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Pentagon Launches Survey to Gauge Small Business Readiness for CMMC
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Department of Defense's logo. The DOD launched a survey on CMMC readiness among small businesses

The Department of Defense is conducting a survey on the readiness of small businesses to meet the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification requirements, which are set to go into effect on Nov. 10, Federal News Network reported.

What Does the Pentagon Want to Know?

The DOD’s Office of Small Business Programs launched the Cybersecurity Compliance: Small Business Pulse Survey to identify concerns and challenges related to CMMC. According to the survey website, responses will enable the office to provide better guidance and resources to help small businesses meet the defense contracting requirements.  

The survey includes questions about the organization’s current CMMC status, whether they have used a managed service provider or a consultant, their NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment and Supplier Performance Risk System score, and the estimated amount they expect to spend to achieve compliance.

The CMMC program aims to ensure that sensitive unclassified information, shared by the Pentagon with its contractors and subcontractors, is protected. As CMMC enters into force, defense agencies are expected to include cyber requirements in contracts.

The government shutdown is not expected to affect the CMMC’s implementation, according to Matthew Travis, chief executive officer of the Cyber Accreditation Body.

At Palo Alto Networks’ public sector conference, he shared that “CMMC is here,” even if no contracting officer is present to enforce it.

Is the DIB Ready for CMMC?

Despite the upcoming implementation of the CMMC, many companies within the defense industrial base remain unprepared for the acquisition rule.

In October, CyberSheath published its State of the DIB Report 2025, which found that only one percent of contractors are ready for assessments that would determine if they are eligible to continue doing business with the DOD.

The report also revealed that only 42 percent of respondents have submitted Supplier Performance Risk System scores with a median score of 60, which is below the required 110.  

“Eighty thousand defense contractors need Level 2 certification, yet only 270 of these organizations currently hold final CMMC certificates,” CyberSheath CEO Emil Sayegh stated.

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USTRANSCOM Seeks Zero Trust Contract File Management System
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USTRANSCOM seal. USTRANSCOM is seeking a cloud-enabled contract file management system aligned with zero trust architecture.

The U.S. Transportation Command Acquisition office, or TCAQ, is seeking industry input on a secure, cloud-enabled contract file management system aligned with zero trust architecture.

What Is USTRANSCOM Seeking in a Contract File Management System?

The initiative aims to replace fragmented legacy tools with a new system that can handle the entire contract lifecycle management process, covering all phases from request to closeout, according to the solicitation notice posted Monday on SAM.gov.

The solicitation, released under a commercial solutions opening, specifies mandatory security attributes for the contract file management system. These requirements include multi-factor authentication for every user, while also utilizing granular role-based access control and attribute-based access control to govern access to data according to specific roles and responsibilities.

What Are the Requirements for the USTRANSCOM System?

The system must support automated workflows for routing, approvals and notifications, along with secure document management for version control and retrieval. It should generate detailed reports on contract performance, compliance and resource utilization and integrate seamlessly with USTRANSCOM systems for data analytics.

Multi-factor authentication, role-based access control and attribute-based access control will restrict data access based on roles and responsibilities. The system must securely handle controlled unclassified information and personally identifiable information with encryption, access controls and secure application programming interfaces for integration.

Continuous security monitoring, vulnerability scanning, penetration testing and software supply chain security are required. The system must be scalable to meet TCAQ’s evolving needs, with strong data governance, including data tagging and classification, to ensure performance under peak loads.

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Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Eubank Confirmed as Lieutenant General & Cyber Commander
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Christopher Eubank. Army major general confirmed as lieutenant general and Army cyber commander.

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Christopher Eubank to lieutenant general. According to a Congress notification, his nomination was approved Thursday, along with eight other Army promotions to the rank.

Eubank’s Cybersecurity Roles in the Service Branch

Eubank has previously served as the deputy commander and commander of Army Network Enterprise Technology Command. As the command’s head, Eubank announced in June 2024 cybersecurity measures cutting soldiers and civilians’ laptop access to the Army network via commercial internet.

He is currently the special assistant to the commander of Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. With the Senate’s confirmation, Eubank also be made head of Army Cyber Command, overseeing USCYBERCOM operations within Central Command, Africa Command and Northern Command, Breaking Defense reported.

What Is Eubank’s Army Career Background?

Eubank’s Army career started in 1991 as an armor officer, serving as a platoon leader in the mechanized unit of the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas. He was assigned in 1993 as a platoon leader in the 121st Signal Battalion. Subsequently, Eubank commanded the 7th Signal Command. 

The other Army officers whose nominations as lieutenant general were confirmed by the Senate are Michelle Schmidt, Peter Benchoff, Michelle Donahue, James Isenhower III, William Taylor, Richard Zellmann, Michael McCurry II and Francisco J. Lozano.

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The Essential DOD 5G Briefing for GovCons
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As the backbone of next-generation communications, 5G offers ultra-fast speeds and low latency for defense and intel missions

5G technology represents a transformative leap in connectivity that GovCons cannot afford to miss. As the backbone of next-generation communications, 5G offers ultra-fast speeds, low latency and the capacity to support massive data flows, capabilities essential for defense, intelligence, homeland security missions and more.

From cybersecurity resilience to edge computing, 5G will shape how technology executives design and deliver government services. Let’s dive into the five most essential 5G updates to keep technology executives at the forefront of this revolutionary technology.

Get the latest military 5G business opportunities straight from Thomas Rondeau, the Pentagon’s principal director for FutureG and 5G, during his keynote at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29! Be the first to learn what the Defense Department needs from industry to accelerate 5G research and fielding. Get your pressing questions answered during Rondeau’s Q&A session. Sign up today for this elite GovCon event!

1. DOD’s Path to 5G

DOD sees how 5G is improving how soldiers use weapon systems and communicate with each other. It has now embarked on an ambitious plan to install private 5G networks on military installations.

DOD in late 2024 issued its Private 5G Deployment Strategy, which is a framework for how the department seeks to best harness the power of 5G. DOD has three key objectives as part of this strategy:

  • Prioritize mission, security, operating environment, performance and acquisition feasibility. DOD should perform a technical and business case analysis to analyze whether specific mission, coverage, security and performance requirements can only be met by private 5G.
  • Accelerate acquisition, development and secure deployment of 5G. The department should increase the use of common architectures, risk frameworks and standards while adhering to cyber and supply chain risk management requirements.
  • Expand the use of an Open Radio Access Network ecosystem. Open RAN offers transparent interfaces, component modularity and a new radio layer application capability. This will enable better vendor diversity, supply chain security and operational innovation.

By adhering to these three objectives, DOD believes it will use the most appropriate commercial wireless investments, standardize modernization processes, avoid stove-piped offerings and strengthen the defense industrial base, among other benefits.

2. A Real-World 5G Demonstration

DOD knows a demonstration is the fastest way to prove out 5G technologies and evaluate whether they are ready for battlefield action. The department recently awarded contracts to five teams for its Advanced Spectrum Coexistence demonstration that it expects to begin in November, DefenseScoop reported.

Previously called Advanced Dynamic Spectrum Sharing Demonstration, this program has a goal of validating emerging capabilities that would permit DOD and industry to simultaneously operate on the same electromagnetic spectrum band. Teams will evaluate cutting-edge spectrum-sharing technologies and use the output to educate the department’s upcoming work with the private sector on 5G.

Each of the military services use spectrum, specifically the 3.2-3.45 GHz S-band, as the basis for critical equipment such as weapons, radars and other systems. But the telecommunications industry has been asking for parts of that spectrum to be auctioned so it can be used for civil and commercial 5G uses.

5G capability will be critical for a DOD program that is a favorite of the White House: the proposed Golden Dome homeland missile defense system. Mari Silbey, National Spectrum Consortium chief program officer, said Golden Dome will require connectivity for alert, detection and counter-action. The bands that DOD covets for Golden Dome are highly desired both by the federal government and by industry.

The five teams that received contracts are: Peraton Labs, Interdigital Communications, Nokia Federal Solutions, RTX BBN Technologies and Northwestern University.

Are you a technology executive with a wireless communications portfolio? Then you can’t afford to miss a keynote address by Thomas Rondeau, principal director for FutureG and 5G in DOD’s OUSD for R&E, at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29! Learn directly from Rondeau how to tailor your offerings for contracting success. Spark collaborations with other GovCon titans and score that big contract. Secure your seat today!

3. Initial Contract Awards

Future Technologies announced on Sept. 16 that it was awarded over $50 million in contracts from DOD for efforts related to private 5G. As part of these awards, the department will improve operational continuity and provide services such as connected warfighter, augmented reality and virtual reality training, unmanned aircraft, AI-driven capabilities and test and training efforts, according to a company statement.

The company is broadening its connectivity services to support rising areas of interest to include research and engineering, research and development, advanced use case development, and more. Future Technologies is a lead system integrator with specialties in connectivity transformation, including requirement definition, procurement, design, deployment and sustainment of private networks.

A USMC AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR. Photo: U.S. Air Force
A Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR. The USMC recently experimented with 5G connectivity using a G/ATOR. Photo: U.S. Air Force.

4. Marine Corps Advances in 5G

The Marine Corps has been the DOD service leading the way in 5G experimentation. The corps in 2024 demonstrated an active radar and a 5G network in the same band without interference, a major milestone, according to USNI News.

A squad operating an AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar, or G/ATOR, sent contract track through encryptors to a 5G device connected to a cellular network to enable air defense. Satellite nodes and radar contribute secure air defense and surveillance in maritime combat, but these aren’t reliable for DOD in the Indo-Pacific because of gaps in satellite coverage and high-tech threats from capable adversaries.

A three-year, DOD-sponsored 5G demonstration focusing on USMC units in the Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations—a.k.a. EABO—environment completed at the end of 2024. In a field demo spanning 48 hours, teams experimented with 5G technologies for different tasks and a variety of EABO missions, such as forward aircraft arming and refueling, perimeter security and long-range precision fires.

One of the DOD’s goals with these demonstrations is to expand the defense industrial base providing rugged, jam-resistant 5G communications. Few U.S. cellular firms are in that market and none of them have existing 5G networks capable, and secure, enough for DOD, said Scot Hoesly, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity program manager for the experiment.

5. 5G Opportunities for Industry

DOD’s experimentation with 5G has plenty of opportunities for GovCons. These include:

  • Infrastructure development. DOD is looking for companies that can design and deploy Open RAN-capable private networks that prioritize flexibility and scalability.
  • Security. The department seeks contractors developing advanced security protocols to meet the demanding needs of military users.

Data transfer and analysis capabilities. The Pentagon is prioritizing tools that allow secure data flow in Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control infrastructure, bolstering decision-making velocity and accuracy.

The Essential DOD 5G Briefing for GovCons
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US, China Reach Trade & Economic Deal
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White House logo. The Trump administration reached a trade and economic agreement with China.

The Trump administration has announced a trade and economic agreement with China aimed at rebalancing trade, protecting national security and expanding opportunities for American workers and farmers. 

In a fact sheet published Saturday, the White House said the deal, reached during President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea, includes commitments from Beijing on rare earth exports, semiconductors and agricultural purchases. 

What Is the Deal on Rare Earths & Critical Minerals?

A key element of the agreement focuses on rare earths and other critical minerals.

China will issue general licenses for the export of rare earths, antimony, gallium, germanium and graphite, effectively rolling back controls imposed in 2022 and 2025.

The East Asian country will also suspend the implementation of new export controls on rare earths worldwide. The latest moves are expected to benefit U.S. end users and their suppliers.

How Will US Semiconductor Supply Chains Benefit From the Trade Deal?

Under the agreement, China will remove restrictions on U.S. semiconductor companies, including ending antitrust, anti-dumping and anti-monopoly investigations that had targeted U.S. firms in the semiconductor supply chain.

Production and exports from facilities such as Nexperia’s plants in China will also resume, ensuring a steady supply of critical legacy chips for international markets.

What Are the US Actions Under the Trade Deal?

In return, the U.S. will reduce certain tariffs imposed to curb fentanyl flows by 10 percentage points and extend Section 301 tariff exclusions through November 2026.

The Trump administration will also suspend for one year the implementation of new end-user export controls and actions related to China’s shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors.

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ODNI Discloses $73.3B FY25 Appropriated Budget for Intelligence Program
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Finance and budget. ODNI said FY 2025 congressional appropriations for NIP were $73.3 billion.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced that Congress appropriated an aggregate amount of $73.3 billion for the National Intelligence Program, or NIP, in fiscal year 2025.

ODNI said Friday the appropriated budget includes supplemental funding.

The figure reflects a 4 percent drop from the previous year’s topline budget.

For FY 2024, Congress appropriated $76.5 billion in total funding for the NIP, including supplemental funds, up 6.7 percent from the FY 2023 topline of $71.7 billion. 

ODNI stated that beyond the FY 2025 topline figure, there will be no further disclosures of classified budget details, except for unclassified appropriations.

What Is the National Intelligence Program?

The National Intelligence Program encompasses all projects, programs and activities of the U.S. intelligence community, as well as other intelligence efforts jointly designated by the director of national intelligence, the respective department or agency, and the president.

NIP covers the collection, analysis and dissemination of foreign and domestic intelligence to protect national security.

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Leidos’ Paul Wilkinson Urges Federal Leaders to Prioritize Resilience in Digital Transformation
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Paul Wilkinson. The Leidos SVP sat for a video interview about the critical nature of digital modernization.

Federal agencies should view modernization as a strategic imperative rooted in security, adaptability and workforce development, according to Paul Wilkinson, senior vice president and digital modernization practice area leader at Leidos.

In a recent video interview with Executive Mosaic’s Charles Lyons-Burt, Wilkinson said the government’s success in digital transformation depends on sustained investment in zero trust security, adaptable architectures and technical talent capable of supporting long-term mission outcomes.

“The priority has to be proactive digital transformation with a focus on cybersecurity and adaptability,” Wilkinson said. “We have to make sure security is paramount in everything we do and stay focused on the mission while adopting new technologies.”

How Can Federal Agencies Strengthen Digital Resilience?

Wilkinson emphasized that resilience begins with a secure, integrated foundation that connects systems, data and people across complex mission environments. He cited zero trust architecture as essential for protecting federal data amid evolving threats and compliance shifts.

“Zero trust is at the core of everything,” Wilkinson said. “We have to make sure data and systems are secured while keeping pace with technology upgrades and new threats.”

According to Wilkinson, agencies should also focus on modular modernization, where cloud, AI and enterprise IT solutions can be scaled and adapted as mission needs evolve. This approach ensures that modernization investments deliver both near-term efficiencies and long-term resilience.

What Role Does Talent Play in the Federal Modernization Mission?

Wilkinson said the government’s ability to attract and retain top technical talent will determine whether modernization efforts succeed. He noted a recent shift in the workforce, where technologists increasingly seek roles that serve the public mission.

“We’re now in an era where top technical talent wants to work with the government. People want to make an impact on national security and more efficient government.”

At Leidos, the company has seen strong results from its communities of practice model, which fosters skill development, knowledge sharing and internal mobility. Wilkinson said this type of ecosystem can help government and industry alike sustain a skilled, mission-ready workforce capable of executing modernization at scale.

How Is Industry Supporting Federal Priorities Through Modernization?

Wilkinson said Leidos’ digital modernization sector, launched in early 2024, was designed to align closely with federal modernization goals and executive mandates. By integrating practices across cloud, cyber, AI and enterprise IT, Leidos supports agencies in meeting objectives outlined by the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Defense’s zero trust strategy.

“Our horizontal structure gives us a unique view into common challenges agencies face,” Wilkinson said. “By building repeatable, secure offerings that can be tailored for each mission, we’re helping customers move faster and with greater confidence.”

Looking Ahead: Building Trust and Adaptability

Wilkinson said federal leaders must strike a balance between embracing innovation and maintaining accountability in AI adoption and data management. Trusted, transparent architectures — supported by adaptable governance — will be critical to maintaining public trust while accelerating modernization.

“The adaptability is key,” Wilkinson said. “We have to make sure our AI is trusted and our data architectures can support intelligent automation in ways that are secure and mission-aligned.”

Delve into Wilkinson’s thoughts in full on YouTube and stay up to date with all of the latest GovCon leadership commentary by subscribing to Executive Mosaic’s channel.

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FCC Tightens Rules on Imports of High-Risk Communications Equipment
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Federal Communications Commission's seal. The FCC voted on new rules against insecure Chinese telecommunications equipment

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to close loopholes associated with its list of telecommunications equipment barred from entering the United States due to national security concerns.

According to the agency’s Tuesday release, it introduced new rules to prevent the continued importation, marketing and sales of devices that foreign adversaries, such as China, can use to threaten the privacy and security of Americans and disrupt critical infrastructures.

What Do FCC’s New Rules Mean for Telco Equipment Imports?

The FCC maintains a Covered List, which already prohibits the entry of insecure devices, including products from Chinese companies Huawei and Hikvision, into the U.S. Previous regulations, however, do not apply to previously authorized devices.

The new rules establish a process for the FCC to prohibit the continued importation, marketing and sale of all devices that have been placed on the Covered List, even if they have received prior approval from the commission. The rules can also be applied in a targeted manner.

During the vote, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr highlighted the agency’s recent initiatives to protect U.S. telecommunication systems, such as the Rip and Replace reimbursement program, which incentivized providers of advanced communications services to replace equipment from Huawei and another Chinese company ZTE.

He warned that foreign adversaries continue to look for ways to exploit vulnerabilities in American systems, which is why the FCC needs to do more.

Could a More Expansive Ban Be Next?

The Commission also approved a further notice of proposed rulemaking to explore extending these restrictions to a wider range of devices controlled by foreign adversaries and to strengthen enforcement against unlawful marketing of equipment in the Covered List.

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Winning Future Conflicts Depends on Networked Warfare, INDOPACOM Says
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INDOPACOM logo. INDOPACOM said the ability to integrate systems across domains is the key factor shaping modern warfare.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has identified networking, the ability to connect and integrate systems across domains, as the “mega trend” shaping the future of warfare, Breaking Defense reported Friday.

Winning Future Conflicts Depends on Networked Warfare, INDOPACOM Says

Network integration and multi-domain connectivity are redefining how the U.S. military operates across the Indo-Pacific — a key focus of a panel discussion at Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. The session will highlight advances in wireless communication, integrated architectures and cross-domain interoperability that enable faster, smarter decision-making in complex operational environments. Register now to join defense leaders shaping the future of networked warfare.

What Makes Networking a ‘Mega Trend’?

Speaking at AFCEA’s TechNet Indo-Pacific Conference in Hawaii, Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd, INDOPACOM’s deputy commander, said the success of emerging military technologies depends on how well they can be linked through a single architecture.

“If you can’t network all these systems capabilities together on an architecture that enables us to connect and apply and move data, move information, move updated software at the speed of war, none of that works,” Rudd explained.

The mega trend encompasses three “meta trends:” information and cognitive operations; democratization of drones; and penetrating strike and precision effects.

How Are Meta Trends Redefining Warfare?

Rudd noted that the information domain has become central to modern conflict. Social media platforms and artificial intelligence can shape public opinion, influence political decisions and even determine whether and when forces deploy. Adversaries, he said, increasingly use information campaigns below the level of armed conflict to achieve objectives without firing a shot.

Meanwhile, the spread of affordable, high-performance drones has transformed both offense and defense. Commercially available systems can now provide surveillance and strike capabilities that once required state resources. Rudd pointed to Ukraine as an example of how small drones and adaptive tactics have reshaped the dynamics of assault and defense.

The third meta trend, he said, centers on long-range precision strike capabilities enabled by advances in propulsion, commoditized space access, secret technologies and computing power that make targeting faster and more lethal. He noted that such capabilities are becoming increasingly vital for deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, where forces must operate across vast distances within expanding adversary engagement zones.

Why Is Network Integration Essential?

Despite these advances, Rudd emphasized that no capability matters unless it can be networked.

“The competition isn’t just about hardware or software,” he said. “It’s about creating an integrated system that delivers decision superiority, as well as command and control. The side that masters cognitive operations, counter-assault capabilities, survivable precision strike will shape the future security environment.”

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NTIA’s Arielle Roth Outlines National Spectrum Strategy
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NTIA's Arielle Roth. NTIA Assistant Secretary Arielle Roth discussed the government's plans to advance its spectrum strategy.

Arielle Roth, assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, spoke at Forum Global’s 14th Americas Spectrum Management Conference on Oct. 30 about the U.S. government’s plans to expand spectrum access, as outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which NTIA dubbed OB3.

How Is the OB3 Advancing Spectrum Policy?

Roth emphasized the Trump administration is implementing the OB3, aiming to free 200 megahertz of federal spectrum for mobile broadband over two years and strengthening 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence, unmanned systems, integrated sensing and quantum communications capabilities. NTIA will also enhance spectrum management by ensuring spectrum access benefits multiple users rather than being zero-sum, in an effort to reduce bureaucracy and maintain tech neutrality.

What Is the Space Launch Frequency Coordination Portal?

NTIA launched the Space Launch Frequency Coordination Portal to streamline spectrum access and approvals for satellite communications, enabling providers such as SpaceX and the United Launch Alliance to coordinate launch frequencies with federal agencies, particularly in the congested S-band spectrum. The portal is intended to be expanded into a one-stop tool for tracking and managing spectrum requests, supporting faster deployment of satellites for communications, GPS, weather forecasting and broadband access in remote and critical areas.

How Is NTIA Managing Spectrum Access for Space Systems?

NTIA manages spectrum access for federal and commercial space systems, including SpaceX’s Gen2 Version 3 application. Direct-to-device satellites are connecting remote areas and supporting 6G network integration, while commercial spectrum innovations aid military communications and NASA’s Artemis missions. NTIA emphasizes timely approvals and effective regulation to maintain U.S. leadership in space and spectrum management.

What Is NTIA’s Position on 6 GHz & 5G?

Roth reaffirmed the 6 GHz band remains designated for unlicensed use, countering speculation about its repurposing. She stressed the importance of defending Wi-Fi spectrum access amid international pressure to reallocate it for licensed 5G.

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