At the 2025 Sea-Air-Space exposition, leaders from across the federal technology ecosystem painted a consistent picture of both promise and pressure in modernizing defense capabilities. Across conversations with industry experts, common themes emerged around accelerating procurement, enhancing cybersecurity resilience, aligning commercial innovation with military demands, and fostering visionary leadership in government.
Speeding Up Federal Acquisition with Automation
A unifying concern was the speed and efficiency of federal acquisition. Industry executives emphasized that the current procurement processes—often extending over years—are incompatible with the rapidly evolving pace of modern technology. To counteract this lag, automation and digital workflows are being introduced to streamline administrative tasks, enabling technology to be delivered to mission-critical environments faster and more reliably. The federal sector is increasingly expected to mirror the agility of commercial enterprises, leveraging automation not just for speed, but for accuracy, compliance, and cost-efficiency.
Resilience: The New Core of Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity resilience also featured prominently in these discussions. As threats become more sophisticated and omnipresent, the shift from purely defensive strategies to resilient architectures is underway. Maritime and other sea services are prioritizing the ability to quickly recover from cyber incidents—especially those targeting foundational systems like Active Directory. The growing importance of edge computing only amplifies this need, with defense organizations requiring security measures that function reliably in remote or adversarial environments.
Modernizing the Military Supply Chain
The concept of “resilience” extended beyond cybersecurity into the structure and reliability of defense supply chains. With recent global conflicts underscoring the fragility of over-extended supply networks, agencies are reevaluating their dependencies and integrating advanced analytics to track performance and ensure operational readiness. A well-integrated and secure supply chain is increasingly seen not just as a logistical advantage, but as a strategic necessity.
Bringing Commercial Innovation into the Defense Sphere
Another thread running through these interviews was the growing convergence between military and commercial use cases. Industry leaders encouraged government agencies to study successful commercial implementations in similar high-security, distributed environments—like mining or energy exploration—and apply those lessons to defense operations. Technologies such as Zero Trust, already proven in the private sector, are increasingly seen as ready for military deployment, particularly as policies and organizational mindsets evolve.
Visionary Leadership Driving Technological Transformation
Leadership emerged as a decisive factor in how successfully technology is adopted within government. A new generation of agency leaders, many with private-sector experience and digital fluency, are better equipped to articulate technological visions and reduce bureaucratic friction. These leaders are not just adopting tools—they are reshaping acquisition models, demanding outcomes over checklists, and driving cultural shifts essential for lasting transformation.
Conclusion: A Shared Momentum Toward Agility and Security
In sum, the industry perspective from Sea-Air-Space 2025 underscores a defense environment in flux—challenged by urgency, yet buoyed by innovation. With a shared focus on speed, security, and strategic clarity, industry and government are navigating a path toward a more agile and resilient future.
Hear from some industry experts: