In 2025, every federal mission felt the impact of technology. Civilian agencies, the Department of
Defense (DoD), and the Intelligence Community all looked for ways to work smarter, respond faster, and
strengthen security across growing digital landscapes.
At ECS, we saw firsthand how data, AI, and secure digital systems helped our customers move from small improvements to real mission change. As we prepare for 2026, the lessons from this year are clear. Innovation must stay focused on outcomes. It must be secure by design. And it must help people make better decisions at the speed of need.
Advancing GEOINT AI with NGA Maven
One of the strongest examples of mission impact came from our work supporting the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Maven Program. Maven is the DoD’s flagship GEOINT AI program. Its goal is to help U.S. joint warfighters maintain decision advantage on fast-moving battlefields. In 2025, user growth on the program climbed sharply as model performance improved. These gains came from tighter alignment between analysts in the field and the engineers who build and refine the tools. Faster model updates allowed teams to turn data into insights with less delay, helping operators respond to threats with greater confidence and accuracy.
Building Interoperable Mission Environments with Blue Dawn
This year also marked the launch of Blue Dawn, our mission partner environment solution, on the DoD Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace. Blue Dawn gives government customers a secure, ready-to-use environment for collaboration across a wide range of mission partners. It supports AI development and strengthens coordination, from operational decision making to logistics and training. With Blue Dawn now available as a contract-ready solution, agencies can adopt secure and interoperable mission environments faster while reducing the burden of custom engineering. This is critical as more programs work to integrate AI into operations without slowing their mission tempo.
Designing for Resilience, Not Just Defense
Security shaped nearly every technology decision in 2025. As cyber threats grew in speed and complexity, federal systems faced increasing pressure from both state and non-state actors. ECS supported agencies as they implemented zero trust architectures, strengthened identity controls, and shifted toward more resilient designs that keep missions moving, even under attack. Our teams also helped customers prepare for new federal mandates around responsible AI, supply chain security, and software development practices. These steps matter because agencies need systems that can operate through disruption and recover quickly when incidents occur.
The Path to 2026
Looking ahead, one of the most important challenges agencies face is preparing for the post-quantum era. Legacy cryptography will not stand up to future quantum threats, and modernizing these systems will take time. This year, our teams worked closely with strategic partners to assess risk, build cryptographic inventories, and begin planning scalable transitions to post-quantum security. The agencies that act early will be better positioned to protect sensitive systems long before quantum computing reaches full maturity.
The path to 2026 will require greater use of automation, stronger data governance, and faster movement from prototype to production. Agencies will continue adopting mission-focused AI, rather than generic tools. They will look for solutions that integrate cleanly into operations and deliver measurable results. They will expect more from their industry partners as mandates evolve and threats grow.
At ECS, we believe innovation must stay aligned with mission needs and national priorities. Whether we are advancing GEOINT AI, securing federal systems, improving mission readiness, or preparing agencies for post-quantum risk, our focus is the same. We aim to help our federal customers make confident, data-driven decisions that protect our nation and improve the lives of the people they serve.
John Heneghan is president at ECS.