Lethality, Readiness and Efficiency: Insights from the Department of the Air Force IT Conference 2025

In August, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) held the annual Department of the Air Force IT Conference (DAFITC) in Montgomery, Alabama. They brought together leading voices from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, industry and academia centered on the theme “Lethality, Readiness and Efficiency.” The event spotlighted how modern IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, data and workforce development are all coming together to shape a more agile, secure and mission-ready force.

The 2025 conference featured four training tracks aligned with operational imperatives that will define the near-future landscape for the DAF including:

1. Driving a Zero-Trust Culture to Meet Operational Imperatives
2. Supply Chain Risk Management for Mission-Critical IT and Warfighter Communications Systems
3. Application of Data and Artificial Intelligence for Mission Execution
4. Workforce Development and Retention for the USAF and USSF Next-Gen Cyber Workforce

Across all tracks, it’s apparent that the warfighter of the 21st century will be as reliant on secure, intelligent digital infrastructure as on physical capability.

Zero Trust: More Than a Buzzword

Zero Trust has evolved from being a cybersecurity trend to a baseline requirement, particularly as adversaries become more advanced. With the Department of Defense mandate to implement Zero Trust across services by 2027, there is an additional incentive and urgency to align operations for successful implementation. At the conference, it was clear that the Air Force and Space Force are actively working through how to apply Zero Trust principles across both Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) domains.

OT systems, often older, isolated and hardware-centric, were called out as having presented unique challenges because they require fundamentally different approaches to software-driven IT systems. Speakers repeatedly emphasized the necessity of understanding environmental dependencies of systems and tailoring Zero Trust Architecture to the operational context of protecting critical infrastructure. Presenters encouraged leveraging pilot and test environments, prioritizing identity credentialing and access management, as well as utilizing existing frameworks. Technology companies will need to understand the operating environment and leverage faster pilot and proof of concepts to be successful in implementing secure OT.

Additionally, there was a recurring emphasis that Zero Trust is a culture shift, not just the implementation of IT architecture. Cyber hygiene, "secure by design" solutions and embedding security in the DevOps lifecycle were frequently mentioned as foundational steps for IT security. Automation and AI-driven threat detection will also play a growing role in advancing cybersecurity, with the help of shifting mindsets to security first and building processes to support automation at the start. It will be essential for vendors and partners to demonstrate not only “secure by design” solutions, but also how they are exhibiting cyber hygiene internally. 

Supply Chain Risk Management: A Mission-Ready Network Starts at the Source

With geopolitical tensions and digital supply chain attacks continuing to rise, the emphasis on Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) was not unexpected. The DAF’s ability to maintain mission-critical communications systems and platforms depends on a secure and resilient supply chain. 

Presenters illustrated how protecting the digital backbone of the Air Force and Space Force requires more than compliance, it demands continuous vetting, monitoring and ensuring a more resilient supply chain to protect critical infrastructure, particularly for software and network communications infrastructure. 

Specific to communications infrastructure, presenters focused on evolving to a more operationally relevant, mobile network that involves decentralized and distributed network infrastructure to bring more reliable, secure connectivity to the tactical edge. In addition, they spoke to how command and control (C2) modernization will be foundational in operations and advancing cybersecurity, with weapons systems, operating technology and command and control organizations all relying on the mission assurance of networks. Technology companies should ensure they are able to demonstrate how their network solutions and platforms provide secure, reliable connectivity to the tactical edge and mitigate supply chain risks.  

Data and AI: From Insight to Action

Through multiple panels and presentations, attendees saw how data, AI and machine learning are essential to keeping a competitive edge and maintaining superiority in the digital battlespace. This includes advanced targeting, logistics, cybersecurity and command decision-making, among other operations.

One takeaway from this theme was the gap between aspiration and accessibility. In other words, many organizations within the DAF want to operationalize data, but continue to struggle with data silos, poor integration and limited accessibility across commands or systems. Zero Trust Architecture brings an additional challenge to how DAF will improve data interoperability as it shifts from more traditional network-centric security to a more data-centric security. Ensuring data security while breaking down data barriers will require a transformational change in operations. However, if implemented effectively, it could help deliver data more efficiently to the warfighter and strengthen readiness and lethality.

To help close that gap, presenters advocated for improved data governance, metadata standards and cross-platform interoperability. With these pieces in place, they can then use AI tools more reliably to provide predictive insights, streamline mission planning and automate processes to support improved efficiency and readiness. Technology companies can support the DAF by focusing on improving data readiness, data management and efficiency to enhance mission assurance and accelerate the adoption of AI.

Building the Cyber Workforce of the Future

As much as the DAF IT Conference was about technology, it was also about people. The fourth training track focused on developing, training and retaining the next generation of cyber warriors, both in the Air Force and Space Force.

There was widespread acknowledgment that attracting and keeping top-tier cyber talent is a critical challenge. The commercial tech sector competes aggressively for the same skillsets, often with more lucrative offers.

Strategies shared to enhance the cyber workforce ranged from fostering a culture of innovation, to upskilling pathways within the military, to innovative public-private partnerships that expose personnel to real-world tools and scenarios. Above all, speakers stressed the importance of creating clear career progression, flexible training models and modern leadership approaches that resonate with digital-native airmen and guardians. Technology companies can support the DAF with innovative training models, tools to track metrics and measures of success and by bringing lessons learned from their own experience.

Final Thoughts

DAFITC 2025 left no doubt that the path to greater lethality, readiness and efficiency runs through IT modernization, resilient cyber operations and empowered personnel. Applying Zero Trust across diverse environments, managing supply chain threats, operationalizing data through AI and investing in talent aren’t just separate initiatives, they’re interconnected pieces of a future-ready force.

In an era where digital dominance is as critical as air superiority, the DAF is not just preparing to fight tomorrow’s wars, it's actively working to build the infrastructure to address tomorrow’s threats today. Industry has an instrumental part to play in supporting the Air Force and Space Force across technology domains to be a more lethal, ready and efficient force. 

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About the Author:
Nikki Hamlin is a senior analyst on the TD SYNNEX Public Sector Market Intelligence team covering trends across the federal market. Nikki has more than 8 years of experience in federal procurement research and analysis, providing critical insights to support businesses in making informed decisions across civilian and defense agencies.