DISA Faces Funding Challenges in Expanding Cloud Services Overseas

The Defense Information Systems Agency struggles to expand commercial cloud capabilities for troops outside the continental United States due to insufficient funding, according to Col. Jeffrey Strauss, the agency’s acquisition deputy for programs.

The military deputy said that while DISA reported progress with its existing pilots as part of the Joint Operational Edge initiative, its budget prioritizes maintaining existing infrastructure. This has left limited resources for new investments, including cloud capabilities, he told DefenseScoop.

Strauss also noted that while DISA receives financial support from the Defense Working Capital Fund, a shared pool of resources among military services, it may not fully meet the demand for OCONUS cloud services.

John Sherman, DOD’s chief information officer, a 2024 Wash100 awardee and a past Potomac Officers Club event speaker, echoed the need for additional cloud infrastructure, especially in Indo-Pacific operations.

Despite the hurdles, Sherman said that through the broader JOE program, which aims to establish a network of edge computing platforms at DOD locations worldwide, his office is collaborating with the intelligence community to explore ways to deliver cloud capabilities to warfighters in remote locations.

He added that the Defense Department is considering deployments in the Western Pacific, Europe and other regions.