Page 9 – Executive Gov

Published on March 4, 2026

The Department of War is seeking low-cost logistics transport capabilities that can resupply units dispersed across wide distances in contested littoral environments.

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Why Is the DOW Seeking New Maritime Resupply Platforms?

According to the commercial solutions opening notice published by the Defense Innovation Unit, the War Department is soliciting industry proposals for an autonomous low-profile vessel, or ALPV, to address all-domain threats and other evolving challenges that hinder warfighters from sustaining operations and maintaining combat capability in littoral environments. The proposed unmanned system must be demonstrated within 180 days of contract award.

What Are the Required ALPV Capabilities?

Under the concept, the vessel would be built on a modular open systems approach to support interoperability and future enhancements. It would carry at least 18,000 pounds of cargo, including bulk liquids and multiple classes of supply such as palletized containers and Joint Modular Intermodal Containers. Desired performance targets include an operating range of 1,000 to 2,000 nautical miles, speeds of at least 12 knots under specified sea conditions and the ability to loiter for up to 96 hours.

Additionally, the government is seeking vessels with a low-profile design to reduce detectability by adversary sensors during transit. The platform must also support autonomous navigation in congested waterways and denied, degraded, intermittent and limited, or DDIL, communication environments, while enabling dynamic re-tasking and remote human control during critical phases of operation.

Related Logistics Modernization Initiatives

The ALPV program aligns with other initiatives to enhance military logistics capabilities. In December 2025, the Defense Logistics Agency introduced the “Just Enough” logistics approach, which leverages data and artificial intelligence for demand forecasting to enhance readiness and operational agility. Earlier, in 2024, the U.S. Marine Corps highlighted the need for new transportation platforms, such as ALPVs, medium landing ships, and medium and large autonomous drones, to modernize and strengthen its logistics capabilities.

Federal Civilian/Government Technology/News

DOE Launches $352M Funding Round for Energy Frontier Research Centers

by Kristen Smith

Published on March 4, 2026

The Department of Energy’s Office of Science is seeking proposals for $352 million in funding dedicated to Energy Frontier Research Centers.

The funding opportunity supports research teams from U.S. colleges and universities, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations and private companies conducting basic research tied to the development of future energy technologies, DOE said Tuesday.

Pre-applications are required and must be submitted by an authorized institutional representative by April 1. The department expects to issue responses to pre-applications by May 6. Full applications are due by July 1. DOE will host an informational webinar on Monday to provide additional details on the funding opportunity. The program is managed by Basic Energy Sciences within the Office of Science.

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What Role Do Energy Frontier Research Centers Play?

EFRCs support collaborative research aimed at addressing fundamental scientific questions related to energy systems.

The centers bring together scientists from multiple institutions and disciplines to study complex scientific challenges in areas such as materials science, chemistry, geosciences and biosciences, with an aim of expanding understanding of how matter behaves across different scales and generating scientific discoveries that could support next-generation technologies.

According to DOE, the program also serves as a training ground for future scientists by engaging students and postdoctoral researchers in team-based energy research.

Darío Gil, DOE under secretary for science, said the program has helped connect national laboratories and universities in pursuit of major scientific breakthroughs.

“The EFRCs will continue to play a vital role in bridging disciplines and institutions, advancing foundational science and strengthening America’s leadership to push forward scientific frontiers critical for new energy technologies,” Gil added.

What Research Areas Are Eligible for Funding?

DOE said proposals must focus on basic research addressing scientific challenges related to the agency’s priority topics. These include unconventional computing paradigms, artificial intelligence and machine learning applications for materials and chemistry, complex chemical systems, critical minerals, nuclear energy science, subsurface science, electrical energy storage, advanced manufacturing, microelectronics, and quantum systems.

How Does the Initiative Align With Federal Science Policy?

DOE said the funding opportunity advances President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at restoring the use of “gold standard science” across federal agencies.

The policy calls for federally funded research to follow principles emphasizing transparency, reproducibility, and clear communication of uncertainties and assumptions in scientific analysis.

What Has the EFRC Program Achieved So Far?

Since its launch in 2009, the EFRC initiative has supported 107 research centers involving more than 190 institutions across 43 states and Washington, D.C.

Research funded through the program has produced more than 17,000 peer-reviewed publications, generated 780 patent applications and resulted in 270 patents. DOE said 135 companies have benefited from innovations emerging from EFRC-supported research.

Digital Modernization/News

A Comprehensive Guide to Federal CIOs (Part 1)

by Pat Host

Published on March 4, 2026

Federal CIOs. These technology professionals are the focal points of how agencies modernize technology and protect data.

Delve into part one of our ongoing series on federal CIOs and how they’re driving technology modernization in the government
Learn more about the backgrounds and achievements of top CIOs including Kirsten Davies, a Wash100 awardee from the DOW, Sean Gallagher from NASA, and more
Get the latest federal technology modernization business opportunities at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22!

Federal chief information officers are the focal points of how agencies modernize technology, protect data and deliver digital services. They shape the IT roadmap for their agencies and oversee billions of dollars in technology spending.

These skilled technology professionals guide decisions on key emerging technologies including:

Cloud adoption and migration
Cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence
Data governance

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Why Are Federal CIOs Impactful?

Federal CIOs are impactful because their priorities often become agency-wide initiatives and directly translate into future contracting opportunities and technology requirements. Better understanding a CIO’s background and vision can help vendors align solutions with an agency’s future procurement priorities.

In part one of a new series, we explore the diverse backgrounds of these federal CIOs and learn how they’re advancing how public officials leverage emerging technologies to provide government services faster, more efficiently and at lower costs.

Dig into federal technology modernization priorities at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22! Hear directory from leading federal officials like Daniel Hettema, Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering director of digital engineering, modeling and simulation during an illuminating panel discussion on Mission Engineering at Scale: The Digital Backbone of Defense Modernization. Secure your seat today!

Who Are Leading Federal CIOs?

A Comprehensive Guide to Federal CIOs (Part 1)

Kirsten Davies

Department of War

Kirsten Davies, a 2026 Wash100 Award winner, has made a fast impression on GovCons since being confirmed as the Pentagon’s CIO in January. She has emphasized a mission-first technological modernization strategy that prioritizes the warfighter and aligns with the National Defense Strategy.

Davies has identified AI, data analytics and advancing the Pentagon’s electromagnetic spectrum advantage as key focus areas. She’s served in technology roles at some of the highest-profile commercial companies, such as Unilever, Estee Launder Companies and Barclays.

Antoine McCord

Department of Homeland Security

Antoine McCord, as DHS CIO, is responsible for an IT budget of about $11 billion. He has nearly 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, intelligence and national security having previously served in the Marine Corps, where he built expertise in intelligence and cyber operations.

McCord also has private sector experience, specifically in defense technology and cybersecurity, where he protected critical assets and encouraged public-private collaborations to increase infrastructure resilience.

David Shive

General Services Administration

David Shive is a technology professional focused on delivering modern technology tools to public servants as quickly as possible. As GSA CIO, a position he has served in since 2015, he provided new business tools to the Public Building Service in just over two weeks by leveraging no-code or low-code applications that allowed for fast platform development.

Shive in 2022 discussed how the CIO Modernization and Enterprise Transformation, or COMET, contract vehicle had grown beyond its introductory application. COMET was initially awarded to 12 contractors in 2019, but became part of the larger GSA business portfolio, including the Public Building Service, because of its positive business outcomes.

Hear from top federal CIOs like these at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22! Get the latest business opportunities from Pavan Pidugu, Department of Transportation chief digital and information officer (pending confirmation). Network with these leading CIOs. Sign up today!

Sean Gallagher

NASA

Sean Gallagher supervises the delivery of IT products and services to more than 60,000 NASA users located both in the U.S. and abroad. He’s had a long CIO career at the agency, having served as deputy CIO and CIO at NASA Glenn Research Center in Ohio from 2012 to 2022. He became deputy CIO of NASA in Jan 2024 before being promoted to acting CIO.

As CIO at Glenn Research Center, Gallagher directed the facility’s IT initiatives in support of its space, aeronautics, research and engineering, and test efforts. He also managed the center’s IT investments, ensuring that its security and services matched legal and federal requirements.

Carter Farmer

Environmental Protection Agency

Carter Farmer is the CIO and deputy assistant administrator at the EPA. He encourages federal agencies to ensure they’re asking the right questions when considering using AI to tackle problems.

Farmer suggested that looking for fast solutions with AI without first investigating the pros and cons of a problem can slow the process down, especially if technology professionals have missed cheaper, and more straightforward, solutions, FedScoop reported in July of last year.

Farmer started as EPA CIO in May of last year. He previously spent four and a half years as the director of IT systems and solutions at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Samuel Berry

Department of Agriculture

Samuel Berry is an entrepreneur with a track record of technology and digital transformation success, with an extensive background in both enterprise and startup environments. As a CEO and founder of software firms, Berry guided the automation of challenging business processes, streamlined enterprise applications and championed secure and efficient cloud infrastructure.

Berry has demonstrated a keen eye for creating solutions from scratch through his work as a founding engineer of several creative service offerings.

DoD/Executive Moves/News

Owen West Assumes Leadership of Defense Innovation Unit

by Kristen Smith

Published on March 3, 2026

Owen West. DIU named Owen West as its new director.

Owen West, a 2026 Wash100 Award recipient, has officially assumed the role of director at the Defense Innovation Unit following a ceremonial handover at Fort Benning, Georgia. DIU confirmed the appointment in a LinkedIn post on Monday.

West succeeds fellow Wash100 awardee Emil Michael, who led DIU in an acting capacity. In his new role, West will oversee the organization’s critical role as the Pentagon’s strategic link to the commercial industrial base, driving the rapid integration of market-ready technologies into the military ecosystem.

The Department of War recently designated DIU — along with the Strategic Capabilities Office — as a field activity, a move intended to streamline innovation efforts and speed delivery of advanced capabilities to warfighters.

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What Are Owen West’s Immediate Priorities?

In his first memorandum to DIU employees, West signaled a sharper operational focus centered on converting commercial technology into “combat power.”

He said DIU’s investment priorities will narrow and align directly with operational problems identified by the joint force. The unit will concentrate on areas where speed, scale and lethality converge.

West outlined three priority lanes:

High-end technologies designed to produce battlefield overmatch.
Capabilities that substitute machines, fires or electronic effects for troops in harm’s way.
Systems that can scale rapidly while lowering cost-per-kill metrics.

West said technologies in the latter two categories should be fielded within three years. Projects outside those lanes will only be considered if they produce significant efficiencies that free resources for weapons or training.

How Will DIU Measure Success?

West emphasized performance accountability and speed as central to DIU’s mission, stating the organization aims to be the fastest contracting and fielding agent within DOW.

He called for quantitative measurement of risk and reward across the portfolio and underscored the importance of transparency to ensure projects remain relevant to operational needs.

“Of our many customers, none is bigger than the warfighter,” West wrote.

Who Is Owen West?

A Marine Corps veteran, West brings both military and private sector experience to the role. He served six years in the Marine Corps as a platoon commander and reconnaissance platoon commander, deploying twice overseas. He later worked at Goldman Sachs as an energy trader, where he led global natural gas and U.S. power businesses over a 19-year career. During his time at the firm, he took two leaves of absence to deploy to Iraq with fellow Marines.

West served as a fire support officer with Force Recon Company in 2003 and deployed as an adviser to an Iraqi infantry battalion in Anbar Province in 2006, leading a small team embedded with Iraqi forces at a remote outpost.

During the first Trump administration, he was appointed as assistant secretary of war for special operations and low-intensity conflict.

West was also selected to lead the DOW’s drone dominance effort and the Department of Government Efficiency team, DefenseScoop reported.

West graduated cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in government and later attended Stanford Graduate School of Business. He also authored three books on military affairs.

Cybersecurity/Executive Moves/News

Adam Cassady Nominated as Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace & Digital Policy

by Jane Edwards

Published on March 3, 2026

Adam Cassady. The NTIA deputy administrator has been nominated as ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy.

President Donald Trump has nominated Adam Cassady, principal deputy assistant secretary and deputy administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, to serve as ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy.

Adam Cassady Nominated as Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace & Digital Policy

Federal attention on cyberspace and digital policy continues to signal the strategic importance of technology leadership on the global stage. As conversations around cybersecurity and digital governance evolve across government and industry, forums for dialogue remain critical. Register now for the 2026 Cyber Summit to gain insights from leaders at this May 21 event.

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What Did NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth Say About Cassady’s Nomination?

In a statement published Monday, NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth congratulated Cassady on his nomination and highlighted his leadership at the agency.

Roth, who also serves as assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information, noted that Cassady has provided strategic leadership across broadband, spectrum, digital policy and commercial space.

“He has been a tireless champion of America First technology leadership—ensuring the United States strengthens its competitive edge and protects its interests. At a pivotal moment for global technology governance, he is the right choice to represent American strength and leadership on the world stage,” Roth added.

Who Is Adam Cassady?

Cassady has served as NTIA’s principal deputy assistant secretary and deputy administrator since March 16, 2025. In this role, he provides advice and support to the assistant secretary for communications and information in shaping, developing and carrying out the executive branch’s telecommunications and information policies.

Before joining NTIA, he spent more than four years at the Federal Communications Commission under Commissioner Nathan Simington, including as chief of staff and senior legal adviser.

Prior to his federal service, Cassady co-founded a technology firm focused on enterprise machine learning platforms.

The Ohio State University graduate holds a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.

DoD/Government Technology/News

DIU Completes Cassowary Vex Hypersonic Test Flight Under HyCAT Program

by Jane Edwards

Published on March 3, 2026

The Defense Innovation Unit has conducted a suborbital launch of a hypersonic test platform as part of the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities, or HyCAT, program.

DIU Completes Cassowary Vex Hypersonic Test Flight Under HyCAT Program

As hypersonic innovation accelerates through initiatives like the HyCAT program, government and industry leaders will continue the conversation at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30. The event will bring together military leaders and industry executives to discuss next-generation air and space capabilities shaping national security. Book your spot now!

DIU said Monday the Cassowary Vex mission lifted off Friday, Feb. 27, from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

According to the agency, the flight demonstrated the ability to inject a payload at defined speeds and altitudes into a high-dynamic-pressure environment to validate propulsion and vehicle performance. The mission combined a modified Rocket Lab suborbital launch vehicle with a scramjet-powered test article developed by Hypersonix.

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What Is the Cassowary Vex Mission Architecture?

The Cassowary Vex mission architecture integrated two primary HyCAT components: an air-breathing hypersonic testbed and a commercial suborbital launch system.

Rocket Lab supplied a modified Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron, or HASTE, vehicle. DIU said the modification included an extended fairing with thermal protection and separation systems designed to enable low-altitude payload release for air-breathing propulsion testing.

The payload was Hypersonix’s three-meter DART AE demonstrator, a gaseous hydrogen-fueled scramjet vehicle built using high-temperature alloy additive manufacturing.

“Accessing the commercial and non-traditional ecosystem is a key enabler to accelerating progress in the hypersonics community of interest, particularly for closing mission timelines and driving towards mass and affordability,” said Lt. Col. Nicholas Estep, emerging technologies portfolio director at DIU.

What Is the HyCAT Program?

Introduced in early 2023, the HyCAT program aims to speed up the development, evaluation and transition of emerging hypersonic technologies through low-cost, long-endurance test flights.

In March 2023, DIU awarded HyCAT prototype contracts to companies, including Hypersonix Launch Systems and Fenix Space, to develop airborne hypersonic test systems and reusable launch platforms. That same year, the agency issued a vendor solicitation for the program’s next phase.

According to DIU, limited wind tunnel capacity and a shortage of reusable flight platforms have constrained progress across the hypersonics portfolio. HyCAT supports the prototyping of low-cost, commercially derived airborne testing systems to supplement traditional government infrastructure and increase flight test cadence.

DoD/Executive Moves/News

Air Force Appoints Andrew Schaffer as OCIO Deputy CTO

by Miles Jamison

Published on March 3, 2026

Andrew Schaffer. Andrew Schaffer has been appointed deputy chief technology officer of the OCIO.

Andrew Schaffer announced on LinkedIn Sunday that he has been appointed deputy chief technology officer within the Office of the Chief Information Officer for the Department of the Air Force.

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Who Is Andrew Schaffer?

Schaffer is a defense technology leader with experience in enterprise IT management, logistics operations and program oversight within large, mission-critical organizations. He also brings expertise in operations and strategic business planning.

What Experience Does Schaffer Bring to the OCIO?

Before his current role, Schaffer held multiple senior civilian and military positions throughout his career. Within the DAF, he served as deputy director of the Directorate of Information Management, deputy CIO and chief of the Logistics CIO Support Division. He also participated in the Defense Senior Leader Development Program Cohort 2024 and served as Department of War adviser to the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy.

Schaffer served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nearly seven years, holding various leadership positions such as logistics IT portfolio manager, regimental S-4 officer, logistics officer and commander of the landing support company. In addition to his civilian service, he has nearly a decade of service with the Marine Forces Reserve.

Acquisition & Procurement/Digital Modernization/DoD

Army Wants Industry Partners to Co-Invest in Service’s Enterprise-Wide Modernization

by Elodie Collins

Published on March 3, 2026

The U.S. Army is seeking an industry partner to accelerate its enterprise-wide modernization effort. In a request for information published on SAM.gov Friday, the service invited industry to co-invest in installations, technology, energy infrastructure and the broader industrial base.

“The strategic vision for this is building the Army of tomorrow with private industry today,” Dave Fitzgerald, deputy under secretary of the Army, stated. “We know we have to move at the speed of innovation. This initiative is a direct invitation to the private sector to become our partner in a historic modernization effort.”

Army Wants Industry Partners to Co-Invest in Service's Enterprise-Wide Modernization

Learn more about opportunities for industry to meet the requirements of the Army amid the service’s transformation at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 18. The event will bring together top Army and Department of War officials to discuss strategies and capability needs to meet the service’s 2030s goals. Get your tickets here.

The initiative will focus on six strategic pillars:

Energy resilience and dominance
Organic industrial base
Strengthening logistics and supply chains
Real assets and facilities utilization
Advanced manufacturing and technology adoption
Critical minerals and resource development

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Why Is the Army Seeking Private-Sector Partnerships?

According to the RFI, the Army cannot rely solely on annual congressional appropriations to meet its modernization needs. Instead, it aims to unlock private financing and expertise to help de-risk major projects for industry partners.

However, Fitzgerald clarified that the service is not just asking for funding.

“We’re seeking creative, out-of-the-box financial and business models that break the mold,” he explained. “We want joint ventures, long-term leases, and service agreements that align the success of the investor with the soldier and the taxpayer.”

The service envisions a “value for value” exchange, with the Army offering secure land and stable demand signals in return for resilient energy systems, modern facilities and strengthened supply chains.

How Can Industry Participate in the Modernization Effort?

The Army is asking industry partners to submit proposals for pilot projects that demonstrate their financial and partnership models. Responders are encouraged to provide input on risks and barriers to guide the Army’s future formal solicitations and ensure that the service can offer an attractive investment opportunity for the private sector.

Submissions are due April 2.

Cybersecurity/News

CISA Cybersecurity Division Leader Shelly Hartsook to Depart Agency

by Miles Jamison

Published on March 3, 2026

CISA's Shelly Hartsook. Shelly Hartsook will resign as acting associate director for cybersecurity within CISA.

Shelly Hartsook will resign as acting associate director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s cybersecurity division, Federal News Network reported Monday. A source familiar with the matter said Hartsook will depart CISA on March 6.

Sign up for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 to hear leading cyber officials and industry experts as they discuss escalating digital threats and advance zero trust.

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What Role Did Hartsook Hold at CISA?

Hartsook oversaw “capacity building” efforts across the cybersecurity division, managing programs that deliver cyber capabilities to federal agencies. Among those initiatives was the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program, which provides tools, integration services and dashboards to help agencies reduce cyber risk and strengthen network visibility and response capabilities.

The outgoing acting associate director directed externally facing services aimed at helping agencies confront significant cyber threats. She also led the agency’s efforts to build customer capacity to address pressing cybersecurity challenges by delivering externally facing services.

How Did Hartsook Shape Federal Cyber Policy?

Hartsook helped define a long-term strategic recovery roadmap following the 2020 SolarWinds cyber intrusions and spearheaded government-wide initiatives under the May 2021 cybersecurity executive order, including advancing zero trust architecture adoption and enhancing federal cyberthreat detection through enhanced logging practices.

In 2025, CISA issued “Microsegmentation in Zero Trust, Part One: Introduction and Planning,” a guide that provides an overview of microsegmentation as part of its efforts to help agencies implement zero trust architectures.

“So many organizations, both on the federal side and in the private sector, we saw make early investments in zero trust network access tools, or SASE tools – secure access service edge –as part of their early implementation,” said Hartsook.

DoD/Government Technology/News

Marine Corps Rolls Out DOW’s On-Prem Private 5G Network at MCLB Albany

by Elodie Collins

Published on March 3, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps has rolled out a 5G Private Infrastructure Network, or 5G PIN, at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany in Georgia to support Marine Corps Logistics Command operations, DVIDS reported Monday.

The service recently granted the network an authority to operate, marking the first fully on-premises private 5G deployment of its kind within the Department of War, to ensure that MARCORLOGCOM can securely interoperate with the Marine Corps enterprise environment.

Federated Wireless, in collaboration with JMA Wireless and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, designed and implemented the network under a $16.2 million prototype contract awarded through the National Spectrum Consortium. The effort has since transitioned into a 42-month sustainment contract valued at more than $6 million.

Marine Corps Rolls Out DOW's On-Prem Private 5G Network at MCLB Albany

Cameron Stanley, chief digital and AI officer at the Department of War, and other defense and government leaders will be present at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18. The summit will also host the Building Mission-Ready AI Infrastructure: Designing a Data and Security Foundation for the Future panel featuring speakers from the Department of the Army, the Department of State and the FBI. Sign up today to secure your seat.

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How Will the 5G PIN Support Marine Corps Logistics?

The 5G PIN is designed to deliver low-latency, highly reliable wireless connectivity for industrial environments. At MARCORLOGCOM, the network enables integration of sensors, robotics, automated storage and retrieval systems, autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence-enabled applications.

During a recent demonstration, officials reported 98 percent accuracy in inventory reordering, a 65 percent increase in goods velocity and a 55 percent reduction in labor costs. The network is expected to enhance inventory visibility, predictive maintenance and data-driven decision-making.

“This 5G network gives our logistics teams an unprecedented level of accuracy, efficiency and flexibility in real-time data access, which translates into faster and more effective support for our Marine Corps units,” said Dan Elzie, deputy commander for the Marine Force Storage Command.

Andrew Adams, chief operating officer at JMA Wireless, said the deployment aligns with the Department of War’s Private 5G Strategy, specifically Line of Effort 2 on delivering private 5G networks that meet mission needs.

What Is DOW’s Private 5G Deployment Strategy?

DOW’s Private 5G Deployment Strategy, issued in 2024, is intended to guide the rollout of secure commercial or private 5G networks across military installations. The strategy directs components to accelerate the acquisition and secure deployment of 5G infrastructure and encourages the expansion of open radio access network ecosystems to strengthen interoperability and flexibility.

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