DIA’s Big 5 for 2024 | Cyber Solutions at the Pentagon | $700 Billion in Savings

6/2/2024

Presented by Redspin and W2Communications

In this week's episode of Fed Gov Today, host Francis Rose discusses key topics with distinguished guests including E.P. Mathew, Deputy CIO at DIA, Dave Bailey, Vice President of Security Services at Redspin, and Jessica Lucas-Judy, Director of Strategic Issues at GAO. The show covers the Defense Intelligence Agency's modernization priorities, the Pentagon's steps toward cyber solutions with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) strategies for eliminating overlap and duplication to increase federal savings.

DIA’s Big Five for 2024

E.P. Mathew, Deputy CIO at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), discusses the agency's top five priorities for 2024, highlighting the modernization of the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System (J-WICS). This system, crucial for secure communications, is being revamped to ensure it meets future challenges, particularly the threats from foreign adversaries. Mathew emphasizes the importance of creating a new architecture that can handle modern demands and ensure command and control capabilities are intact even in adversarial scenarios.

Additionally, Mathew touches upon the modernization of DOTHIS, the agency's internal LAN. The goal is to enhance the user experience through AI-driven support systems and improved cloud-based solutions. Lastly, he mentions the DIA's efforts to streamline and modernize business processes through the development of a capability delivery pipeline, akin to an app store, which will digitize operations and facilitate better data sharing and collaboration.

Key Takeaways:

1. Modernization of J-WICS: The Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System (J-WICS) is undergoing major upgrades to enhance redundancy and resiliency against foreign adversaries.
2. DOTHIS Modernization: Focused on improving the internal local area network, leveraging AI, cloud computing, and collaboration tools to enhance user experience.
3. Capability Delivery Pipeline: Development of the DIA app store to digitize and modernize over 300 business processes, enabling better AI integration and improving overall operational efficiency.

A Stepping Stone to Cyber Solutions at the Pentagon

Dave Bailey, Vice President of Security Services at Redspin, explains the Department of Defense's Joint Surveillance Program, which allows companies to achieve Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) before the official rulemaking is finalized. This voluntary assessment ensures that companies have the necessary cybersecurity measures in place to protect sensitive information. Bailey highlights the benefits of participating in this program early, as it provides a preparatory phase where companies can rectify minor issues within 180 days, aligning with eventual CMMC standards.

Bailey also discusses the long-term nature of the CMMC certification process, emphasizing that it's not a one-time event but a continuous commitment to maintaining robust cybersecurity practices. This ongoing certification ensures that companies remain compliant and capable of protecting sensitive data against evolving cyber threats.

Key Takeaways:

1. Joint Surveillance Program: Provides an opportunity for DoD companies to get certified under CMMC before the official rulemaking, ensuring they have essential cybersecurity practices in place.
2. Preparation and Readiness: Companies participating in the program can address minor findings within 180 days, aligning with the final CMMC requirements.
3. Long-Term Certification Process: Emphasizes that CMMC certification is an ongoing journey, requiring companies to continuously demonstrate and maintain cybersecurity standards.

Pushing $700 Billion in Savings Even Higher

Jessica Lucas-Judy, Director of Strategic Issues at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), discusses the ongoing efforts to identify and eliminate overlap, duplication, and fragmentation within federal agencies. These efforts are aimed at making government operations more efficient and effective. Lucas-Judy explains that while some redundancy is necessary, the goal is to manage it better to avoid waste and improve service delivery.

She highlights successful strategies that have led to significant financial benefits, including better communication, national strategies, and written agreements among agencies. These efforts have already saved the government around $670 billion, with more potential savings identified. Lucas-Judy emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and collaboration to ensure that these issues are addressed effectively and the government can save more money while delivering better services.

Key Takeaways:

1. Addressing Overlap, Duplication, and Fragmentation: GAO identifies new instances and provides recommendations for better collaboration and management across federal agencies to improve efficiency.
2. Communication and Coordination: Successful resolution of issues often involves clear communication, national strategies, and written agreements to ensure continuity and accountability.
3. Significant Savings: GAO's recommendations have already resulted in approximately $670 billion in savings, with potential for more through continued efforts.