The Modern Integrated Warfare Podcast

Wireless networks have traditionally been designed to connect people, devices, and systems, but that same infrastructure is increasingly helping organizations understand what is happening around them. Using radio frequency signals and techniques like signal processing and AI, Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) brings sensing capabilities into existing wireless networks. Although 6G is anticipated to increase ISAC capabilities, the technology can already be explored through current 5G networks, giving ​​the federal government ​​​​the chance to build new forms of situational awareness without the need for specialized sensing infrastructure.

In this episode of the Modern Integrated Warfare Podcast, host Matt Langan spoke with John Macias, Associate Fellow Systems Architect at Verizon, and Amitav Mukherjee, Founder and CEO at Tiami Networks, about how ISAC could transform sensing in defense and homeland security. ​​The discussion touched on​​​​ how passive, monostatic, and bistatic sensing models can support various operational requirements and how existing 5G transmissions can be used to detect and track objects, including drones that might otherwise be difficult to identify. Their conversation also explored how ISAC could extend beyond drone detection to other applications like crowd monitoring, digital twins, and eventually longer-range sensing.​ ​

Executive Order (EO) 14412, “Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks,” signed by President Donald Trump in June 2026, directed federal agencies to accelerate their transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). By December 31, 2030, agencies must move their high-value assets and high-impact systems to PQC for key establishment. Digital signatures must follow by the end of 2031, and the EO extends similar obligations to federal contractors. As agencies work to meet these post-quantum deadlines, network and cybersecurity leaders are under increasing pressure to reconsider how they procure, deploy, and manage infrastructure that can withstand the impending quantum threat while also protecting against “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks that are already underway.

Lamont Copeland, Senior Director of Solutions Architecture at Verizon, and Jim Westdorp, Principal Technologist at Ciena Government Solutions, joined host Matt Langan in this episode of the Modern Integrated Warfare podcast and unpacked what the 2027 and 2030 PQC milestones truly require of federal agencies. Copeland and Westdorp also discussed how to prioritize networks and systems for migration, why crypto agility is crucial to protecting today’s infrastructure investments, and how leaders can partner with industry to meet these deadlines without interfering with vital operations.

In this episode of the Modern Integrated Warfare podcast, host Matt Langan discussed the challenges of delivering secure edge connectivity for special operations environments with Robert Conway, Senior Client Partner at Verizon. Their conversation covered how private 5G, Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), and virtual mobility solutions work together to create secure, uncontested communications bubbles that can be set up anywhere, how technologies that mask or obfuscate cellular location help protect a unit's digital exhaust, and how low Earth orbit satellite architectures and rapid acquisition cycles help units field low-signature equipment that stays ahead of adversarial tracking.

​Maintaining decision advantage in the digital domain is paramount as the cyber battlespace grows in significance and complexity. For the Department of War, a shift from reactive response to proactive defense is necessary to safeguard mission systems and military readiness. In today’s episode of the Modern Integrated Warfare podcast, Shawn Smagh, Principal Intelligence Liaison at GreyNoise, shares his perspective on driving mission impact with real-time edge intelligence.

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​Traditionally, the cyber community has relied on metrics like average time to detect and average time to respond to measure capabilities. Equally valuable, Smagh asserts, is decision time: the time between recognizing that an adversary is preparing an attack and the compromise itself. After a compromise has occurred, the options for remediation are limited. The ability to recognize indications and warning signs prior to compromise provides cyber teams with the operational flexibility to act before mission systems are damaged.

​The growing importance of the digital domain for the Department of War is driving change in the public sector cyber workforce. In what Lt. Gen. Paul Stanton, Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, calls the “readiness revolution,” government cybersecurity readiness is shifting away from rote memorization and toward the ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills before a cyber incident puts them to the test. In this episode of the Modern Integrated Warfare Podcast, Dan Magnotta, Senior Federal Business Development Manager at Hack The Box, shares what the readiness revolution looks like and how technology and partnerships provide crucial support for the Department of War’s (DoW) mission objectives.

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​Artificial intelligence (AI), bring your own device policies, and new applications and devices are all expanding the government’s already massive attack surface. The DoW cyber workforce needs the skills to defend critical cyber terrain, but they also need the flexibility to shift priorities as threats, targets, and missions evolve.

Sovereign SATCOM is becoming a strategic priority for governments and defense organizations worldwide as military communications are reshaped by geopolitical tensions, contested environments, and evolving mission requirements. At the same time, the rapid development of commercial space capabilities, multi-orbit architectures, and AI-enabled networking is creating new opportunities to build communications infrastructures that are more adaptable, resilient and responsive to operational demands.

In this episode of the Modern Integrated Warfare podcast, guest moderator Dave Davis, Senior Technical Director of Global Government at ST Engineering iDirect, is joined by industry leaders from Airbus Defence and Space and Marconi Technologies UK, formerly Ultra I&C to discuss the technologies, collaborations, and operational needs shaping the future of sovereign SATCOM. Together, they explore the growing importance of AI-enabled network management, multi-orbit resilience, user-centric terminal design, and the public-private collaboration necessary to deliver communications capabilities at the speed of modern conflict.

In today’s highly volatile geopolitical environment, being able to communicate and operate securely is a vital strategic advantage for the warfighter and command. With multivariant threats targeted at United States assets at the core and the edge, on land, in space, and at sea, investment in robust and resilient secure facilities has never been more important. The challenges of balancing effective communication with secure operations were top of mind at the Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium 2026, that took place in February in Colorado.

In this episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, we invited Michael Montgomery, who leads Chenega Architecture and Design Solutions and is President of Chenega Worldwide Support, and Jeff Kronewitter, Director of Strategic Solutions at Chenega MIOS, to discuss best practices in building a secure operations and communications environments in an era of disruption.

“Many of the cyber threats are easily known and understood, but overall, the ‘wheel of access’ to our missions has been ever increasing,” said Kronewitter. “So, we need to take a deliberate approach, making sure that expertise in regulations, design specs, and technical requirements remain a top priority, while still creating affordable facilities for the government.”

For more best practices, listen to the podcast now.

As the Department of War accelerates its transitions toward a mobile-first model, new technologies are emerging as force multipliers for safety, decision-making, and operational readiness.

A key innovation is on-device AI. By running AI locally on mobile devices, teams can access live translation, transcription, chat assistance, and situational awareness tools without relying on cloud connectivity. This allows secure operations in disconnected or classified environments while management systems provide control over AI features, resulting in smarter and faster workflows that reduce cognitive and physical load on personnel. Teams can process information immediately, streamline reporting, and focus on the mission instead of managing multiple tools.

Wearables and IoT devices further extend the mobile ecosystem. From battlefield injury monitoring to training optimization, these devices capture real-time biometric data to enhance safety and operational efficiency. Personnel can receive early alerts for health risks, track performance during exercise, and ensure continuous monitoring even in standalone mode without relying on paired devices. This flexibility enables smarter decision making and quicker responses in critical situations.

In the second half of this Modern Integrated Warfare podcast, Bryan Schromsky, Managing Partner for 5G Public Sector at Verizon, and Todd Maxwell, Director of Regulated Business Development at Samsung Electronics America, explore how artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, and next-generation wearables are reshaping the military’s mobile ecosystem. In this new era, mobile devices are not just communication tools but intelligent hubs that enhance awareness, simplify workflows, and protect the warfighter in every environment.

“It's really about trying to enhance safety and efficiency by providing this biometric data and then tying in some of the AI features, even down to the wearable on the device.”

— Todd Maxwell

From field radios to ruggedized tables, mobile devices have been an integral part of military communications for decades. But today, the Department of War (DoW) is moving beyond simply using mobile devices and investing in placing mobility at the forefront of training, planning, and tactical operations. This emerging mobile-first model is reshaping readiness and accelerating the pace of operations at a moment when speed, flexibility, and secure data are the most critical.

What emerges is a new vision for mobile capabilities in the field. Instead of carrying multiple devices or specialized gear, service members can rely on a single, secure endpoint that transitions seamlessly across environments like training ranges and command environments. Devices can now deliver a full desktop experience for mission planning in a vehicle, then shift into situational awareness mode during operations, and finally integrate with wearables or IoT sensors for team coordination. This consolidation improves efficiency while reducing the physical and cognitive load on warfighters.

In this episode of the Modern Integrated Warfare podcast, Bryan Schromsky, Managing Partner for 5G Public Sector at Verizon, and Todd Maxwell, Director of Regulated Business Development at Samsung Electronics America, join host, Matt Langan, to explore the forces driving this shift and the innovations making it possible. As they explain, the modern military is now dominated by service members who grew up as mobile natives. That cultural readiness paired with more affordable devices, expanded commercial 5G coverage on military installations, and rapidly improving security frameworks set the stage for mobility to move from niche use cases to full-scale operational adoption.

“Mobility is going mainstream…because the next generation of servicemen now are younger, and they actually live in a mobile-first world.”

-Bryan Schromsky

Listen to part one of the podcast to hear the full discussion.

At the end of last year, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) released new Android 16 and iOS 26 Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) designed to provide military organizations with the guidance they need to better secure their mobile endpoints against modern adversaries.

One of the most significant new requirements in the latest Android and Apple STIGS is for all managed mobile devices to have a mobile threat defense (MTD) solution deployed to remain compliant – a major undertaking for an organization with hundreds of thousands of mobile endpoints.

In this episode of the Modern Integrated Warfare Podcast, host, Matt Langan, is joined by Farhan Saifudin of Ivanti, and Alex Froede of DISA to define STIGs, explain their importance for mobile device security, and discuss the new STIG changes and how they’ll impact military organizations.

Farhan Saifudin, is Ivanti's sales engineer manager for the public sector. Alex Froede, a senior mobile cybersecurity architect and principal author of DISA’s mobile technology STIGs at the DISA Cyber Standards and Analysis Branch, also known as the DISA STIG Office.

During their detailed discussion on the changes to Apple and Android device STIGS, they explore the current threat landscape for mobile devices in the U.S. DoD explain why MTD solutions are necessary in today's threat environment, provide considerations for DoD decision-makers looking to choose an MTD solution, and the importance of marrying an MTD solution to a mobile device management (MDM) solution.

"The new MTD requirement in the mobile operating system, STIGS is part of a multi-layered approach for securing mobile devices. DISA did a study a few years ago and showed that the use of MTD tools adds to the overall security posture of a mobile device in the DoW." - Alex Froede