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In the News

News | May 25, 2025

Software Fast Track Initiative

On April 24, Ms. Katie Arrington, performing the duties of the DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO), signed a memo titled "Accelerating Secure Software," which establishes the Software Fast Track (SWFT) Initiative for the Department. This effort is aligned with Secretary Hegseth's guidance (Directing Modern Software Acquisition to Maximize Lethality, March 6, 2025) and will reform the way the Department acquires, tests, and authorizes secure software.

Current systems for software procurement were developed for a different environment and using processes that are outdated and slow, with little to no supply chain visibility. This guidance directs the office of the CIO (OCIO) to work with the Under Secretaries of Acquisition and Sustainment, Research and Engineering, and Intelligence and Security to address these critical areas. Improving our ability to bring high quality secure software to the Warfighter rapidly will greatly increase the lethality and resilience of the Joint Force.

This action directs the OCIO to undertake a 90-day sprint to develop a framework and implementation plan to define clear, specific: (1) cybersecurity and SCRM requirements; (2) rigorous software security verification processes; (3) secure information sharing mechanisms; and (4) Federal Government-led risk determinations to expedite the cybersecurity authorizations for secure, rapid software adoption.

Today, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced three Requests for Information (RFI) to gather market information and capabilities in accelerating secure software delivery to the federal government. This is an important step forward in transforming how the U.S. government verifies software security and informs risk-based decisions when introducing new capabilities to the DoD. This puts the nation on a path to rebuild military capabilities.

It is absolutely mission one that we arm our warfighters with the best cutting-edge weapons available, but we don't need duplicative and wasteful processes to do that. This is just one example of how we are going to deliver on the President's promise to rebuild the military and restore the Warrior Ethos throughout the Department.

To read the memo on Accelerating Secure Software, please click here: https://dodcio.defense.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Library/Memo-AcceleratingSecureSoftware.pdf

To read the Request for Information (RFI) – Software Fast Track (SWFT) Tools please click here: https://sam.gov/opp/753c9598b7904657b528e9de39efdee8/view

To read the RFI – Software Fast Track (SWFT) External Assessment Methodologies please click here: https://sam.gov/opp/4a79c3e777c24d14a69d6c090950a755/view

To read the RFI – Software Fast Track (SWFT) Automation & Artificial Intelligence (AI) please click here: https://sam.gov/opp/7ca9ff30bad5407db7de079f7bf397c0/view

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@DeptofWar welcomes Hon @_KirstenDavies_ confirmed by @SenateFloor & sworn in as @POTUS pick for CIO. With decades of leadership in digital transformation & defending freedom in the cyber domain, she'll serve under @SecWar to digitize & modernize warfighter readiness & lethality.
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@DeptofWar welcomes Hon @_KirstenDavies_ confirmed by @SenateFloor & sworn in as @POTUS pick for CIO. With decades of leadership in digital transformation & defending freedom in the cyber domain, she'll serve under @SecWar to digitize & modernize warfighter readiness & lethality.
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The DoW CSA is excited to announce that the application portal is now open to current DoW CSA Scholars returning for the upcoming Fall 2026/Spring 2027 academic year! RETURNING SCHOLAR APPLICATION LINK (Part 1/1) – https://t.co/15Cc0lRrSa
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19DEC25: FREE Virtual Participation! – Register to hear DoW CIO WID leadership discuss the DoW’s efforts to modernize how it understands, qualifies, and measures its cyber workforce. #DoWCIO #cyberworkforce #cybersecurity https://t.co/WBEvwI2JcZ https://t.co/QfRfdHq1rG 19DEC25: FREE Virtual Participation! – Register to hear DoW CIO WID leadership discuss the DoW’s efforts to modernize how it understands, qualifies, and measures its cyber workforce. #DoWCIO #cyberworkforce #cybersecurity https://t.co/WBEvwI2JcZ https://t.co/QfRfdHq1rG
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Today we release the "Software Fast Track RFI Combined Summary." Based on more than 400 responses we received to the #SWFT RFI issued last spring, it emphasizes the need for clear, consistent guidelines & robust collaboration among stakeholders. #DoWCIO https://t.co/vW5Rd8kXji https://t.co/bby00IU0J5 Today we release the "Software Fast Track RFI Combined Summary." Based on more than 400 responses we received to the #SWFT RFI issued last spring, it emphasizes the need for clear, consistent guidelines & robust collaboration among stakeholders. #DoWCIO https://t.co/vW5Rd8kXji https://t.co/bby00IU0J5
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DoW current employee; both civilian and military are ineligible to apply for the recruitment scholarship track. The retention scholarship track will be announced in the new calendar year!
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Current DoW CSA Scholars interested in reapplying for additional support will have an application opening date later in December. Stay tuned!
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The DoW Cyber Service Academy is excited to announce that the application portal for new applicants is now open for the Fall '26/Spring '27 academic year! This year’s application for new DoW CSA scholars will be split into two parts. New applicants portal: https://t.co/tJEol8vIne
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