MALONEY is the co-founder and CEO of Resil- ient Energy & Infrastructure (REI), specializing in rapid-deployment hybrid microgrids and battery energy storage systems for opera- tional energy. He has a manufacturing, engi- neering, and quality systems background in silicon crystal growing and ultra-precision machining for the semiconductor industry. He holds a B.S. in Economics, an MBA, and a law degree from Georgetown University. His research interests focus on system-of- systems integration and scalable energy op- timization solutions for natural catastrophe, community resiliency, and defense applica- tions. The authors can be contacted through andrew.v.slonopas.mil@army.mil . The views expressed in this article are those of the authors alone and not the Department of War. Reproduction or reposting of articles from Defense Acquisition magazine should credit the authors and the magazine.
The integration of CASTLE into Cyber Fortress exemplified the principle of “testing early and often” in the innovation cycle. By embedding DARPA’s experimental technology directly into a live operational exercise, the program accelerated feedback loops between researchers, industry technologists, and Warfighters.
tors—such as load served, resilience under denial, recovery time, and cost per watt—are essential to jus - tify scaling deployments across geo - graphic combatant commands and allied partners. Reward dual-use innovation. Warfighting acquisition policy should actively incentivize technologies that serve both military and civilian infra - structure needs. Energy resilience, for example, strengthens domestic infrastructure while enhancing expe - ditionary readiness—a true dual ben - efit. Technologies that serve civilian needs can access a much larger mar - ket, driving economies of scale and cost-effective military procurement. Create Guard-led innovation cells. Each state’s National Guard headquarters can serve as a regional testbed, providing industry part - ners with access to diverse opera - tionally relevant environments for prototyping and validation. This ap - proach transforms Guard units into living laboratories for innovation and preparation. Clarify interagency governance and function. Defining roles across the National Guard, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Energy, utilities, and private-sector entities is vital for rapid response and fielding of new technologies. A unified frame - work minimizes overlap, acceler - ates decision-making, and ensures consistent communication. Bureaucratic barriers such as classification restrictions, lengthy contracting cycles, and regulatory uncertainty often stifle innovation. Es -
tablishing template agreements, pre - approved, pre-exercise memoranda of understanding, and standardized risk protocols can dramatically reduce delays while empowering confident innovation and momentum. Conclusion The Cyber Fortress exercise un - derscores a pivotal shift in how we approach defense innovation. Our adversaries will continue to evolve across domains—cyber, electromag - netic, drone, physical infrastruc - ture—and so must we. Through col - laborative innovation over the short, intermediate, and long term, we can build a defense posture that is not only ready but also resilient, not only reactive but also anticipatory. The case for alliances between and among the National Guard, thought leadership, innovators, and industry is clear: The future will not wait, and neither should we. SLONOPAS is chief engineer of the U.S. Army’s Joint Innovation Outpost in the XVIII Airborne Corps and a senior leader in cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and advanced materi- als, with over two decades of experience across the Department of War, academia, and industry. He holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the Univer- sity of Virginia and is completing a D.Eng. in Materials Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. His work integrates cyber, energy, and AI systems to support national security missions. JEAN is the co-founder and CEO of Swift Solar, a U.S. manufacturer of advanced perovskite and silicon solar technologies. He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from MIT and specializes in next-generation photovoltaic systems. His work focuses on scaling high- efficiency solar solutions for commercial and national security applications.
Related Resources
– (ACQ 1600) Program Protection Planning Awareness (Online Training Course) – (CCYB 003) Fundamental Secure Cyber Resilient Engineering (Credential) – (CLE 074) Cybersecurity Throughout DoW Acquisition (Online Training Course) – (CYB 5610) Cybersecurity & Resiliency for Weapons, Control, and IT Systems (Online Training Course) – (SWE 0039) Mission Systems T&E (Online Training Course) – (WSS 019) Cyber Training Range – Industrial Control Systems (Online Training Course)
36 DEFENSE ACQUISITION MAGAZINE | MAY – JUNE 2026
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