Defense Acquisition Magazine September-October 2026

06 Introducing This Issue Jeffrey Havlicek and Aleksandra Scalco, Ph.D.

Digital acquisition is essential to modern - izing acquisition processes and delivering vitally needed products and supplies to the warfighter.

10 Digital Acquisition

Leadership Unchained: The Problem and the Core Solution Robert Hannah; Lt. Col. Christopher Balsters, USAF; Jeffrey Havlicek; and Aleksandra Scalco, Ph.D. A fundamental understanding is needed of the acquisition life cycle that aligns da - ta sharing and decision-making. Acquisition Reference Architecture Dr. Anandi Singh A single, unified digital architecture is needed to modernize digital acquisition.

16 The Missing Link:

32 A Test Case: Leveraging Copilot to Assist in Data Ingestion and Analysis (Caveat Emptor) Seth Shepherd

20 Validating IPT Use of a Technical Management Stack for Engineering Work and Data Jeffrey Havlicek

Using artificial intelligence to help col - lect and analyze test data arguably aligns perfectly with current DoW goals. How might that work in practice?

A possible environment enabling Inte - grated Product Team (IPT) technical man - agement in a systems-of-systems, cross- functional context is discussed.

36 Securing AI-Enabled Systems Through Digital, Model-Based

26 A WarU Workshop Bridges Digital Engineering and Acquisition

Systems, and Loss-Based Engineering Dr. Aaron Jacobson AI-enabled capabilities acquired through software-intensive pathways shift assur - ance concerns to data integrity, model drift, supply chain trust, and distributed digital ecosystems.

Lt. Col. Tyrone Theriot, USMC (Ret.) An immersive cross-functional team- based learning approach enhances un - derstanding of program office activities and roles.

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