5 Takeaways from the Defense IT Summit

The Defense Department is advancing its multi-cloud strategy through the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC), which then-Acting CIO Leslie Beavers described as a foundational step toward creating a seamless, multi-vendor cloud environment. This initiative aims to integrate cloud capabilities across allies and partners – including NATO and Pacific allies – to support joint warfighting efforts.  

“JWCC got us started. That’s not where we end. We need a multi-vendor, multi-cloud environment that behaves as if it were a single vendor, single cloud. And we need it with our allies and partners,” Beavers said. 

A “commercial-first” approach to the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) system prioritizes the rapid integration of proven commercial solutions over lengthy, bespoke development processes. The goal, officials said, is to create a more agile and adaptable CJADC2 architecture that can quickly incorporate advancements in areas like data analytics, cloud computing and AI. 

“We’ve all moved into a ‘show me’ data era,” said Department of the Navy Acting CTO Justin Fanelli. “Now we’re at a place where we can execute, and we can be more commercial first. … This is a divest-to-invest era. Where are the areas where best of breed is not in place? Where can we bring in commercial first, and some assembly of small partners who are showing complete outcomes overmatch, and then turning off everything underneath it?” 

AI for national security operations is fundamentally dependent on the quality of the data used to train and operate the systems. Without high-quality, reliable data, AI-driven insights and decision-making could lead to critical errors. Defense units need to establish strong data management practices, including rigorous cleaning, standardization and validation processes. 

“Essentially, when we look at data, just by looking at data — especially with the genAI techniques coming out, we do not know whether the data is the real data or whether it is a hallucination of the AI,” said Dasgupta. 

The adequacy of fiber infrastructure on military bases is a significant challenge for the services, especially with the densification of 5G networks. Verizon officials said that the Pentagon needs a holistic approach to modernization, emphasizing that success depends on the seamless integration of network infrastructure, cloud services and application environments. 

“The adequacy of fiber infrastructure on bases is critical. The densification as we go into 5G, next G, of cellular networks and how that supports … pushing cloud capability to the edge,” said Verizon Senior Director of Defense and National Security David Rouse. “It’s addressing the IT, OT challenges. If you don’t have the right foundation in place, those Lego blocks are on a very unstable platform.” 

Defense leaders are reexamining traditional tech development processes for innovation and leverages curiosity and boosts national competitiveness. Software modernization enables rapid iteration and collaboration across different partners said Joey Mathews, superintendent of the IT Division at the Naval Research Laboratory. 

“It’s about looking at it through the perspective of those three bridges — from lab to prototype, prototype to product to scale. Finding the right transition strategies depending on the problem set really matters,” Mathews said.