MilitarySpot.com

Serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard

Online Schools
| Find Jobs
Follow MilitarySpot:
 
  • Home
  • Enlist
    • Join The Army
    • Join The Navy
    • Join The Air Force
    • Join The Marines
    • Join The Coast Guard
    • Join The National Guard
    • ASVAB
    • Army Physical Fitness Test
    • Military Draft
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
  • Career
    • Join the Military
    • Jobs for Military and Civilians
    • Career Center
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
    • Criminal Justice
  • Education
    • Online Schools
    • Spouse Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • Military Schools
    • Criminal Justice
  • Benefits
    • Army Benefits
    • Navy Benefits
    • Air Force Benefits
    • Marine Corps Benefits
    • National Guard Benefits
    • Coast Guard Benefits
    • Veteran Benefits
    • Basic Pay Rates
    • Allowances
    • Special & Incentive Pay
    • Military Spouse Education Benefits
    • VA Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
  • News
    • Headline News
  • Finance
    • Debt Relief
    • Military Pay Rates
    • Military Personal Loans
    • VA Loans
    • Military Star Card
    • Military MyPay
  • Spouses
    • School Finder
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • PCS, DITY, & Moving
    • Pay Rates
    • MyCAA
    • Education Benefits
  • Community
    • Military Games
    • Military Reunions
    • Classifieds
    • Photo Gallery
    • Buddy Finder
    • MilitarySpot Pinups
    • Military Bases
  • Resources
    • Military Alphabet
    • Military Reunions
    • Military Acronyms
    • Currency Converter
    • Military Tools
    • Ranks
    • Military Time
    • Military Tactics
    • Military Discounts
    • Military Games
    • Military Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Infographics
    • How To
  • Travel

Cyber Innovation Challenge in Silicon Valley

Cyber Innovation Challenge in Silicon Valley

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (April 4, 2016) – Before his recent trip to Silicon Valley, Defense Secretary Ash Carter challenged the Pentagon to “innovate and think outside our five-sided box.”

The Army did just that this week, venturing into the heart of the tech industry to engage vendors on the leading edge of cyber capabilities.

“This event is definitely about how we work together to solve problems,” said Ronald W. Pontius, deputy to the commanding general for U.S. Army Cyber Command. “The Army is continuing to build a world-class cyber mission force that adapts faster than our adversaries, and the Cyber Innovation Challenge keeps us in conversation with the tech industry to work at the pace needed to combat this threat.”

Pontius spoke, March 31, at industry day highlighting the third installment of the Army’s Cyber Innovation Challenge, a process that allows the Army to rapidly purchase and evaluate prototype technologies from small and non-traditional businesses through a flexible acquisition model. Building on the success of the first challenge, the event attracted approximately 100 industry representatives from more than 60 companies and took place at the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), the Pentagon’s incubator and liaison to commercial and academic innovators on the West Coast.

With a 90-day timeline from announcing a requirement to buying prototype equipment, the Cyber Innovation Challenge works much faster than typical military procurement processes in order to deliver needed technologies to the field quickly and get operational feedback from cyber Soldiers.

“Cyberspace moves too fast for the Army to start from scratch and develop our own kit when the solutions are already out there in industry,” said Douglas K. Wiltsie, executive director of the System of Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology). “By tapping into commercial innovation and putting prototypes in the hands of Soldiers early in the process, the Army also gets smarter on our enduring acquisition strategies for cyber equipment.”

At the industry day, Wiltsie and other leaders outlined the focus of the third Innovation Challenge, which seeks software solutions to manage the Army’s growing infrastructure for defensive cyberspace operations. As the Army increasingly fields both pre-positioned and deployable hardware suites, known as micro-clouds, for Soldiers engaged in defensive cyber missions, it needs technology to manage these resources across different environments and operating systems.

“Looking forward, we are looking to manage potentially thousands of micro-clouds, at scale and within the Army’s hierarchical structure,” said Ian MacLeod, a technical advisor at Army Cyber Command, who described the challenge to the vendors. “[We’re looking at] how do we integrate this technology and environment with the operational side to fully leverage the intellectual skills of our cyber mission forces.”

After the industry day, the Army plans to release a formal requirements synopsis in April. That will be followed by technical exchange and/or demonstrations to evaluate selected technologies, leading to potential contract awards for prototype capabilities.

To execute each challenge, the Army works through a consortium, a voluntary organization with members from industry, academia and government. This approach allows the Army to solicit, evaluate and purchase limited quantity prototypes of equipment from a wide range of non-traditional sources, including small and micro companies who may lack the resources to engage in the traditional government contracting process.

The Army launched its first Cyber Innovation Challenge in 2015, which led to agreements with two vendors to provide deployable infrastructure kits to support Army cyber protection teams. The purchased prototypes are expected to be delivered in April, about 10 months after the challenge began. A second challenge aimed at cyberspace analytics capabilities is also underway, with potential awards expected this summer.

The Army’s ultimate goal is to hold three to four challenges per year, to investigate priority requirements and fuel the early experimentation that leads to more informed procurement.

“This model allows us to reach innovators who rarely or never work with the military,” Wiltsie said. “Building those relationships will only benefit cyber Soldiers, who ultimately keep all of us more secure.”

Ready to Join the Army? Contact a Recruiter Now!

Related Posts:

  • Defense Officials Detail National Guard Response to Capitol AttackDefense Officials Detail National Guard Response to…

Comments

Filed Under: News

  • News
  • Enlist
  • Education
  • Career
  • Finance

12 Guardsmen Relieved of Duty for Inauguration

JANUARY 20, 2021 – With 25,000 National Guard troops in Washington to protect the U.S. Capitol and tomorrow’s presidential inauguration of the U.S. 46th president, law enforcement officials have identified and removed 12 people in the Guard’s ranks because of security precautions, officials told Pentagon reporters today. Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan R. Hoffman, National Guard Chief […]

Answers to Top Questions About ACFT Equipment Fielding

OCTOBER 14, 2019 – As Army Soldiers start preparing for the new Army Combat Fitness Test, behind the scenes Army logisticians are also preparing to distribute more than 36,000 equipment sets to conduct the new test. At a recent Facebook Live event, watched by more than 150,000 viewers, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston […]

The Army Educational Benefit You Aren’t Using

JANUARY 12, 2021 – Nothing is free. Unless it’s actually free. With a few basic requirements and a common access card reader that’s exactly what the Army Credentialing Assistance program’s $4,000 per year is — free educational assistance for soldiers. National Guardsmen have the responsibility of not only progressing in their military career but also […]

Meritorious Advancement Program Updates for Navy Reserve Sailors

JANUARY 13, 2021 – Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNRF) has released ALNAVRESFOR 001/21, announcing the latest changes and improvements to the Navy Reserve’s Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP-R). The changes align MAP-R seasons with the Navy-wide advancement exam (NWAE) cycles, effectively doubling the advancement opportunity for Sailors and further supporting the intent of MAP-R to select […]

Navy Modernizes Tuition Assistance Debt Payments

JANUARY 4, 2021 – The Navy has modernized the way Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen can pay back tuition assistance (TA) debts beginning in January 2021. The new program provides service members with the option to pay their debt on a mobile device or computer using a debit card, electronic funds transfer (EFT) or via […]

Recent Posts

  • 12 Guardsmen Relieved of Duty for Inauguration
  • Pence Thanks Fort Drum Soldiers for Accomplishments, Sacrifices
  • Teamwork Leads to Historic Mobilization of Washington Guardsmen
  • USMC, DoD Commences Operation Warp Speed
  • National Guard Troops Head to DC From as Far Away as Guam
MAINMENU




SITESEARCH
Can't find something? Try using our site search to dig through our entire site.



Still having trouble? Try the Advanced Search to refine your searches.
NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE
Sign Up To Receive Information, Updates and Special Officers from MilitarySpot.com.



Don't miss an issue! Jump in the Newsletter Archives to catch up on previous issues.
FOLLOWMILITARY SPOT

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & StumbleUpon and more. Keep up with MilitarySpot.com news & updates. We also have an RSS Feed.

Advertise | About | Contact | Feedback | Unsubscribe | DMCA | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
 
Copyright 2004-2021 Sun Key Publishing. All Rights Reserved.



 
This is not the official recruiting website of the U.S. Military. The site you are on is run by Sun Key Publishing, a private company, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with the U.S. Military.