quired to fortify and defend complex, interwoven systems. From the outset, Cyber Fortress has shifted the paradigm from simply “train the force” to “innovate with the force.” By embedding industry and academia into exercise planning, execution, and after-action review, the exercise becomes a deliberate innovation accelerator—not just a readiness and training event.
power portions of the exercise envi - ronment. These quick-deployment, transportable microgrids supported multi-domain defense operations— including cyber defense of energy systems, counter-UAS protection, and electromagnetic protection of critical infrastructure. Why microgrids? The defense com - munity increasingly recognizes that depending on a centralized grid cre - ates a vulnerability: Outages, cascad - ing attacks, or deliberate electromag - netic interference can compromise or cripple operations. Research articles highlight that the Department of War (DoW) must advance microgrid sys - tems to supply mission-critical energy while supporting energy indepen -
dence, security, resiliency, and afford - ability. Tactical microgrids managing a diversified mix of energy assets are described as “game-changers” for the U.S. military, enabling mobile, islan - dable, cyber-resilient generation as - sets. Onboard energy storage allows silent power when beneficial, higher power quality, and drives efficiencies in diesel generator operation, fueling, and servicing. Strategic incorpora - tion of mobile microgrids enhances privacy of operations: reduced net noise, emissions odor, and thermal signature as well as diminished die - sel supply lines. In the context of Cyber Fortress, DEVCOM’s microgrid architecture allowed the exercise organizers to
Integrating Tech to Synch Innovation
Microgrids for resilience. DEV- COM, working with industry and the National Guard, led a key initia - tive during Cyber Fortress—the de - ployment of tactical microgrids to
MAY – JUNE 2026 | DEFENSE ACQUISITION MAGAZINE 33
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