Defense Information Systems Agency networks are leveraging AI and sensors to boost real-time monitoring and synthetic traffic, as well as improve user experience and incident resolution.

At AFCEA TechNet 2025 in Baltimore, DISA J6 Global Services Directorate Vice Director Brig. Gen. Michael Cornell discussed the impact of emerging technology on data tagging, diagnostics and interoperability of DOD systems.

Ahead of his June retirement, Cornell also reflected on his proudest moments in of his decades-long career in uniform, particularly working alongside dedicated service members in operational environments.

Sean O'Lone, former senior assistant to the Department of Navy CIO and current CTO of SAIC's Navy Business Group, joined us at Nutanix .NEXT to discuss federal modernization efforts and the future of defense IT. O'Lone served in various positions across the Navy and Joint Staff before joining industry. He shared insights into key pilot programs that modernized endpoint IT capabilities for Navy personnel, including supporting the Navy's Flank Speed. He explored the persistent challenges of federal IT modernization, from navigating budget constraints to balancing security and innovation. O'Lone explained opportunities to reduce duplication in the software enterprise to drive cost and mission efficiency, and how industry can best support the Pentagon's digital transformation.

Col. Ret. Michael Medgyessy, former CIO at Air Force Intelligence, joined us at Nutanix .NEXT to reflect on his career and share forward-thinking strategies for modernizing defense infrastructure. Medgyessy offered a behind-the-scenes look at how Air Force Intelligence deployed Nutanix solutions to support distributed services, increase resilience and streamline operations. He highlighted the power of hyperconverged infrastructure and software-defined storage to enable seamless failover and continuity across missions. He also explored how modern IT environments are helping services break away from legacy, monolithic systems and provided advice to federal CIOs as they continue on their modernization journeys. He emphasized the importance of an "invisible" infrastructure for end users and reducing administrative overhead across classification levels through scalable platforms.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Navy have partnered to secure the seas NOAA's establishment in 1807.

During Sea-Air-Space 2025, Rear Adm. Chad Cary, director of NOAA's Commissioned Officer Corps and the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, spoke to GovCIO Media & Research about NOAA's work integrating AI integration and autonomous systems into its operations, which he says have increased efficiency by 20 to 40% in data collection for research.

Cary also says that NOAA is modernizing platforms and collaborating with academia and industry to leverage emerging technologies for better mission outcomes and marine domain awareness.

According to officials, the Defense Department's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is a national secutity imperative to protect intellectual property and maintain an American competitive advantage in defense technology.

At AFCEA TechNet 2025 in Baltimore, Katie Arrington, performing the duties of the DOD CIO, says CMMC needs to adapt dynamically to evolving cyber threats. With evolving tech like AI and quantum, acquisition rules need to adjust to evolving technologies while maintaining security standards. Arrington says that the Defense Department needs to continue to streamline cyber requirements through required standards, guidance and executive orders.

She also discusses the need for a cultural shift towards continuous cybersecurity, the new Software Fast Track Initiative and baking cybersecurity into all DOD functions.

AI is reshaping the federal landscape, offering agencies a way to boost operational and cost efficiency and augment the workforce. However, speedy adoption remains a challenge.

Lee Caswell, senior vice president of Product and Solutions Marketing at Nutanix, joined us at Nutanix .NEXT to explore how the latest policy directives are influencing innovation across government, the biggest barriers to tech adoption and what it takes to overcome them.

He also discussed strategies for migrating to modern infrastructure, the importance of strong public-private partnerships and some of the most exciting federal tech use cases on the horizon.

When COVID-19 hit, Mike Taylor, hospital ship joint task director at the Military Sealift Command and the U.S. Navy, didn't just respond; he and his team innovated.

At Nutanix .NEXT, Taylor joined us to discuss how he is leveraging telepresence technology and extending wireless networks to transform the way medical care is delivered, proving that technology isn't just a tool, it's a lifeline.

From hyper-converged infrastructure to zero trust, Taylor is leading the charge in modernizing maritime medical operations. His approach isn't just about upgrading systems; it's about creating resilient, secure platforms that can serve humanity in the most challenging conditions.

With an eye on emerging technologies like AI and a commitment to cautious implementation, he's showing how tech can be a powerful ally in humanitarian missions.

Young Bang, former principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, joined us at Nutanix .NEXT in Washington, D.C., to discuss the challenges and opportunities for Army innovation as new directives from the new administration shape the future of defense IT.

From navigating outdated acquisition processes to transforming logistics with machine learning and integrating commercial AI into defense systems, Bang offered insights into how the Defense Department can modernize to keep pace with emerging technologies.

He also highlighted standout programs driving innovation across the Pentagon and discusses the critical role of public-private partnerships in optimizing performance and driving operational efficiency in the digital age.

The Naval Research Laboratory's PROTEUS program is a cutting-edge maritime domain awareness system designed to provide near-real-time global maritime situational awareness for agencies and partners. The program integrates multi-source data ingestion and fusion services to identify, query and filter maritime vessels based on user-defined criteria.

During Sea-Air-Space 2025, Alan Hope, head of the NRL's mission development branch, spoke to GovCIO Media & Research about how Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration and other agencies are using PROTEUS to fulfill their mission.

Hope says that PROTEUS is crucial assist to human analysts at agencies, using AI to sift through vast datasets to highlight potential threats and anomalies, which allows experts to focus on validation and decision-making rather than raw data interpretation.

Hope also talks about the PROTEUS user experience, highlighting the cloud-based, easily accessible workbench that provides real-time updates and historical data for in-depth analysis, fostering collaboration among users across different agencies and locations.

A recently published study by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) discovers a link between physical activity and cancer risk after gathering data from wrist sensors, which could help lead to major advances in cancer research.

Alaina Shreves, predoctoral fellow at NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, said the findings come from accelerometer-measured physical activity, which associated low-intensity exercise with up to a 26 percent decreased risk of certain cancers.

Shreves highlighted the importance of wrist sensor data in cancer prevention. She also shared her excitement about a new project involving wearable technologies to determine how walking patterns impact cancer development.