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Army and Industry Align on Common Data Baseline, as Next Generation Command and Control Moves from Prototyping to Delivery

Thursday, June 25th, 2026

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army announced today it has established the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) common data layer baseline, following NGC2 operational validations at the 4th Infantry Division Ivy Sting-Ivy Mass series and 25th Infantry Division Lightning Surge events.

Anduril Industries will be responsible for leading the common data baseline initiative. They will remain partnered with Palantir to provide an edge-to-cloud data mesh via Anduril’s Lattice and Palantir’s Foundry along with associated software deployment tools. They will also partner with Raft for NGC2 data and services registries, data transformation tools, and data federation via Raft Data Platform.

With this decision, the 4th Infantry Division and 25th Infantry Division will quickly begin to implement NGC2 common components through their respective operational implementation leads as they continue through operational training and campaign exercises at Project Convergence Capstone 6 and Lightning Surge events.

“We are already moving out with the converged data layer architecture,” said Joseph Welch, portfolio acquisition executive for Command and Control (C2)/Counter C2. “Our vendor partners have demonstrated great teamwork and flexibility in helping us establish this baseline and set the groundwork for rapid scaling.”

Vendor Teaming

Anduril Industries will continue to serve as lead for 4th ID operational implementation of the “full stack” of NGC2 hardware and software, with Lockheed Martin continuing to lead the “full stack” operational implementation at 25th ID. These team leads leverage numerous other companies to ensure each division has a tailored “full stack” technology ecosystem, comprised of C2 applications, data, and the underlying infrastructure, network and transport solutions that connect Soldiers on the battlefield, even in contested and denied environments.

Operational implementation leads are also responsible for partnering with units to meet commander priorities by tailoring specific applications, algorithms and hardware relevant to their operational missions and theaters, such as new app development, incorporation of edge compute devices, integration of private 5G and other communications solutions, and fusion of electromagnetic spectrum effectors.

Operational Validation

The Army’s establishment of a common data layer is informed by ten months of feedback and data from operational training events with the 4th ID and 25th ID, where industry formed teams led by Anduril Industries and Lockheed Martin, respectively, have teamed with commanders and Soldiers on the ground to rapidly scale and improve NGC2 capabilities.

Most recently, in May 2026, the 4th ID’s Ivy Mass exercise stressed every element of NGC2 at division scale across the expanse of Fort Carson and Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Colorado, including fighting through cyber and electromagnetic attacks based on real-world threats. Also in May, the 25th ID conducted Lightning Surge 3 during Exercise Balikatan 2026 demonstrated, simultaneously from Hawaii, the continental United States and the Philippines, the integration of sensors, fires systems and airspace management through a unified data platform providing a real-time view of the battlefield across the Indo-Pacific.

Looking ahead, Project Convergence-Capstone 6, or PC-C6 in July 2026 will serve as the culminating event for a division-scale force-on-force NGC2 validation at the National Training Center, allowing the Army to rapidly advance from prototyping to scaling product delivery.

“This is a major step forward as NGC2 evolves into a phase of continuous delivery and we provide this capability at the speed of relevance,” said Brig. Gen. Shane Taylor, capability program executive for Command and Control Information Network, or CPE C2IN. “We continue to encourage industry self-teaming and collaboration to adjust capabilities to commander priorities, operational needs and emerging technologies.”

– US Army Public Affairs

Posted in Army, C5ISR, Industry, Press Release | No Comments »

Pennsylvania Guard Expands Drone Training Mission

Wednesday, June 24th, 2026

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Training and Innovation Facility soon will undergo modernization changes that will strengthen its readiness to train Soldiers, including creating an innovation classroom, a high-tech classroom, a simulator room, a locker room and a mock urban village for training.

Plans also call for the facility to eventually have a drone racecourse and host competitions.

“We are building this facility out so that everybody is going to get a better level of education,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan Shea, the facility’s officer in charge. “We truly are trying to embrace building smarter Soldiers for the future Army. In addition, we’re giving them the tools and training them how to use those tools. The more tools we can put in their back pocket as they move forward, the more ready they’re going to be for future fights.”

The facility has been a beehive of activity over the last few months. On Feb. 19, a team of Soldiers from the facility won the innovation competition at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition in Alabama. Since then, activity at the facility has “exploded,” Shea said.

“We’re going through a massive amount of changes,” said Shea, who is assigned to M Company, 56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team. “This facility has become a massive hub for training, and our lab space has never been busier.”

Since the Best Drone Warfighter Competition, the UAS Training and Innovation Facility has been designated as a training site for the 15X military occupational specialty transition course and as the primary training site for drones selected in the Department of War’s Drone Gauntlet competition.

As a result of these additional programs, construction is underway on upgrades to the facility, and the number of full-time employees has increased from six to 16.

“We’ve had a lot of new people come in, a lot of building changes and a lot of equipment changes,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brent Wehr, course manager for the 15X MOS transition course. “There’s been a lot of big changes here.”

A ‘heavy lift’

The UAS facility was established in 2007. Initially, it was home to 28th Infantry Division units that used the RQ-7 Shadow, a fixed-wing UAS with a 20-foot wingspan, designed for surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition.

The Army stopped using Shadows in January 2024, and Soldiers at the facility then began experimenting with small, first-person view, or FPV, drones as they awaited a new mission. New missions arrived this year in the form of the 15X MOS-T course and the Drone Gauntlet training program.

Pennsylvania was selected to be one of two states, along with Mississippi, to host the 15X MOS-T course for the reserve component. The course is part of the effort to merge two MOSs, 15W (Shadow UAS operator) and 15E (UAS maintainer), Shea said.

“The idea moving forward is an operator and a maintainer will be the same thing, and that’s where we get the 15X,” Shea said.

The first class is expected to begin in October, and Shea expects six classes per year to be conducted at the UASTIF.

The Drone Gauntlet competition, meanwhile, is part of the Department of War’s “Drone Dominance” guidance issued in 2025. Through the program, the Unmanned Aircraft System Training and Innovation Facility, or UASTIF, will receive eight drones that are selected during the Drone Gauntlet, and Soldiers at the facility will receive training on the drones from their manufacturers.

The Soldiers will then train Soldiers from active- and reserve-component Army units selected to receive the drones.

The UASTIF was selected for this program because of its close relationship with Tobyhanna Army Depot in northeast Pennsylvania and Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, as well as the work the facility was already doing in the drone space, Shea said.

“We get the new equipment training from the vendor, and then our job is to train all of active duty as well as some National Guard that have been selected for it,” Shea said. “It’s quite the heavy lift as we go through this.”

Upgrades on the horizon

With the new programs, significant changes are coming to the facility. A maintenance area that was previously converted into an innovation lab will be expanded to become an innovation classroom. The lab currently has several soldering stations and three 3D printers, with two more printers on the way.

“It’s a space where we can instruct in soldering skills, printing skills, everything like that,” Shea said. “It’s designed to be lab space for Soldiers to receive instruction and give our own people the space to work, tear apart systems, repair systems and everything else along those lines.”

The 3D printers are used to prototype drone parts or to print repair parts that may have broken on an existing drone.

Elsewhere in the facility, a high-tech classroom, a simulator room and a locker room are being added, as well as office space for the facility’s full-time personnel.

In addition to changes inside the UASTIF, several upgrades are underway outside. The facility has had an indoor drone obstacle course for about a year and recently built an outdoor course. They are both made primarily from construction materials such as lumber and PVC pipe. The indoor course is where Soldiers first start learning to fly drones, and the outdoor obstacle course was designed to mimic flying through windows and doors in an urban setting, Shea said.

In the coming weeks, a mock urban village made from shipping containers will be moved from elsewhere on Fort Indiantown Gap’s grounds to the facility’s grounds to create a UAS-specific urban operations site. Eventually, Shea said, the facility will have a drone racecourse and host competitions.

An exciting time

Wehr, who has worked at the UASTIF for six years and has been involved in UAS operations for his entire 12-year military career, said it’s an exciting time to be at the facility.

“Shadow was fun back in the day,” said Wehr, who is assigned to M Company, 56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team. “It was a more standard schedule, but with all these changes it’s definitely more exciting and more hands-on than it used to be.”

Today’s UAS operators have to know more than just how to fly one; they need to be able to fix them as well, Wehr said. The UASTIF will help Soldiers learn to do both.

“I think it’s a great facility,” Wehr said. “It’s a perfect place to learn how to fly and how to fix drones.”

The UASTIF was already a great facility, Shea said, and with all the changes coming, it’s going to be even more technologically advanced. He noted that six months ago the facility didn’t have any 3D printers or soldering stations, and its classroom space was limited.

By Brad Rhen

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post, Training | No Comments »

Gentex Corporation Selected to Support U.S. Army NGC2 Program with Ops-Core AMP Communication Headset and Integrated Solutions

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026

CARBONDALE, Pa., June 15, 2026 — Gentex Corporation, a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for U.S. Armed Forces and allied partners worldwide, has been selected to provide its Ops-Core AMP Communication Headset in support of the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) prototyping.

Under this effort, systems will be utilized by soldiers during NGC2 work-up experiments leading up to the Project Convergence Capstone 6 (PC-C6) event. The selection reinforces Gentex’s role in advancing integrated soldier systems that enhance connectivity, protection, and operational effectiveness in modern, networked environments.

In addition to the AMP Communication Headset, Gentex will deliver a comprehensive suite of integrated communications and protection solutions designed to enable seamless interoperability across mission sets, including:

Push-to-Talk (PTT) and Cabling Solutions: Allows mounted soldiers to connect to a body worn radio and vehicle inter communications system (ICS) simultaneously. The AP-107 3-way PTT is detachable so mounted soldiers can use their combat helmet and rapidly exit and enter the vehicle without having to switch between their Combat Vehicle Crewman (CVC) helmet and Ground Combat Helmet.

NFMI Earplugs: The Ops-Core Near Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) Earplugs provide increased noise reduction, while maintaining clear communications and 3D hear-through when used with NFMI enabled Ops-Core headsets. The earplugs do not need batteries, recharging, or any wired connection. When engaged, the NFMI earplug will seamlessly integrate for clear communication. When worn together, the system provides a 34 dB NRR rating.

IHPS ARC Rail Prototype and AMP Helmet RailMount Kits: Featuring a newly developed Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) helmet rail and rail arm solution, allowing secure and comfortable mounting of the AMP Communication Headset to IHPS and NG-IHPS helmets.

Together, these solutions provide a scalable, integrated system that enhances communication clarity, operational flexibility, comfort, and protection for soldiers operating across diverse mission environments.

“For more than 130 years, Gentex has delivered high-performance solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of the modern warfighter,” said Kevin Reilly, Segment Director, Close Combat at Gentex Corporation. “Supporting NGC2 reflects our continued commitment to integrating hearing protection to the Army’s Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) helmet with the launch of our new IHPS ARC Rail for the AMP Communications Headset. It also complements Gentex’s broader portfolio of headborne systems, including NG-IHPS, ACH Gen ll, Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) and Ops-Core FAST® helmets.”

The AMP Communication Headset plays a central role in this capability, delivering 3D audio hearing enhancement of up to +12 dB while providing a 22 Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) for comprehensive hearing protection. Dual removable downleads allow mounted Soldiers to simultaneously connect to a vehicle intercommunication system (ICS) and a body-worn radio, enabling seamless transitions between mounted and dismounted operations without changing helmets. This capability significantly improves operational efficiency by eliminating the need to switch between ground combat and Combat Vehicle Crewman (CVC) helmet systems.

This selection builds on Gentex’s proven track record of supporting U.S. Army Forces. It also reflects Gentex’s expanding global support of allied defense forces, equipping military organizations across more than 20 countries with integrated headborne systems. This complements Gentex’s broader portfolio of headborne systems, including NG-IHPS, ACH Gen II, and ACVC helmet liner solutions.

As the U.S. Army continues to modernize command and control capabilities, Gentex remains focused on delivering integrated, mission-ready solutions that connect, protect and enhance the performance of the modern warfighter.

Posted in Army, Comms, Contracts, Press Release | No Comments »

Army Secretary Highlights UAS Marketplace, Acquisition Reform at Eurosatory 2026

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2026

PARIS — Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll called for faster acquisition, stronger interoperability and closer cooperation with allies and partners during a statement of intent signing ceremony held June 16, during the second day of Eurosatory 2026. The agreement is intended to expand the Uncrewed Aircraft System Marketplace granting allies and partners access to counter-drone capabilities that have been proven on today’s battlefields.

The ceremony brought together U.S. Army leaders and representatives from NATO Allies including Sweden, Denmark, Norway, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy and Lithuania to address one of the most urgent challenges facing modern militaries: how to move faster against the uncrewed aircraft systems threat.

The statement of intent affirms Allied commitment to streamline counter-UAS acquisition and training while helping participating nations identify, evaluate, and field capabilities at the pace required on today’s battlefield.

For Driscoll, the agreement is part of a larger effort to change how the Army connects battlefield needs with industry solutions.

“What we’re fundamentally trying to do here is bring in the same market portals that have made so many companies successful in our country and yours, and just get our government and other governments’ regulation out of the way,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll described the UAS marketplace as a practical way to make acquisition more transparent, responsive, and informed by the Soldiers and operators who use the equipment. He said the model is designed to give allies and partners access to user feedback, allow vendors from participating nations to compete in the same environment, and help governments scale systems that prove effective.

“What we think will work is to allow everyone here to offer their products to Soldiers around the world and us to just listen to Soldiers, get their feedback, and then scale the things that work,” said Driscoll.

Uncrewed aircraft systems continue to reshape the battlefield, creating new requirements for force protection, air defense and rapid adaptation. Small drones, one-way attack systems, and other uncrewed platforms have increased the demand for layered detection, tracking and defeat capabilities that can be fielded quickly and integrated across allied formations.

Driscoll said the challenge is not only acquiring better equipment, but also making sure those systems can work together across nations and services.

“What we know is this inflection point of war is going to require us to create compatible systems,” Driscoll said. “To do things like air defense, we need all of our equipment to be interoperable at a minimum.”

Interoperability was a central theme of the event. Leaders described the effort as more than a procurement initiative, framing it as a way to help allied and partner forces share information, compare capabilities, align requirements, and reduce barriers that can slow the delivery of emerging technologies to the force.

Driscoll pointed to Operation Jailbreak, a U.S. Army effort aimed at improving how Army systems share data, as one example of the service’s work to remove technical barriers. He said the Army reviewed about 100 systems in 30 days and identified a larger requirement to ensure Army equipment can transmit and receive data through common digital interfaces.

The Army is also preparing to apply similar lessons in Europe through the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative, known as EFDI. Driscoll said the goal is to help vendors build to allied requirements from the beginning, making systems more useful, more compatible, and easier to field.

The marketplace initiative begins with counter-drone systems, but Driscoll described a broader vision that could eventually include drones, radars, sensors, tanks, helicopters and other major capabilities. The long-term goal is to create a trusted environment where allied nations can identify, evaluate and procure equipment more efficiently while giving industry clearer insight into operational demand.

Additionally, the ceremony highlighted the role of industry in helping the Army and its partners keep pace with emerging threats. Driscoll said acquisition reform depends not only on government action, but also on sustained collaboration with companies that can deliver tested, practical capabilities.

Testing was another focus of Driscoll’s remarks. He said the Army is working to expand access to ranges and reduce delays that prevent vendors from rapidly proving their systems. Faster testing is essential to helping governments determine what works and move effective capabilities into the hands of Soldiers and allied forces.

Following the signing, Driscoll linked the agreement to the trust and speed required in modern conflict. He said interoperability will shape how allies work together in the future and described the agreement as a first step toward systems that support decision-making at the speed of war.

Eurosatory, a major international defense and security exhibition, provided a setting for the signing by bringing together military leaders, government officials, and industry representatives from around the world.

Driscoll’s remarks placed the signing within a larger Army modernization effort focused on speed and Soldier-informed innovation. As uncrewed systems continue to evolve, Army leaders said the ability to move quickly with allies and partners will remain central to deterrence, readiness, and operational advantage.

The counter-UAS statement of intent represents an early step in that effort, one focused on reducing friction, expanding cooperation, and helping allied forces move from shared requirements to fielded capability faster.

By MAJ Alexander Watkins

Posted in Army, Guest Post | No Comments »

US Army Ranger Hall of Fame Honors 2026 Inductees for Exemplary Service

Sunday, June 21st, 2026

Columbus, GA – June 15, 2026 – The U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame selected 12 distinguished individuals to be inducted to the Ranger Hall of Fame on June 24, 2026, during a ceremony held at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Established in 1992, the Ranger Hall of Fame honors those who have demonstrated extraordinary valor, leadership, and commitment to the Ranger Creed. The 2026 inductees represent a diverse group of leaders whose service spans from WWII to modern-day operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

2026 Ranger Hall of Fame Inductees:

• GEN Daniel B. Allyn – General Allyn is a warrior-leader whose 36-year career exemplified the Ranger ethos. As a captain serving in South Korea, he sought assignment to the 75th Ranger Regiment and quickly proved himself as commander of Company C, 1st Ranger Battalion. He led the night combat parachute assault to seize Torrijos Airport during Operation Just Cause. He later commanded 3rd Ranger Battalion, leaving an enduring mark on the Regiment. Throughout his career, General Allyn embodied selfless service, combat valor, and unwavering commitment to the Ranger legacy, making him a truly deserving member of the Ranger Hall of Fame.

• SGM Colin M. Boley – Throughout his 26 years of service he continually led the way in all assignments and missions as a leader. Ranger Boley served more than 12 years in the 75th Ranger Regiment serving in many positions from Team Leader to 1SG with 15 combat deployments totaling more than 7 cumulative years in a combat environment throughout his career. SGM(R) Colin Boley has proven to be a competent and motivational leader of men always leading from the front and setting the example for Rangers to follow. He embodies what a true warrior should be, while serving a great nation in time of war.

• MG Clarence K.K. Chinn – Throughout a distinguished 36-year career, Ranger Chinn not only upheld but exemplified the Ranger Creed, demonstrating extraordinary leadership and an enduring commitment to the Ranger ethos. In every assignment, from Chief of Operations at SOCOM to DCG at USASOC, CG at JRTC & Fort Polk and Army South, Ranger Chinn’s professionalism, character, and leadership set the standard. His combat experience, mentorship, and leadership across Ranger and conventional forces shaped thousands of soldiers and left an enduring mark on Ranger history.

• GEN Richard D. Clarke – General (Ret.) Richard D. Clarke is inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame for distinguished and faithful service to our country, and for dedicating his life and career to the values set forth in the Ranger Creed. His military career spanned close to 40 years and included multiple combat deployments to Desert Storm, Joint Guardian, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, New Dawn; spending more than five years deployed in support of combat operations. He played a fundamental role in securing the nation and its interest during a period of complex, volatile, and unpredictable threats from strategic competitors and violent extremist organizations. Gen. Clarke’s dynamic leadership, professional competence, and unyielding personal commitment was essential to the success of numerous missions of national importance and vital to the security of the United States of America.

• MAJ Peter Dencker – Ranger Dencker was commissioned Infantry from West Point in 1969 and volunteered for Vietnam. In August 1970 he was assigned as a platoon leader in 1/7th Cav. In December 1970, he reported to H/75th as the XO. From March 1971 till June 1972, he Commanded H/75th. His final assignment was teaching and coaching football at West Point. His awards include the Silver Star, Purple Heart, Bronze Star/w “V” (5 OLC), Army Commendation Medal/w “V ”(1 OLC), Air Medal/w “V” (7 OLC), numerous other US and foreign Awards. H/75th was the most decorated unit during the Vietnam conflict.

• COL Larry Perino – Recognized for serving our nation for 25 years and five months in a career defined by courage, leadership, and devotion to the Ranger Creed. On October 3–4, 1993, as a platoon leader with B Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, he led his Rangers during the Battle of Mogadishu as part of Task Force Ranger and Operation Gothic Serpent. Since retirement, Colonel Perino has continued to mentor Rangers, support alumni organizations, and share lessons from combat with today’s warriors. In 2021, he was awarded the Silver Star, presented in 2022 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

• MAJ Douglas Philippone – Recognized for his distinguished military career in the 75th Ranger Regiment in 1990 as an enlisted Anti-Tank Gunner in 1st Battalion. During his time in 3rd Ranger Battalion, Doug deployed four times to Afghanistan and Iraq. He led more than 100 direct action missions and earned three Bronze Star Medal awards, including two for valor, along with a Joint Service Commendation Medal for valor. Throughout his service, he embodied every stanza of the Ranger Creed.

• CSM Walter M. Rakow – Dedicated almost 50 years of service to his country on active duty, and as a civil servant, living the Ranger Creed every day. He held himself to the highest standards, whether on the field of battle or during peacetime. CSM Rakow’s life was marked by an unwavering commitment to faith, family, and country. His “dynamic” personality and direct approach to leadership inspired countless generations of soldiers and leaders through his unwavering commitment to the Army, the mission, and to those with whom he served.

• SFC Matthew L. Rierson– Recognized for extraordinary service, exceptional leadership, and a lifelong embodiment of the Ranger Creed. Throughout his distinguished career, he demonstrated remarkable courage, tactical mastery, and unwavering commitment to his fellow Rangers and the nation. Sergeant First Class Rierson’s legacy endures through the Rangers he inspired, the standards he set, and the example he provided of what it means to move further, faster, and fight harder. His induction into the Ranger Hall of Fame honors a Ranger whose life and service reflect the highest traditions of the Regiment and the United States Army.

• GEN Stephen J. Townsend – Recognized for distinguished service to our nation, unparalleled leadership, and a lifetime devoted to the values of the Ranger Creed. Throughout four decades of service, General Townsend always strived to live up to the charge of Abram’s Charter to the Rangers by demonstrating unwavering dedication to excellence and setting a steadfast personal example of courage, integrity, and honor. His exceptional leadership reflects the highest traditions of the Rangers, the United States Army, and the United States Department of Defense.

• Blair Brown (Honorary) – Celebrated for more than a decade of exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to the U.S. Army Ranger community through his role as Vice President and Executive Director of the National Ranger Memorial Foundation. Blair’s service is also deeply personal, shaped by the example of his father, Major Roger Brown, a 2004 inductee of the Ranger Hall of Fame. His sustained contributions reflect exceptional dedication, integrity, and impact in direct support of the Ranger community.

• Candyss Bryant (Honorary) – Celebrated for her extraordinary contributions to the Ranger community. A distinguished nonprofit leader and steadfast advocate, she brings nearly three decades of experience in development, operations, and stakeholder engagement. Bryant has served the Ranger community with unwavering dedication, consistently giving “100% and then some.” Her selfless service, disciplined work ethic, and commitment to excellence embody the spirit of the Ranger Creed. As President of the Ranger Legacy Foundation, Bryant leads the vision and development of the Ranger Legacy Center, a transformative initiative dedicated to preserving the history ad inspiring future generations of the values, and enduring legacy of our Rangers.

The Ranger Hall of Fame ceremony underscores the enduring legacy of the Ranger community and its commitment to excellence, leadership, and service.

About the Ranger Hall of Fame:

The Ranger Hall of Fame was established to honor and preserve the contributions of America’s most extraordinary Rangers.

Inductees are selected based on their distinguished service and embodiment of the Ranger Creed.

For more information, please visit Ranger Legacy Foundation.

Posted in Admin, Army, Press Release, Profession of Arms | No Comments »

Army Innovators Automate Path to Zero Trust with Artificial Intelligence

Sunday, June 21st, 2026

The Communications-Electronics Command Army Software and Innovation Center in partnership with the Warfighting Acquisition University and the C5ISR Center, has developed an artificial intelligence tool that significantly accelerates the Army’s transition to a Zero Trust cybersecurity framework. This supports the Department of War’s mandate to achieve Target Level Zero Trust by Fiscal Year 2027.

Zero Trust is a cybersecurity strategy based on the idea that networks are always at risk. Instead of trusting devices within the network, it requires every user and device to be authenticated and authorized before accessing data. Rolling out this approach across all Army systems is a big challenge, but it is necessary for operational readiness.

“Many organizations know they need Zero Trust, but I believe they’re overwhelmed by not knowing where to begin,” said Farhat Shah, a cybersecurity subject matter expert with CECOM ASIC.

Shah discussed this challenge and its corresponding solution during the Warfighting Acquisition University event, “Operationalizing Zero Trust – Leveraging Risk Management Framework and Artificial Intelligence,” held on May 13.

During the presentation, Shah explained that the team started with a five-month project to crosswalk the 91 Zero Trust activities to the thousands of Control Correlation Identifiers in the Army’s Risk Management Framework. This method aligns efforts down to the CCI level, which Shah calls “critical, because CCIs are actionable, testable elements that we use during our RMF assessments.” This helps system owners use their existing compliance work to check their Zero Trust status.

“Our goal is to reduce duplication of effort,” Shah said. “We want to save time and resources by leveraging existing work, and most importantly, reducing risk in a manageable and sustainable way. It is about aligning strategy, governance, and technology.”

The core innovation is “AI Flow,” an AI environment developed by CECOM ASIC. This tool processes a system’s RMF test results and automates the analysis to generate a Zero Trust baseline profile. In a pilot assessment of the Army Food Management Information System, the AI completed the review in about five minutes, compared to a week for a human expert. The assessment found that the AI was 89% accurate.

This system works with two agents. The first agent checks for compliance. If a system is noncompliant, the second agent investigates further, identifies specific gaps, and provides clear guidance, including references to the relevant policies and required documents. This transforms a simple compliance check into a step-by-step engineering process.

With the FY 2027 deadline approaching, CECOM ASIC seeks to partner with additional system owners to expand the tool’s capabilities and help them quickly assess their Zero Trust posture.

“As we continue to refine this process, we’re not just improving the tool; we are shaping a repeatable and scalable approach to support Zero Trust adoption across the enterprise,” said Shah. “If you are interested in advancing Zero Trust automation or want to see how this approach can benefit your organization, I invite you to partner with CECOM ASIC to evaluate and refine this process.”

This integration of existing frameworks and artificial intelligence provides a scalable, data-driven roadmap, that enables the Army to secure its systems and protect its data amid evolving digital threats.

For those who missed the May 13 session, the presentation and materials are available online. Personnel in the Defense Industrial Base, academia, and IT or cyber communities can access the recording and slides to learn how the Army is advancing cybersecurity. Watch the full presentation here: events/operationalizing-zero-trust-leveraging-rmf-and-ai

For inquiries or collaboration, contact ASIC Cybersecurity & Electromagnetic Warfare Directorate at Usarmy.apg.asic.mbx.zero-trust@army.mil.

By SCOTT HOCHENBERG

Posted in AI / ML, Army, Guest Post | No Comments »

7th ID Conducts Redesignation Ceremony

Saturday, June 20th, 2026

Soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division and 1st Multi-Domain Task Force held a redesignation ceremony June 18 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, to case the 1st MDTF Headquarters and 7th ID Headquarters Support Company colors and uncase the 7th Infantry Division (Multi-Domain Command-Pacific) Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion colors, marking a major organizational shift.

The redesignation honors the Bayonet Division’s legacy while establishing the 7th Infantry Division (Multi-Domain Command-Pacific) as theArmy’s newest theater-enabling command, built to integrate maneuver, fires, air defense, cyber, space, electronic warfare, intelligence, unmanned systems, sustainment, and command and control in support of the Joint Force across the Pacific.

“We are merging the operational endurance, flexibility, and protection of our proven Stryker formations with the long-range sensing and precision fires of our multi-domain task force,” said Maj. Gen. Bernard J. Harrington, commanding general of 7th ID (MDC-PAC).

7th ID (MDC-PAC) is an operational-level formation designed to operate forward, develop situations, disrupt enemy systems, and complicate adversary planning.

It supports the Army’s transformation initiative by unifying 7th ID’smaneuver assets and 1st MDTF’s multi-domain capabilities under one command, streamlining mission command across complex operations.

Central to7th ID (MDC-PAC)is the Cross-Domain Contact Layer, a system that integrates intelligence collection, electronic warfare effects, and artificial intelligence to support rapid command decisions within a continuous operational framework.The CDCL allows forces to disperse over large areas to maintain pressure on adversaries both in close and deep areas.

“Through our emerging Cross Domain Contact Layer concept, our division will employ capabilities such as unmanned surface vessels; long-range, one-way attack drones; and launched effects to penetrate the adversary’s anti-access/area-denial network,” Harrington said, “Every radar that emits, every node that transmits, every headquarters that commands, we aim to hold continuously at risk alongside our joint Partners and allies.”

Harrington now leads the Army’s newest multi-domain headquarters, which will refine the CDCL model during upcoming combined, joint and multinational exercises.

The CDCL organizes modern battlefield capabilities into four components: sensors that capture information across land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace; precision weapons paired with affordable unmanned drones; digital networks and software that help leaders make faster decisions; and robust military units able to operate even when disrupted by enemy action.

Harrington stressed that alongside Partners and allies, the division aims to prevent conflict, and the common thread connecting all efforts is the Soldiers.

“Technology does not win wars,” he said, “our people do.”

The ceremony also reflects the Army’s pushto distribute sensing, fires, electronic warfare, space, and cyber capabilities across maneuver formations to increase effectiveness in contested environments.

“Our hourglass patch went to France in World War I and helped defeat the Germans in the largest battle in American history,” Harrington said, noting the division’s long tradition of adaptation, “Later, it trained as a motorized infantry battalion, then amphibious assault, then light infantry. The Bayonets went ashore in the frozen Aleutians in 1943. They fought in the jungles of Laite. In Korea, they landed and fought at Incheon at the Chosin Reservoir, and by the end of that war, had served a staggering 850 days in continuous combat.”

Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, emphasized the division’s commitment to future training and Indo-Pacific readiness.

Clark outlined U.S. Army Pacific’s focus: delivering combat-ready forces, strengthening Partnerships and alliances, and advancing innovation to maintain a competitive edge in the Pacific.

“With this transformation, the 7th Infantry Division is poised to plan and execute complex multi-domain operations across this region,” Clark added. “Bringing the full strength and resources of a division in support of the joint force.”

These changes build on years of Indo-Pacific experimentation, including 1st MDTF deployments, ground-based long-range precision fires, and combined efforts with regional Partners such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“These Soldiers have invested wholeheartedly in experimenting, deploying, and employing capabilities that work from the heavens to the earth, from the air to the sea, and flow with all the digits that go in between,” said Col. Charles W. Kean,7th ID (MDC-PAC) deputy commanding officer-effects andformer 1st MDTF commander,“It has truly been inspirational to watch them in action.”

He noted that their dedication has propelled the division into its next phase of transformation, adding that this progress is only the beginning as the organization adapts to new operational demands.

“This merger isn’t an ending,” Kean said. “It’s just another milestone as we continue to move at the pace of relevance. We built something historic, and we’re continuing to build something historic, something consequential, and something that could potentially stop the next war.”

Story by SFC Monik Phan

7th Infantry Division

Posted in Army, Forces Focus, Guest Post | No Comments »

Army Software Factory NCOs Become Warrant Officers

Friday, June 19th, 2026

FORT RUCKER, Ala. — Army Software Factory noncommissioned officers marked a milestone in their careers as they became software operations warrant officers, graduating from Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker on June 10.

The software operations technician military occupational specialty, known as 280A, is the Army’s newest functional area.

“We realized the operational power of having Soldiers who have software operations skills paired with Soldiers with artificial intelligence skills to solve problems for commanders,” said Howard K. “Howie” Brewington, deputy director of the Mission Command Center of Excellence based at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The Army Software Factory is an Army Transformation and Training Command unit that enables Soldiers to reach global mission outcomes through software operations. They find hidden tech talent in the Army to build proficiency and mastery in commercial technologies and processes. This results in an upskilled technical force that enables the Army to be better prepared for software-centric and dynamic contested environments.

The traditional path for transitioning an NCO to warrant officer was too slow to support the rapid transformation needed, so the Mission Command Center of Excellence encouraged exceptional NCOs with the Army Software Factory additional skill identifier to submit their packets for the Functional Area 28 software operations selection panel in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025.

The NCOs were selected through a rigorous multi-stage interview process, which examines military performance records and experience, civilian experience and technical aptitude. The NCOs then received 12 months of training and real-world operational experience on a Software Development Team.

Brewington said Soldiers with a passion for software operations now have a path to continue serving their nation, whereas a year ago, the Army was losing NCOs with these skill sets to industry.

“…Same thing with warrant officers, same thing with officers. We said this is important enough that we need to have a specialty called Software Operations, a functional area. Functional Area 28 includes Area of Concentration 28A software operations officer and MOS 280A software operations technician,” he said.

Standing up a functional area that includes officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers who want to become warrant officers, benefits the operational force, the Soldier and Army recruiting and retention goals.

“If you think about a Venn Diagram with three circles: the needs of the Army; the knowledge, skills, attributes and other characteristics of the Soldier/Leader; and the desires or preferences of the Soldier, you find the place where those three circles overlap, you color that in, put a Soldier there, and they will stay in our Army forever,” he said.

Warrant Officer DJ Barroga, a product designer who previously served as a 25B IT specialist, was serving as an NCO in an Army operations and training office in Hawaii when he saw the message that went out, and he applied.

“I am the empathizer-in-chief: I go around talking to different users and stakeholders and discovering…is it a software solution for them, or an issue with their process? I relay that information to their battalion commander or their company commander, and then synthesize all that information to bring it back to our team, the project manager, software engineers, so we can discuss what is the best course of action to solve their problem,” Barroga said.

He explained that the Army Software Factory has four tracks — product managers, product designers, software engineers and platform engineers.

“We all work in Agile teams,” Barroga said. “We’ll get tasked from our product office with some issues that go to our Army Software Factory site. Those issues come from the force. The product office will review all these problem sets and figure out if it’s something we can work on that’s not enterprise, because the Army pays for applications and we don’t want to do double dipping. They’ll give us a problem set, and the team will go out and start doing the discovery and framing application process.”

Barroga said he likes the uniqueness of the job. In communicating with leaders and Soldiers he gets a better look at the actual issue the user is having, which enables him to translate that to leaders and develop a path forward.

“You’re able to build that connection and say, ‘Hey, sir or ma’am, what you’re saying is valid, but your Soldiers down the line are having a totally different issue, so I think we should go this way’,” he said.

He anticipates that becoming a warrant officer likely will not change his duties, but rather impact how he is able to do the job.

“I think I’m going to have more of that presence, and be able to talk to these leaders and they will take what I say into consideration more because of what a warrant officer is and that status a warrant officer holds,” the former staff sergeant said.

The next step for the group of warrant officers is Warrant Officer Basic Course.

By Kelly Morris

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Profession of Arms | No Comments »