Original broadcast: 9/14/25

On this episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, the Army highlights its push to modernize electromagnetic warfare (EW) with speed and agility. Colonel Leslie Gorman, Army Capability Manager for EW, explains the service is moving beyond the slow, legacy requirements process to an iterative model designed to deliver new capabilities in months instead of years. She says this shift spans technology, operations, tactics, and training, and is informed by lessons from Russia and Ukraine. Gorman stresses the integration of EW with cyber and information operations, creating combined effects to achieve spectrum superiority on today’s congested battlefields.

Zscaler Public Sector CTO Hangsang Bae explores computing and data at the tactical edge. He says the military must rethink networks, treating them as simple transport under zero trust principles. His vision calls for leveraging any available connection—even commercial or adversary networks—to securely provide timely data to soldiers and commanders, even in contested environments.

Brigadier General Robert Mikesh, Deputy PEO for Enterprise Information Systems, shares how his team is driving digital modernization. They are embracing agile software development, embedding functional leaders and end users in sprint cycles, and delivering minimum viable products that evolve through feedback. He also points to stronger industry partnerships and new contracting approaches like OTAs and CSOs that accelerate innovation.

Owning the Spectrum: How the Army Is Reinventing Electromagnetic Warfare

Colonel Leslie Gorman, Army Capability Manager for Electromagnetic Warfare (EW), explains how the Army is transforming its approach to EW by adopting an agile, iterative process that delivers capabilities to the field faster than ever before. She says the goal is to equip soldiers with modern tools within months rather than years, while simultaneously updating training, doctrine, and policy to support their use. Gorman highlights that EW can no longer be treated as a standalone capability—its integration with cyber operations and information operations is essential to achieving electromagnetic spectrum superiority. Drawing lessons from Russia’s use of the electromagnetic spectrum in conflicts since 2008, including Ukraine, the Army is focused on rapid innovation and convergence of capabilities to stay ahead of adversaries. Gorman emphasizes that this approach is designed to ensure soldiers can train, fight, and win on an increasingly congested and contested battlefield.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Agile & Fast Delivery: The Army is using an iterative model to get EW capabilities to soldiers in months instead of years.
• Integrated Operations: EW is now converged with cyber and information operations to deliver combined effects and gain spectrum superiority.
• Lessons from Ukraine: Observations from Russia-Ukraine conflicts are shaping how the Army trains, writes doctrine, and fields EW on the modern battlefield.

Beans, Bullets, and Bytes: Rethinking Data for the Modern Battlefield

Hangsang Bae, Public Sector CTO at Zscaler, explains why computing and data at the tactical edge require a complete mindset shift. He says the traditional approach—deploying circuits, routers, and networks—takes too long for modern contingencies where speed is critical. Instead, he advocates treating networks as simple transport under a true zero trust model, using any connection available, including commercial or even adversary networks, to securely move data. Bae emphasizes that this approach removes dependence on bespoke networks and gets information to commanders and soldiers faster, enabling them to make decisions in real time. He stresses that data must be local and mission-ready, residing with soldiers before a mission begins, then quickly exfiltrated afterward for situational awareness. This shift, he says, allows the Department of Defense to keep pace with technology and deliver the “bytes” that are as essential as beans and bullets on today’s battlefield.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Networks as Transport: In a true zero trust model, any available network—even commercial or adversary—can securely deliver mission data.
• Speed Is Critical: Soldiers need data immediately; waiting for circuits or bespoke networks slows operations in a fast-moving fight.
• Local Data Wins: Information must be preloaded and accessible at the tactical edge so soldiers can operate effectively in contested environments.

Agile Army: How PEO EIS Is Transforming Digital Modernization

Brigadier General Robert Mikesh, Deputy PEO for Enterprise Information Systems (EIS), shares how his team is driving the Army’s digital modernization. He explains that PEO EIS began its digital transformation in spring 2023, pivoting from a waterfall approach to agile software development. This shift includes adopting new practices, changing culture, and bringing functional leaders and end users directly into sprint teams as product owners. Mikesh says this collaboration allows the Army to deliver minimum viable products, get immediate feedback, and iterate quickly—sometimes within two-week sprint cycles. He highlights how early adopter Army units help test software in real-world conditions, enabling fast improvements and acceptance. Mikesh also emphasizes stronger industry collaboration, including direct engagement with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the use of OTAs and CSOs to accelerate delivery. He says these changes ensure the Army can deliver better software solutions faster and stay ahead of mission needs.

Three Key Takeaways:

• Agile Adoption: PEO EIS is moving from waterfall to agile development, delivering minimum viable products and iterating quickly.
• User-Centered Design: Soldiers and functional leaders join sprint teams to provide real-time feedback and shape software.
• Faster Innovation: Closer industry collaboration and flexible contracting (OTAs, CSOs) are accelerating software delivery and adoption of commercial solutions.