The Top Geospatial and Space Tech Events for Government in 2025 and Beyond

Posted on by Lacey Wean

Geospatial and space technologies are revolutionizing how Government agencies leverage location-based data, modern mapping platforms and advanced analytics to drive mission-critical decisions. From enhancing national security to improving infrastructure and environmental monitoring, these tools empower agencies to innovate and collaborate. In 2025 and beyond, Carahsoft and our vendor partners are excited to support Government professionals at premier events showcasing the latest advancements in geospatial and space tech. Join senior leaders, policymakers and IT experts to explore cutting-edge solutions and forge strategic partnerships. Below, we highlight top upcoming events.

SOF Week

May 5-8, 2025 | Tampa, FL | In-Person Event

SOF Week is the premier annual gathering for the international Special Operations Forces (SOF) community, jointly sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global SOF Foundation. The event serves as a critical platform for fostering collaboration, innovation and excellence in modern special operations. Attendees will gain unique insights into the latest advancements in SOF capabilities, tactics and technology. The event attracts over 19,000 participants drawing SOF professionals, industry leaders and Government stakeholders from around the world.

Keep an eye out for the USSOCOM Annual Awards Ceremony. A highlight of the week, this awards dinner honors outstanding contributions to the SOF community and celebrates its achievements.

Join Carahsoft at its SOF Week exclusive pavilion alongside our technology partners, and do not miss our networking reception on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm at The Florida Aquarium.

GEOINT Symposium

May 18-21, 2025 | St. Louis, MO | In-Person Event

Hosted annually by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), the GEOINT Symposium is the nation’s largest gathering of geospatial intelligence professionals, drawing over 4,000 attendees. Attendees will explore the intersection of technology and security, addressing challenges and opportunities in today’s complex geopolitical landscape. The event features industry-leading keynote speakers, main stage panels and hands on training workshops covering topics such as mission planning, precision timing and navigation, enhancing your practical skills and knowledge in geospatial intelligence applications.

This year’s theme, “Building a Secure Tomorrow Together,” will feature prominent keynote speakers, including The Honorable Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence (DNI), VADM Frank “Trey” Whitworth, Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and General B. Chance Stalzman, Chief of Space Operations, US Space Force.

Carahsoft will have a significant presence at GEOINT 2025, featuring a pavilion with partner demos throughout the show. Connect with industry professionals at Carahsoft’s networking reception on Tuesday, May 20, at The Post Building, which will feature food and music.

GeoGov Summit

September 8-10, 2025 | Herndon, VA | In-Person Event

The GeoGov Summit is an annual forum that brings together leaders and experts from Government, industry, organizations and academia to advance the national geospatial strategy. The summit focuses on the evolving role of geospatial technologies in Governance, national security, infrastructure and public services. It serves as a platform for policymakers, technology providers and geospatial professionals to collaborate on improving data-driven decision making, enhancing interoperability and strengthening the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).

Carahsoft is looking forward to attending and sponsoring the GeoGov Summit, along with our geospatial partners.

FOSS4G NA

November 3-5, 2025 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event

Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial North America (FOSS4G NA) is the premier open geospatial technology and business conference, offering a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for technologists, end-users, academics and decision-makers. Attendees can look forward to a diverse program featuring presentations, workshops and networking opportunities that highlight the latest advancements in open source geospatial software and applications.

This event will feature:

Insights from leading experts in the geospatial field, who will discuss current trends and the future direction of open source geospatial technology.
Hands on workshops where attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with open source geospatial tools and applications, enhancing their technical skills and knowledge.

Carahsoft is proud to sponsor FOSS4G NA 2025, supporting the growth of open geospatial technologies. With deep expertise in open source technologies, Carahsoft partners with top providers to deliver secure, scalable solutions that enhance operational efficiency and situational awareness.

CyberSat

November 17-20, 2025 | Reston, VA | In-Person Event

The CyberSat Summit is a key gathering dedicated to addressing cybersecurity threats and defenses in the satellite and space sectors. Since its inception in 2017, it has brought together satellite, space and cybersecurity professionals alongside Government, military and intelligence officials to discuss emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) security, Zero Trust frameworks and quantum encryption. The SpaceInformation Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC) will host a live tabletop exercise, testing incident response skills in a crisis simulation. Attendees can expect technical tracks on securing satellite networks, mitigating AI-driven threats and enhancing cyber resilience. Join the policy makers, threat analysts and engineers shaping the future of space security at this must-attend event!

Sessions to Look Out for:

Unclassified Program (November 17-18): Two tracks focused on real-world case studies, system-level security challenges and in-depth technical approaches to combat emerging cyber risks
Classified Program (November 19-20): This segment, held at the Aerospace Corporation’s Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) in Chantilly, VA, will cover a range of topics, including counterspace cyber applications of AI, threats to the supply chain, improving cyber resiliency in space and directed energy detection for satellite sensors.

Carahsoft is looking forward to exhibiting at the CyberSat Summit, along with our geospatial, space, AI and cyber partners.

Geography 2050

November 20-21, 2025 | New York City | In-Person Event

Geography 2050 is the American Geographical Society’s annual symposium, held in partnership with the Columbia Climate School. The 2025 theme, “The Future of GeoAI and the Planet,” will explore the convergence of geospatial technologies and artificial intelligence (GeoAI) and their transformative impact on understanding and addressing global challenges. Attendees will engage with experts from Government, industry, academia and non-profits to discuss how GeoAI can enhance our ability to monitor, predict and respond to environmental and societal changes. The symposium aims to foster a strategic dialogue on leveraging GeoAI for sustainable development and planetary stewardship.

This event will feature:

“GeoAI Foundation Models,” a session that delves into the development of comprehensive GeoAI foundation models that are capable of processing vast amounts of geospatial data to provide actionable insights.
“GeoAI and Glimpsing into the Future,” a session where experts will discuss how GeoAI enhances predictive modeling to anticipate future environmental and societal changes, aiding in proactive decision-making.
“Plenary Session” with Jack Dangermond, where Esri’s founder and president will discuss the latest trends in Geographic Information System (GIS), advancements in GeoAI and the future of location intelligence.
Technical workshops, where attendees will gain hands-on experience with Esri’s newest tools, including ArcGIS, AI-powered GIS workflows and spatial data science applications.
User presentations, where attendees will learn how Government agencies and enterprises are leveraging GIS to solve real-world challenges in disaster response, national security and smart city planning.

Carahsoft is proud to support the geospatial community by partnering with leading vendors to provide innovative solutions in GeoAI and geospatial technologies. We look forward to participating in Geography 2025 this year!

Geo Week

February 16-18, 2026 | Denver, CO | In-Person Event

Geo Week is a premier conference focused on the integration of geospatial technologies, the built environment and 3D innovations. This annual conference brings together professionals from geospatial, architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and related industries to explore advancements in technologies like Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), photogrammetry, remote sensing, reality capture and AI.

The event features over 200 speakers and 50+ sessions, including keynote presentations, educational workshops and product previews.

Carahsoft is excited to sponsor and exhibit alongside our geospatial partners and network with attendees across the industry.

SATELLITE 2026

March 23-26, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event

For more than 40 years, the SATELLITE Conference & Exhibition serves as a major gathering for the satellite, space and defense industries, bringing together professionals from around the globe to discuss the latest advancements, challenges and trends in the field. The conference features a comprehensive program that includes keynote addresses from expert speakers, engaging panel discussions and networking opportunities with industry leaders and peers, fostering collaboration and innovation.

We look forward to sponsoring and having a booth at Satellite 2026 to showcase how Carahsoft is supporting the industry in the space, satellite and defense industries.

FedGeoDay

April 2026 | Washington, D.C. | In-Person Event

FedGeoDay is the premier event dedicated to Open Geospatial Ecosystems within the U.S. Federal Government. This event provides attendees the opportunity to engage with Federal program managers, technology leaders, industry partners and organizations to share ideas, learn and network. The event includes presentations, workshops and networking sessions aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation in the geospatial community.

Carahsoft is proud to be a sponsor of FedGeoDay, reinforcing our commitment to advancing open geospatial technologies across the Public Sector. Look out for updates on our presence in 2026 on Carahsoft’s website.

Space Symposium

April 13-16, 2026 | Colorado Springs, CO | In-Person Event

2026 will mark the 41^st Space Symposium! Over 10,000 space professionals and decision makers from commercial, Government and military sectors will gather to discuss critical issues, policy updates, innovative solutions and industry trends across the space community. The event will include expert panels, keynote addresses and networking opportunities with the top minds in the field. The Space Symposium is the number one international space event that is shaping the future of space exploration and technology.

Carahsoft is looking forward to sponsoring and exhibiting at the 41^st Space Symposium.

Sea-Air-Space

April 19-22, 2026 | National Harbor, MD | In-Person Event

The Navy League of the United States (NLUS) Sea-Air-Space is the largest annual maritime exposition in North America. Attendees across Government and industry gather for innovative and educational discussions on advancements in maritime, naval and security technologies that will strengthen the future of the sea services. The event features informative sessions, policy discussions and 400+ exhibitors—from startups to Fortune 500 companies—showcasing the latest tech in the maritime field.

Carahsoft is looking forward to showcasing our Aerospace and Maritime technology solutions and partner ecosystem as part of the Carahsoft Partner Pavillion.

Looking Ahead:

The geospatial and space tech landscape is evolving rapidly, with GeoAI, precision navigation and cybersecurity at the forefront. As the industry continues to evolve, these events will continue to build momentum. These exciting gatherings will further integrate innovative technologies to address Government needs. Join Carahsoft at these events to explore innovative solutions and connect with industry leaders.

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events, please contact us at Geospatial@Carahsoft.com. For more information on Carahsoft and our industry leading Geospatial and Space Tech technology partners’ events, visit our Geospatial solutions portfolio.  

The Subcommittee on OSINT: A Milestone for National Security

Posted on by Marty Gryski

The establishment of the Subcommittee on Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) within the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) marks a significant step forward in recognizing the vital role of OSINT in modern intelligence and national security. This dedicated subcommittee is designed to provide oversight, guidance and strategic direction for OSINT initiatives across the intelligence community (IC). Chaired by Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), the subcommittee focuses on enhancing OSINT capabilities by promoting data sharing, professionalizing OSINT as a discipline and ensuring adequate resource allocation. By leveraging publicly available information, OSINT plays a critical role in identifying global threats, improving situational awareness and strengthening national security.

Purpose and Mission

The OSINT subcommittee is responsible for overseeing programs and policies that ensure the collection, analysis and dissemination of OSINT align with national security objectives. It will advocate for increased funding and resource allocation to enhance OSINT capabilities while encouraging innovation through the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and automation tools to improve the effectiveness of OSINT. Additionally, the subcommittee will address ethical and legal considerations by establishing guidelines that adhere to privacy laws, civil liberties and best practices.

Why OSINT Matters

Carahsoft Subcommittee on OSINT Security Blog Embedded Image 2025

OSINT has become a cornerstone of modern intelligence gathering, providing real-time, publicly available data to supplement classified intelligence. By leveraging OSINT, agencies can accelerate threat detection and response by prioritizing the most critical risks, ensuring a proactive defense strategy. OSINT supports counterterrorism efforts, combats disinformation, identifies cyber threat actors, assesses geopolitical risks and aids in crisis response, making it an essential tool for strategic planning and real-time threat mitigation.

Impact on the Intelligence Community

The formation of this subcommittee signals a shift toward a more structured and well-funded approach to OSINT. By prioritizing open-source data collection, analysis and integration, the IC can gain faster, more accurate and cost-effective insights into global events. Additionally, it opens the door for increased collaboration between the Government and Private Sector OSINT providers, fostering innovation and strengthening national security.

Carahsoft’s Perspective

As The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider^™, Carahsoft Technology Corp. views this initiative as a game-changer for the OSINT community, recognizing the congressional backing as a significant momentum builder for the discipline. With formal recognition and dedicated oversight at the congressional level, OSINT will receive the attention, investment and structure needed to solidify its role as an indispensable intelligence asset in an era of rapidly evolving digital threats. This move is expected to bring increased resources, enhanced policies and a more strategic approach to OSINT initiatives. For industry leaders like Carahsoft, it presents greater opportunities to collaborate with Government agencies, drive innovation and contribute to the evolving landscape of intelligence gathering. The subcommittee’s focus aligns with Carahsoft’s mission to provide cutting-edge OSINT tools and services, ultimately strengthening the nation’s intelligence capabilities.

Discover how Carahsoft’s OSINT portfolio of trusted technology partnerships and innovative solutions can enhance intelligence gathering.

Modernizing the Department of Defense’s Authorization to Operate Process For Agility

Posted on by Danielle Metz

What is the National Defense Authorization Act?

Since 1961, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has authorized funding levels and provided authorities for the U.S. military and other critical defense priorities, ensuring America’s forces have the resources they need to carry out their missions.

Authority to Operate

A barrier that exists for technology companies is obtaining an Authorization to Operate (ATO) for their software applications, services, and or platform capabilities. The ATO process can be challenging, tedious, and unpredictable, with varying costs and timelines. This process is particularly cumbersome and incongruent with the dynamic nature of software deployment. Once the ATO hurdle is cleared, technology companies face their next challenge: continuous monitoring and associated updates. Every major software update must be run through a compliance process. This poses significant challenges for both the software company and the government end-user. It prohibits the timely and continuous resolution of issues and prevents the government from leveraging the latest and most cutting-edge version of an application.

“Presumptive reciprocity” in the context of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) refers to a provision mandating that if one Department of Defense (DoD) authorizing official has approved a cloud-based platform or service as secure, then other DoD officials should automatically accept that assessment without needing to conduct a separate review. Presumptive reciprocity helps lighten the ATO burden and was recently reinforced in Section 1522 of the FY25 NDAA. Enabling another DoD organization to take an ATO for their software application, services, and or platforms from the Air Force Authorizing Official, for example, and having it accepted by the Navy’s Authorizing Official, greatly reduces the burden on both government accrediting officials and the technology company. Most importantly, the DoD warfighter wins by gaining access to best-in-class capabilities delivered at the speed of relevance, ensuring they can execute their missions effectively.

Second Front Systems DoD Authorization to Operate Blog Chart Image 2025

FY2025 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) SEC. 1522.

What does the language in Sec. 1522 of the FY25 NDAA on DoD Presumptive Reciprocity entail?

Tasks the DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO) to work with Military Department CIOs to develop and regularly maintain a digital directory of all Authorizing Officials (AOs) across the DoD. Specifically, this database will contain current contact information of the AOs AND list training requirements that must be completed to be certified and perform the duties of an AO.
Identifies the need to establish a policy for “Presumption of Reciprocal Software Accrediting Standards.” The DoD CIO is tasked with creating and implementing a policy for DoD that would require AOs to adopt security analysis and supporting documentation of cloud-hosted platforms, services, or applications that have been approved by another AO in the DoD.
- This policy change will allow for more rapid adoption of cloud-hosted platforms, services, or applications at the corresponding classification level (e.g., CUI, Secret, Top Secret) with the existing approval conditions and no further authorization or approval reviews required.
- The policy will include the following:
  - Standardization of security, accreditation, performance, and operational capabilities of the cloud-hosted platforms, services, and applications;
  - A digital workflow to document acceptance by/among the mission owners and system owners to use the operational capabilities from the cloud-hosted platforms, services, and applications; and
  - Define an adjudication process with associated timelines that would allow AOs that disagree with using this policy to present their rationale to the DoD CIO or designated entity for reconciliation.
- The policy applies to the following:
  - ALL AOs in the DoD (Military Department, Defense Agency and Field Activity, and Component).
  - ALL operational capabilities of cloud-hosted platforms, services, and applications that are on public cloud infrastructure and authorized through FedRAMP and DISA AND capabilities in private cloud landing zones managed by the DoD that have been approved by DoD AOs.

The big take away here is that the FY25 NDAA language marks a significant step forward in reducing bureaucratic hurdles for both technology companies and the DoD. By implementing “presumptive reciprocity,” the NDAA streamlines the ATO process, enabling faster adoption of cloud-hosted platforms and services while maintaining rigorous security standards. This policy helps ensure that the DoD can access cutting-edge technology more efficiently, empowering warfighters with the tools they need to execute their missions with speed and precision. As the DoD continues to modernize and adapt to rapidly evolving technologies, these changes pave the way for a more agile, secure, and effective defense ecosystem.

To learn more about Second Front Systems and the National Defense Authorization Act, visit our website and keep up with our latest efforts with the DoD.

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Second Front Systems, we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

DoDIIS Takeaways: Future DoD and IC Initiatives for AI, ML and the Cloud

Posted on by Michael Shrader

This blog series focuses on the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) initiatives for 2023 and beyond. Part one covered future plans regarding IT workforce development and retention, partnerships, interoperability and data management. Part Two continues the discussion of the intertwining initiatives and technologies in AI, ML and cloud computing to provide a more complete picture of the current DoD and IC landscape in connection with their vision for the future.

While data is the lifeblood for the digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are what make digesting the information possible. Cloud allows for this data to be hyperscaled, more agile and more efficient for operations. All of these elements and technologies work together to propel the DoD and IC to the next level and achieve mission goals.

AI and ML

To properly understand AI and ML’s role in the future of the DoD and IC, some standard definitions must be established. While the private sector mostly utilizes AI for emergency response, healthcare, finance, agriculture and human resources, the military’s most common uses include cyber defense, swarming, vulnerability scanning and data filtration. This creates a stark difference in understanding and terms. For the purposes of this blog, the terms AI and ML will reflect the terms used during the live DoDIIS speeches and discussions.

With AI and ML, one of the biggest hurdles for the IC is explainability. Before new data can be incorporated from other sources, existing data must be processed. CTOs and Directors of the CIA, DIA, National Media Exploitation Center (NMEC) and Virtualitics explained that if current data holdings are not sorted and understood during the data cataloging processes, it will be difficult to utilize AI and understand the results later. Data governance and data strategy are foundational to this effort. All parties involved also need to understand the ethical implications of AI and have a strong grasp of data analysis and machine learning to harness all of these technologies’ true powers. Other safeguards must be put in place to properly introduce the use of AI and ML within their intended contexts. AI testing and evaluation (T&E) is different than for other tech, since AI capabilities should not be set and left without monitoring and a way to update a model in the field. Instead, the models should continue to be supervised over time by system creators and end users across academia, industry and government to preserve accuracy and high precision. The baseline within the hierarchy of needs is ensuring quality data results, which requires clear understanding of the algorithmic approaches being employed for the models. Vendor technology that provides clear AI explainability is particularly sought after in the DoD and IC since it can be used to back tactical life or death decisions. One solution the DoD is pursuing to address this challenge is the machine-as-a-teammate (MaaT) capability which automates data transformation to significantly increase velocity and precision while remaining explainable.

The DoD has begun focusing heavily on ethical AI frameworks including starting toolkits to assess pipeline or model bias and building a Responsible AI (RAI) foundation to ensure responsible, equitable, traceable, reliable and governed use of data. The DoD hopes industry will continue to adopt RAI principles ahead of future requirements and expand on practical ways to attain these best practices. In addition, the DoD established an AI Council to discuss aligning their RAI framework with AI regulations in other European countries as they seek to integrate systems and open the door for efficient data sharing.

Through initializing use of AI and ML, the DoD and IC have already discovered several benefits. AI has offered enhanced workflows and reduced burden on analysts, advanced filtering techniques on large data sets, open-source scanning for improved product reports and optimized data rates for information transfer. DoD ML pilots achieved 100x increase in quality review and 10x increase in pre-decision error/anomaly detection, among other successes. DoD and IC leaders look to AI as gateway to better identify vulnerabilities in military systems, improve the identification of targets or locations and increase accuracy and speed of retrieving battle damage assessments. While the technology exists to perform these tasks, the policies and permissions are not yet complete to fully implement AI and ML.

Handling the massive quantities of data is a huge undertaking; however, processing the information through AI and ML has proven the worth of the endeavor tenfold and delivered clear mission impact. By focusing on the infrastructure first, the DoD and IC can leverage AI and ML for maximum impact to let machines and humans each do what they do best and then team up to solve the problems in between.

While there are some risks to implementing AI completely such as data set accuracy, vulnerabilities to adversarial influence, legal ramifications and expectations of data use tech, DoD and IC officials confidently endorse the transition to incorporating more AI. They recommend several key steps such as creating a common international policy that addresses ethical concerns, technological advancement and dual use; defining AI for policy given the dynamic and changing nature of technology; and identifying definitions and strategies around non-lethal options, hardening systems and mission enhancement. The DIA’s AI strategy aims to achieve AI readiness in the near term, AI competitiveness in the mid-term and AI dominance in the long-term.

The Cloud

According to Dr. Raj G. Iyer, former CIO for Information Technology Reform, Office of the Secretary of the Army, cloud is an absolute necessity to move large amounts of data across the globe. The concept of data-centricity shifting within the Army from theory to doctrine, has precipitated other essential changes including the migration to cloud. Dr. Iyer stated that the new data goals are no longer owned by just “tech folks”, but by every warfighter, which places a new level of priority on technology like cloud. The new Army initiative includes achieving a distributed command and control (C2) structure for the Army to provide more mobility and less centralization both with C2 and the data. This will be attained through the adoption of its Hybrid Cloud of the Future to hide data “in plain sight” and avoid systems that are uniquely military in nature. When the military leverages a commercial platform, it can process data in a way where adversaries cannot differentiate sensitive information from other commercial processes.

Across the rest of the DoD and IC, agencies vary in their level of cloud migration. For the NGA, business applications and analytics are already in the cloud, the next step is to move to a hybrid multicloud with resources that need to be on hardware available at Joint Regional Edge Nodes. The NSA hopes to avoid a lift-and-shift approach, and instead be precise with their cloud investments through initiatives such as Hybrid Cloud Compute, Eagle Crossing, and a Human Capital Management System. DISA has brought cloud programs together for the DoD under their Host and Compute Center (HACC) through the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) contract.

For agencies which have not migrated, the DoD and IC recommend preparing for cloud deployment and utilizing this time before switching to cloud to eliminate bad practices that exist on-prem and focus on relevance, resourcing and complete system readiness. As other technologies and strategies take effect, DoD and IC officials reminded of the importance of prioritizing cloud first, cloud native and Zero Trust baked in throughout every aspect regardless of cloud migration stage.

Some challenges DoD and IC officials presented to industry were how to maintain service if an outage occurs in regional data centers from a classified perspective and how to maintain and optimize the network from a unified comm perspective considering its sensitivity to latency. Overall, leaders inquired how to preserve reliability and redundancy to overcome potential distrust of the cloud. As the DoD and IC collaborate with industry to innovate and resolve these issues, it continues to unlock new doors of potential. Dr. Iyer stated that the network is no longer an enabling function, and these digital technologies are now changing how the DoD and IC fundamentally view warfighting.

As the DoD and IC seek to accomplish these IT goals and prepare the way for future modernization, industry, academia and other government agencies must come together to solve current challenges, innovate new solutions and support mission initiatives. Government leaders noted the importance of these modernization efforts and that the technologies and strategies developed in the next 5-10 years will be the foundation of operations for the next generation.

Check out our Fast Facts and Future Initiatives of the DoD and IC Resource for more information and key insights for the IT industry.

*The information contained in this blog has been written based off the thought-leadership discussions presented by speakers at DoDIIS 2022.*

DoDIIS Takeaways: IT Workforce, Partnerships, Interoperability and Data Management

Posted on by Michael Shrader

As the defense and intelligence communities reflect on 2022 and plan for the future, several key takeaways will guide upcoming initiatives. At the Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) Worldwide, a conference sponsored by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), attendees from the military, industry, government and academia gathered to collaborate and share insights on accomplishing the Department of Defense’s mission.

Agency leaders highlighted that every aspect of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) is critically enabled by IT. Not only is IT the first-in and last-out function for every crisis, oftentimes IT is the mission, not just a supporting role. The DIA recognizes that to innovate with current technology and invest in emerging tech, the journey to maximum productivity often includes the critical evaluation of processes and programs. With IT, misuses must be corrected, software needs to be transparent to users and technology simplified to promote a seamless integration. In essence, IT should be viewed as an evolution instead of a revolution.

To accomplish these goals, the DIA laid out its five main areas of prioritization for the coming years:

IT workforce retention
JWICS modernization, resilience and autonomy
DoDIIS modernization
International connectivity and partnerships
Capability delivery pipeline with Zero Trust and data management

The first part of this two-part blog series covers the discussions of DoD and IC challenges in relation to IT workforce development and retention, partnerships and interoperability and data management. The second blog will cover the enabling technology being deployed including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and the cloud.

IT Workforce Development and Retention

The DoD and IC have encountered challenges upskilling the workforce and uncovering new talent. To fill the gap in applicants, the DIA and IC have turned to contract hires and those from industry who want to spend only a few years in government. The DIA also offers an Education With Industry (EWI) Program where DIA employees can get joint duty credit while working with an industry partner. In addition, the DIA and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) have developed recruiting programs for high schoolers and partnerships with local universities to offer high school internships in hopes of encouraging students to develop interest in a government career.

High competition for talent has increased the need for retention incentives and additional education so agencies can maintain the current workforce. To address these concerns, the DoD and IC have begun modernizing their HR systems and seek to automate HR processes and provide self-service capabilities in hopes of expediting the talent acquisition timeline. Another endeavor includes modernizing training platforms for current employees to keep their skillsets up to date. Investing in continuing-education for these agency subject matter experts is important since they play an essential role in advising commanders and building tech options to address threats. Leadership is looking to academia and industry to source individuals with understanding of the current DoD and IC challenges and the global crises. By pulling from these outlets, the DoD and IC can expedite the process rather than having to train from the ground up with high school recruits. To successfully integrate industry workers into the government sphere, the DoD and IC must adapt to make commercial approaches work as well.

Partnerships and Interoperability

In the realm of defense and intelligence, partnerships and interoperability of technology are key to achieving results that maximize each agencies’ unique capabilities and pool combined strengths. By engaging with other agencies and countries, commanders have access to additional information and options. Investing in these resources offer some resolutions to the DoD’s current challenge of how to rapidly develop new warfighting capabilities while also simultaneously addressing current threats.

These partnerships can make a difference through data sharing, which offers new knowledge to commanders for more informed decision making. To make this information and technology sharing a reality, systems and processes must ensure cross-domain security and allow for interoperability throughout data sourcing countries and agencies. Partnering more significantly with Five Eyes countries (FVEY), will be a major source of increased intelligence as the DIA shifts towards integrating systems. In the near future, any DIA cybersecurity programs that do not align and add value to the FVEY countries will be either adapted or removed.

DoD and IC leaders also hope to collaborate with allies such as the Five Eyes to establish baseline international policies that will open doors for easier parity of information and comparability of systems and technology. Without a universal frame of reference, definitions, and laws, practical progress and innovation is impeded.

Connecting with industry has proven to be another valuable resource as DoD and IC leaders are seeking to better understand the full capabilities of current and emerging technology and gain insight into how industry can solve mission challenges. The DoD and IC desire to foster a culture that values systematic, strategic and equitable private sector engagement as well as addresses barriers to those relationships.

Involving the community through continued conversations and strong alliances provides an integrated deterrent and an advantage over the adversary. While these partnerships have taken a back seat in the past, DoD and IC leaders believe that this needs to be a crucial change and take priority.

Data Management

One of the main cruxes for the DoD and IC is harnessing the power of data. Since everything begins with data, the DoD and IC recognize the responsibility to think and act strategically from data collection to exploitation, dissemination and disposal, and seek to improve current data handling methods. Dr. Stacey A. Dixon, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, believes that developing strategies in the IC to accelerate delivery of that data to those that need it, is the greatest challenge of our time for defense and the IC. Currently the DoD has crossed the limit of data input, overwhelming existing data strategies and making data too siloed, too slow and too hard to find to successfully stay ahead of threats. As the volume of data increases, several measures must be put in place to leverage the wealth of information.

According to DoD and IC officials, the one thing industry and government agencies alike can collectively improve, is interoperability; however, unless data source countries’ systems are secure and the data can be worked together, this cannot be accomplished. Because a large, diverse set of data is needed for good ethics and proper execution, the DoD and IC look to gain increased ability to integrate data across classification levels. Maintaining Zero Trust and consistent monitoring is also critical to freeing the data from other sources.

Over the coming years, the DoD and IC seek to implement widespread data tagging as a foundation for effective data management and quality results. This will allow the combining of commercial and government data to merge with the context and experience that the DoD and IC possess to achieve well rounded, sound decisions.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released its IC Data Strategy 2023-2025, which outlines its plans for improving the management and use of data. The strategy aims to leverage data to operate, collaborate and communicate at any time, in any place and in any security domain at speed, scale and securely. To achieve this transformation, the strategy focuses on four areas: performing end-to-end data management, delivering data interoperability and analytics at speed and scale, seeking advanced partnerships for continued digital and data innovation, and transforming the IC into a data-driven enterprise. Finally, it outlines a modular and agile framework that integrates business, functional, technical, security and data standards to provide a blueprint for the use of data in the IC.

Dr. Raj G. Iyer, former CIO for Information Technology Reform, Office of the Secretary of the Army, stated that data will be the new ammunition. At the end of the day, it comes down to enabling optionality for commanders, enabling mission command and enabling a common operating picture. Dr. Iyer emphasized that this is not a technology strategy, but a digital transformation to change operating models and leverage data in ways that U.S. competitors have not.

Utilizing artificial intelligence, machine learning and the cloud will empower these goals. Read part two of this series to find out more.