Leonel Garciga, Army CIO, to Address GovCons at 2025 Army Summit

Potomac Officers Club is proud to announce that Leonel Garciga, chief information officer of the U.S. Army, will headline the upcoming 2025 Army Summit as the keynote speaker. Scheduled for June 18 at the Hilton-McLean, this esteemed event will bring together top military officers, government leaders and key industry stakeholders for a vital discussion on the Army’s modernization roadmap and the advanced technologies shaping its future. Register now before tickets become scarce.

What Will Garciga Discuss?

Leonel Garciga’s address will provide a deeply informed perspective on the Army’s evolving technology priorities during its implementation of Pete Hegseth’s Comprehensive Transformation strategy, a framework designed to meet the demands of contemporary conflict through technical and structural innovation. The 2025 Wash100 Award winner’s keynote will highlight the role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and autonomous systems, emphasizing how these advancements align with mission objectives and tackle the challenges of multi-domain operations.

Additionally, Garciga will outline actionable strategies to enhance cybersecurity resilience, consolidate IT frameworks under the Unified Network Operations, or UNO, initiative and cultivate a culture of rapid innovation and adaptation through DevSecOps practices.

Defense & Intel Tech Experience

Garciga brings extensive expertise backed by a distinguished career that positions him as a driving force in defense modernization efforts. His contributions span the following areas:

• Advancing IT and data systems integration within the Department of Defense and the intelligence community, ensuring seamless information flow and operational coherence.
• Software acquisition overhaul under his leadership has reimagined procurement practices, enabling quicker response to evolving technological needs and reducing deployment timelines.
• Pushing innovation through data analytics at scale, allowing the Army and interagency partners to unlock critical insights and achieve enhanced operational readiness.

The CIO, a former submarine warfare specialist and engineer, also brings experience from serving as chief technology officer for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. During this tenure, he architected solutions addressing critical interagency technology gaps. Recognized by awards such as the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, his career reflects a commitment to equipping warfighters with the tools needed for success in contested and unpredictable environments.

Currently, he champions the Unified Network Operations program, which seeks to align and integrate the Army’s sprawling IT infrastructure. This initiative reduces fragmentation, enhances cybersecurity and ensures interconnectedness across all operational disciplines, thereby preparing the Army for more cohesive responses to adversarial threats.

Secretary Hegseth’s Comprehensive Transformation Strategy

At the heart of this year’s Army Summit is the discussion of Pete Hegseth’s Comprehensive Transformation strategy, a bold endeavor to modernize the Army’s structure and operations. This vision emphasizes addressing challenges across personnel, processes and technology by investing in cutting-edge tech and revamping legacy systems. Specifically, it prioritizes:

• The adoption of cloud-dependent architectures to ensure rapid data accessibility.
• A focus on digitized battlefield communications, facilitating robust, real-time coordination.
• The deep integration of AI-powered decision-making tools to improve strategic planning.

This strategy underscores the necessity for cohesive modernization efforts, driven by leaders like Garciga, to confront emerging global threats effectively.

The Role of DevSecOps in Modern Defense

Garciga’s ongoing advocacy for DevSecOps principles signals a broader shift towards building agile and resilient IT ecosystems within the Army. Short for development, security and operations, this methodology integrates security protocols directly into the software development lifecycle, promoting stronger safeguards against evolving cyber threats. By reducing delays and incorporating automation into development pipelines, DevSecOps enables the Army to deploy solutions faster without compromising mission integrity. Garciga will discuss how this approach improves operational scalability and strengthens cyber defenses across domains.

About the Army Summit

Celebrating its 10th iteration, the 2025 Army Summit has become a pivotal forum for fostering collaboration among military leadership, government officials and industry innovators. This year’s agenda will focus on equipping the Army for a complex geopolitical landscape, emphasizing modernization efforts, strategic readiness and responses to emerging threats. High-profile discussions will encourage a comprehensive evaluation of the Army’s capabilities and future trajectory.

Why You Should Attend

Attendees will gain unparalleled insights from one of the Army’s foremost innovators, Leonel Garciga, on aligning IT advancements with mission-critical initiatives during this era of transformation. His expertise, coupled with in-depth discussions on major programs like UNO and Hegseth’s Comprehensive Transformation strategy, will provide invaluable context for navigating the Army’s modernization path.

Don’t miss your opportunity to engage with leaders shaping the future of defense technology. Secure your spot at the 2025 Army Summit today!