Episode 4 - Forging Stronger Defense Partnerships: Reflections from AFCEA TechNet Augusta 2024

Click to Subscribe to the Together we defend Newsletter to get the latest updates!

Brief description: In today’s increasingly complex cyber landscape, the power of partnership is more crucial than ever. Together We Defend, Divided We Fall, is crafted for senior leaders in the defense industry who understand that the only way forward is through collaboration. Each issue offers critical cybersecurity insights, strategies, and best practices focused on the unique challenges of defending our nation’s most vital assets. From the latest threat intelligence to emerging technologies, we equip you with the knowledge to fortify your operations. Join us in fostering strong partnerships and unified defense strategies, because in facing the largest challenges, together is the only way we can truly succeed.

Opening:

After spending an exciting and intense week at AFCEA TechNet Augusta 2024, I’m back at my desk, reflecting on everything we experienced. The conference was a whirlwind of ideas, discussions, and connections—all focused on the challenges and opportunities we face within the Defense Industry. For me, it wasn’t just another industry event; it was a chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and really dig into the issues that keep us up at night.

Personal Story: A lesson in leadership, humility, & collaboration

This week at AFCEA TechNet, our team had a truly inspiring experience. We were fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with a Command Sergeant Major—a leader with decades of experience. Despite his busy schedule and high rank, he made a point to connect with us repeatedly throughout the event, investing a significant amount of time in mentoring our team.

What really stood out was his humility. He reminded us that leadership isn’t about personal recognition—it’s about giving back and contributing to the bigger mission of keeping our country safe. He shared that sometimes our role is to observe and learn, while other times, it’s to step up, collaborate, and lead. His words really hit home.

Throughout our ongoing conversations, we gained some valuable insights:

• Leadership is about service: True leaders focus on giving back and supporting the greater mission, not on seeking recognition.
• Know when to lead and when to listen: Effective leadership requires understanding when to take charge and when to learn from others.
• Continuous learning is key: No matter how experienced you are, there’s always more to learn, and it’s essential to keep growing.

This experience reignited a passion in me and reminded me just how much this work matters. Our success as a community depends on humility, a commitment to learning, and working together. By embracing these values, we can continue to grow both individually and as a team, ensuring we’re always ready to fulfill our mission of safeguarding our nation.

I don't have his permission to call him out specifically, but I wanted to say a huge thank you to you CSM!

Highlight Reel:

Here are five key takeaways that I’m bringing back from TechNet Augusta 2024:

1. Resilience as a Strategic Imperative: At the conference, the conversation kept circling back to one crucial theme: resilience across the Defense Industry. With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated and global supply chains facing constant disruptions, our ability to adapt and bounce back quickly isn’t just important—it’s vital. This isn’t just about surviving tough times; it’s about ensuring we can keep our operations running smoothly and achieve our strategic goals, even when the world around us is anything but predictable.

Take the Pacific theater, for example. The stakes there are incredibly high, and the potential for conflict feels more real every day. In this region, being prepared to operate in Disconnected, Denied, Intermittent, and Limited Bandwidth (#DDIL) environments isn’t just a technical requirement—it’s a lifeline. Whether we’re keeping communication lines open in hostile territories or ensuring supplies reach their destination across vast oceans, our resilience will be put to the test.

The reality is, our ability to stay ahead in these challenging scenarios depends on how well we can adapt and keep our strategic objectives on track, no matter what comes our way.

2. The Strategic Value of Identity and Access Management (IAM): In today’s hybrid work environment, a resilient IAM system isn’t just a layer of security—it’s a crucial business enabler. It ensures that employees can access the resources they need, exactly when and where they need them, without facing unnecessary barriers. When we talk about Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) in Disconnected, Denied, Intermittent, and Limited Bandwidth (DDIL) environments, its importance becomes even more pronounced.

Picture a joint military operation at the tactical edge: having a flexible and reliable #ICAM system means that personnel can securely access critical data in real-time, tailored to their specific roles and clearance levels, even in the most challenging conditions. This capability isn’t just about boosting productivity—it’s about making sure decisions are informed and responses are agile, even when operating in unpredictable and resource-constrained environments.

ICAM at the tactical edge enables our teams to maintain operational continuity and stay mission-focused, ensuring that strategic objectives are met without compromising security, no matter where the mission takes them. For more about the joint Oxford Computer Group US Strata Identity & Saviynt solution we brought to the event read here.

3. AI as a Game-Changer in Defense: Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the defense industry by making operations more efficient and effective. But what does that look like in action?

• Predictive Maintenance: AI predicts equipment failures, reducing downtime and optimizing resources, ensuring readiness and operational continuity.
• Target Recognition: AI analyzes drone and satellite imagery in real-time, identifying threats with precision, minimizing collateral damage, and enhancing decision-making.
• Logistics Optimization: AI streamlines supply chains by predicting resource needs, ensuring timely delivery, and keeping forces well-equipped in the field.

By integrating AI in these ways, we’re not just improving efficiency—we’re tackling our toughest challenges with precision and insight.

4. Strengthening the Supply Chain: I recently dove deep into this topic in an article, but it was clear at AFCEA TechNet Augusta that it’s more relevant than ever. With all the global disruptions we’ve been facing, the need for stronger defense supply chains has never been more critical. At TechNet, the conversations centered around practical strategies like diversifying suppliers and boosting transparency.

These are essential steps to make sure our supply chains can quickly adapt to unexpected challenges, whether it’s a sudden geopolitical shift or a shortage of key materials. It’s all about keeping things running smoothly, even when the world throws us a curveball.

5. Harnessing the Power of Collaboration: A central theme of this newsletter, and a key takeaway from the conference, is the undeniable importance of working together. Our greatest strength lies in our ability to collaborate, bringing together our resources and expertise to support one another in achieving our shared mission.

In the context of disconnected environments, collaboration becomes even more crucial. DDIL presents enormous challenges, particularly around data security and access to mission-critical applications and services. By working together, we can reduce human error and move closer to the speed of battlefield decision-making, even in the most challenging conditions. This focus on collaboration isn’t just a strategy—it’s at the very heart of everything we do, ensuring that we stay mission-ready and resilient in any scenario.

We are more committed than ever to supporting the Defense Industry with the tools, strategies, and insights needed to thrive in today’s dynamic cyber landscape. We are eager to continue the conversations started at the conference and to explore new ways to strengthen our partnerships and advance our collective mission. #AFCEATechNet Augusta 2024 was more than just an event—it was a gathering of like-minded professionals dedicated to the defense of our nation. We’re grateful for the opportunity to have been part of it and look forward to building on the connections and knowledge we gained.

Call to Action:

If we didn’t get a chance to connect at TechNet Augusta, let’s not miss the opportunity to collaborate. Whether it’s discussing cybersecurity, or how we can work together, let's keep the conversation going.

At Oxford Computer Group, we take great pride in being a trusted partner within the #DefenseIndustry. It’s an honor to work alongside such dedicated professionals who share our commitment to safeguarding our nation. As we move forward, we’re eager to continue our collaboration, leveraging our combined strengths to create a more secure future. Together, we can achieve our shared vision of a safer world for everyone.

always remember….

Together we defend, divided we fall

#nationalsecurity #DefenseInnovation #AerospaceandDefense #TogetherWeDefend