infrastructure, including risks posed by advances in artificial intelligence.

Many organizations, particularly smaller utilities, lack a comprehensive inventory of their OT assets, hindering their ability to defend against nation-state attacks. The new project aims to provide foundational guidance on identifying these components in complex industrial control system environments.

How Will NIST Advance the Effort?

NIST plans to establish a consortium of industry and government participants to support the project. The effort will examine how existing standards and frameworks can be applied to enhance visibility and how commercially available technologies can be used to build supporting architectures. The center is also evaluating potential uses of AI to support these efforts.

NIST Expands OT Cybersecurity Efforts

The new project aligns with other efforts to strengthen OT cybersecurity guidance across evolving threat environments. In January, NIST announced plans to update its Guide to Operational Technology Security special publication to incorporate lessons learned, align with related agency guidance and address emerging risks. The initiative also follows the release of a preliminary draft of the Cybersecurity Framework Profile for Artificial Intelligence, which provides guidance on the secure adoption of AI and addresses cybersecurity risks tied to its rapid advancement.

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Gen. Michael Guetlein, Emil Michael Offer Update on Golden Dome
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Golden Dome. Gen. Michael Guetlein and Emil Michael offered updates on the next-generation missile defense initiative.

Gen. Michael Guetlein, director of Golden Dome for America, and Emil Michael, under secretary of war for research and engineering, highlighted progress on the next-generation homeland missile defense initiative during an event held Thursday at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Both leaders are Wash100 Award winners.

Gen. Michael Guetlein, Emil Michael Offer Update on Golden Dome

Golden Dome highlights the growing focus on integrated air and missile defense capabilities across the national security landscape. Attend the 2026 Air and Space Summit to join experts as they discuss emerging technologies and defense strategies in support of missions across two critical domains. Save your spot now!

What Did Gen. Guetlein & Emil Michael Say About GDA?

Guetlein said the Golden Dome for America, or GDA, initiative represents a response to evolving threats and emphasized the program’s urgency and ongoing development.

“We are moving with purpose and urgency to forge a shield that is layered, integrated, and automated,” the general said. “The progress on display today is tangible proof that this is not a future concept, but a reality we must build now.”

Officials said the GDA program is progressing ahead of schedule and within budget. They highlighted several milestones, including finalizing the initial architecture blueprint, forming a command-and-control consortium and issuing awards for key system components.

“We are embracing an open architecture that harnesses the full power of American innovation — from artificial intelligence to the commercial space industry — to build the impenetrable shield that this nation deserves,” said Michael, also a 2026 Wash100 honoree.

What Is Golden Dome?

GDA is a layered defense architecture designed to protect the U.S. against hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as other advanced aerial threats. The initiative seeks to integrate a persistent space-based sensing layer for worldwide tracking, multiple interceptor capabilities and an integrated C2 system to rapidly manage threats.

In March, Guetlein announced that the Department of War increased the program’s cost estimate by $10 billion to $185 billion to accelerate the development of space-based capabilities designed to defend the homeland from aerial threats.

What Is the Pentagon’s Plan for Golden Dome?

President Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget request allocates $18 billion to support the development and deployment of the future missile defense shield.

Jules “Jay” Hurst, performing the duties of the Pentagon comptroller and chief financial officer, said during a Tuesday press briefing that DOW began building Golden Dome in fiscal 2026 by focusing on infrastructure to improve situational awareness and threat sensing, and plans to expand the sensing network and invest in next-generation interceptors in fiscal 2027.

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Trump Nominates Gary Shatswell as CIO, Assistant Secretary at VA
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Gary Shatswell, senior adviser at the VA. Shatswell has been nominated as the next CIO, assistant secretary

President Donald Trump has nominated Gary Shatswell as chief information officer and assistant secretary for information and technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Senate said Tuesday that it has received Shatswell’s nomination for the dual-hatted role. If confirmed, Shatswell will succeed Kurt DelBene, who departed the VA in January 2025 to retire.

Who Is Gary Shatswell?

Shatswell has over three decades of experience as an executive in the private and public sectors. He currently serves as a senior adviser to VA Secretary Douglas Collins.

Prior to joining the VA, he was group chief information officer at Unilever Prestige, where he led efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, data and enterprise systems capabilities across the company’s global portfolio of brands.

His career also includes senior leadership roles at Paula’s Choice Skincare, the retail company Sur La Table, the restaurant management firm Sizzling Platter, and the visual content creator and marketplace Getty Images.

Who Were Trump’s Previous Nominees to Be VA’s CIO?

Shatswell is the third nominee put forward by the White House this term for the CIO and assistant secretary roles at the VA, Nextgov/FCW reported.

President Trump previously picked Ryan Cote, former Department of Transportation CIO, for the dual-hatted position. The administration withdrew Cote’s nomination weeks later.

The White House also nominated Alan Boehme, who served as chief technology officer at H&M Group, in 2025. Boehme’s nomination was also rescinded by the administration.

In the absence of a Senate-confirmed official, Paul Lawrence, the VA’s deputy secretary, has been performing the responsibilities of the CIO and the assistant secretary for information and technology in an acting capacity.

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CISA, UK NCSC Warn of China-Linked Covert Cyber Networks in New Advisory
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CISA Acting Director Nick Andersen. CISA and the U.K.’s NCSC have warning against China-linked covert network of devices.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre have issued a joint advisory warning of covert networks of compromised devices linked to Chinese state-sponsored cyber actors.

CISA, UK NCSC Warn of China-Linked Covert Cyber Networks in New Advisory

The growing concern over China-related threats highlights the significance and importance of strong cybersecurity. Gain more insights on how the government and industry are addressing evolving cyberthreats at the 2026 Cyber Summit, presented by the Potomac Officers Club, which will be held on May 21. Sign up now!

What Does the CISA and NCSC Advisory Address?

The guidance titled “Defending Against China-Nexus Covert Networks of Compromised Devices” aims to help organizations defend against threat actors like Volt Typhoon and Flax Typhoon that exploit vulnerable devices to build hidden networks used in malicious cyber activity. The advisory details how botnets consisting of compromised network infrastructure, including routers, firewalls and network-attached storage, along with internet of things devices such as web cameras, video recorders and other smart equipment, are used to conceal the identities and conduct espionage, intrusions and data theft.

“This advisory informs organizations of how these actors are strategically using numerous, evolving covert networks at scale for malicious cyber activity,” said CISA Acting Director Nick Andersen.

What Does the Guidance Recommend?

CISA and its partners recommend that organizations identify and understand network edge devices and the assets connected to them, while establishing a baseline of normal network activity, particularly for VPNs and similar remote access services. The advisory also calls for maintaining a log collection and storage capabilities to support detection and response efforts, along with implementing multifactor authentication to better secure remote connections.

“CISA strongly encourages organizations to review and implement appropriate mitigation measures to defend their devices from this threat. Every day, CISA works to empower organizations with actionable information to strengthen their security and resilience against cyber threats,” Andersen said.

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GSA Introduces New Cohort of Presidential Innovation Fellows
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GSA's Greg Barbaccia. GSA has introduced the latest class of Presidential Innovation Fellows, with Barbaccia commenting.

The General Services Administration has launched the 2026 class of Presidential Innovation Fellows, bringing technology professionals into federal service to support priority government initiatives.

Who Are the 2026 Presidential Innovation Fellows?

The new cohort includes 17 experts from technology companies, startups and other organizations who will serve one-year assignments across 10 federal agencies. Participating agencies include the Departments of State, Energy and Veterans Affairs; the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; the National Institute of Standards and Technology; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the Coast Guard; and the Executive Office of the President.

“To achieve high-impact work that advances Administration priorities, we are embedding strong technical leaders who can perform with discipline and speed, filling critical skills gaps across our partner agencies and preparing them to meet the demands of the future,” said GSA Administrator Edward Forst.

What Projects Will the Fellows Support?

The PIF experts will apply their industry experience to projects aimed at enhancing public services. The program focuses on using best practices from the private sector to address key government challenges. Fellows will work on initiatives such as developing artificial intelligence-powered tools to accelerate infrastructure permitting, supporting the implementation of the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act and helping build an AI-ready workforce at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“This class of PIFs represents the highest standard of technical talent in the federal government,” said Greg Barbaccia, acting director of Technology Transformation Services. “Their advanced expertise will advise our partner agencies on how they can best scale, secure, and transform the technologies that power our government,” the two-time Wash100 Award winner added.

What Is the PIF Program?

The PIF program, launched in 2012 and codified by former President Barack Obama in 2015, embeds top industry technologists and innovators within federal agencies to enhance how the government designs, builds and delivers services. Agencies seeking to participate must submit project proposals outlining the priority issues they want fellows to address.

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SSC Awards Kronos Space Intelligence Prototype Contracts to Leidos, MapLarge
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SSC seal. Leidos and MapLarge secured SSC Kronos prototype contracts.

Space Systems Command has awarded prototype contracts to MapLarge and Leidos under the U.S. Space Force’s Kronos program.

The awards, issued through a commercial solutions opening process, are valued at $499,828 for MapLarge and $1.43 million for Leidos, SSC said Wednesday.

SSC Awards Kronos Space Intelligence Prototype Contracts to Leidos, MapLarge

Register now for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30, where top leaders will discuss operationalizing advanced technologies to counter evolving threats across the air and space domains. 

What Is the Kronos Program?

Kronos is designed to modernize how the Space Force conducts command and control, battle management and space intelligence activities through an integrated system architecture.

The prototype contracts will support the development of the system aimed at improving battlespace awareness; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations; and multi-source data integration. 

“In a contested space domain, the ability to integrate intelligence at the speed of operations is critical because decision dominance is a prerequisite for space superiority,” said USSF Col. Jason West, commander of SSC System Delta 85.

What Will the Prototype Deliver?

Under the contracts, Leidos and MapLarge will each focus on developing a prototype that delivers a minimum viable capability for continuous adversary monitoring. The initial capability will feature a tool that connects planning, live operations and post-mission analysis with the Kronos system. By enhancing ISR orchestration and streamlining target development, the initiative aims to ensure a decisive advantage for joint and coalition forces.

Why Is SSC Using a Commercial Solutions Opening?

The CSO pathway enables faster acquisition by reducing administrative requirements and enabling greater vendor flexibility. It streamlines the proposal process and provides a direct path to sole-source production awards, bypassing the need for subsequent competition. The approach is aligned with broader Department of War efforts to accelerate the adoption of commercial technologies and deliver operational capabilities more quickly.

How Does This Fit Into Broader Space Modernization Efforts?

The Kronos effort reflects a wider push to integrate commercial capabilities into military space architectures. Similar initiatives, such as the Defense Innovation Unit’s Hybrid Space Architecture program, are exploring how to combine commercial and government assets to improve data fusion, resilience and real-time decision-making for warfighters.

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USINDOPACOM Calls on Industry to Support Training, Technology Efforts
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USINDOPACOM Calls on Industry to Support Training, Technology Efforts

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is urging companies to submit proposals through its industry engagement portal to advance the development of multidomain training capabilities, officials said during a quarterly commercial industry update.

USINDOPACOM said Wednesday the command’s J7 Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability, or PMTEC, hosted the March 13 event in Honolulu in partnership with Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Hawaii, a Defense Innovation Unit program.

The session brought together military leaders and industry representatives to outline collaboration opportunities tied to training, experimentation and technology integration across the Indo-Pacific region.

What Are the Technology Priorities of USINDOPACOM?

Officials identified several areas where the command is seeking industry capabilities to support joint training and operations.

These priorities include live-virtual-constructive integration to connect live forces with simulated environments; data analytics and assessment tools to process and analyze training data; and non-kinetic effects simulation technologies to replicate cyberattacks, electronic warfare and information operations.

USINDOPACOM is also seeking platforms that enable secure information-sharing across U.S., allied and partner forces operating at different classification levels.

During the event, officials highlighted the need for more realistic training targets and foundational warfighting enablers.

How Should Companies Engage With USINDOPACOM?

Maj. Tuan Nguyen, who represents industry engagement for the J83 Joint Validation Division, directed potential partners to the command’s online engagement portal and advised companies to submit early, well-defined proposals aligned with military requirements.

Nguyen also encouraged companies to review mission requirements in advance and ensure submissions are specific, noting the high level of industry interest.

“For companies with relevant capabilities, PMTEC offers an opportunity to contribute to defense preparedness while testing and refining their technologies in operational environments,” said Brent Parker, PMTEC industry engagement lead.

According to the command, companies can also engage through innovation workshops, technology sprints and industry forums that discuss specific technical requirements.

What Is PMTEC?

Established in 2022, PMTEC is a USINDOPACOM initiative focused on improving joint, combined and coalition warfighting readiness across the Indo-Pacific. The program has developed a large-scale, fully instrumented coalition range system that connects geographically dispersed training ranges, operational areas and forces throughout the region and beyond.

As part of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, PMTEC supports U.S. national security and defense strategies by strengthening homeland defense, enhancing collaboration with allies and partners, and supporting deterrence efforts. Through the integration of advanced technologies, the initiative promotes military modernization, encourages innovation and supports efforts to maintain a technological edge over potential adversaries.

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Air Force Unveils AI, Data Strategies
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Air Force Unveils AI, Data Strategies

The Department of the Air Force has released new strategies designed to serve as a strategic roadmap for DAF to operationalize data and artificial intelligence as strategic assets to maintain air and space dominance.

The Air Force’s push to operationalize data and AI as core mission capabilities comes as defense leaders prepare to discuss the future of air and space dominance. Attend the 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30, and join military officials and industry executives as they explore emerging strategies and technologies transforming operations across two mission-critical domains. Register now!

DAF said Wednesday the AI and data strategies align with the Department of War’s 2026 AI Strategy and the 2026 National Defense Strategy and support priorities to strengthen deterrence and revive the warrior ethos.

What Are the Strategic Imperatives of the DAF AI Strategy?

The DAF AI Strategy outlines five strategic imperatives that could help the department become an AI-first force: unleash the power of data; accelerate an AI-first culture; build the enterprise AI ecosystem; drive agile adoption and process reform; and modernize assurance for an AI-paced world.

5 Building Blocks to Operationalize the Strategy

  • Data, technology and infrastructure
  • Talent and workforce
  • Partnerships and ecosystem
  • Change management and process re-engineering
  • AI governance and oversight

“Our focus is not on developing AI for its own sake, but on rapidly delivering tangible, combat-ready capabilities that solve real-world operational problems,” Troy Meink, secretary of the Air Force and a 2026 Wash100 awardee, wrote in the AI Strategy’s foreword. “By becoming an AI-first force, we will empower our warfighters to out-think, out-maneuver, and out-pace any adversary.”

What Are the 3 Pillars of the DAF Data Strategy?

The DAF Data Strategy has three core pillars: streamlined data discovery and accessibility; enhanced data trust and interoperability; increased data-centric decision-making.

The document also outlines four critical building blocks to operationalize the strategy and those are governance and responsibility; data readiness; data-centric workforce; and data mesh environment.

Key Features of the Data Mesh Environment

  • A virtually federated enterprise data catalog
  • Data asset search tools
  • An application programming interface gateway management infrastructure
  • Identity, credential and access management capabilities

“In today’s complex global security environment, data and artificial intelligence are no longer support functions—they are the foundation of our strategic overmatch” said Susan Davenport, DAF’S chief data and AI officer. “Execution of these strategies ensure the Department of the Air Force remains agile and decisively ahead of pacing threats.”

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Andrew Vanjani Named USCIS Chief Information Officer
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Andrew Vanjani Named USCIS Chief Information Officer

Andrew Vanjani has assumed the role of chief information officer at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Vanjani announced his appointment in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, outlining priorities focused on strengthening cybersecurity, modernizing infrastructure and improving service delivery.

“In a world of shifting dynamics and historic application volumes, the “how” of our work is just as vital as the “what.” We are not just processing paperwork; we are managing a complex ecosystem where technology must be the backbone of integrity and the engine of efficiency,” the new USCIS CIO said.

USCIS operates within the Department of Homeland Security. DHS officials and industry partners will address evolving mission requirements at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12. Register now to join the conversation.

What Are Vanjani’s Priorities as CIO?

According to Vanjani, his focus includes strengthening the agency’s security posture to address fraud and identity risks, developing a future-ready digital architecture, and improving service delivery through technology.

He noted that operating as a technology-driven ecosystem will help ensure efficiency and maintain public trust while supporting national security objectives.

Who Is Andrew Vanjani?

Vanjani brings more than two decades of experience across public and private sector technology roles, with a focus on IT operations, digital transformation and enterprise modernization.

He most recently served as CIO at the Organization of American States, where he led IT strategy and operations and previously advised the organization’s secretary for administration and finance on digital transformation initiatives.

Earlier, he served as assistant cabinet secretary and chief operating officer at the Maryland Department of Information Technology, overseeing statewide IT operations supporting more than 50,000 government employees.

His federal experience includes multiple roles at the General Services Administration, where he led the IT Modernization Centers of Excellence and served as director of the Integrated Award Environment.

Vanjani previously served as director of digital strategy for the public sector at Customer Value Partners and as vice president of global digital strategy at DMI. He also joined Hewlett-Packard as a practice principal and data center manager, supporting the Executive Office of the President.

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