DISA Launches Technology Accelerator for Department of Defense Employees

The Defense Information Systems Agency has launched a technology accelerator laboratory called DISAWERX for Department of Defense personnel.

Located within KBR’s Joint All Domain Warfighting Lab in Maryland, DISAWERX is a collaborative environment intended to help developers conceive innovative information technology, DISA said.

DISAWERX program manager Jeanelle Holder said the laboratory is open to all Pentagon staffers, adding that its unclassified nature makes it ideal for rapid prototyping.

Developers can also bring commercial and open-source technologies into a safe testing environment, potentially creating solutions for DISA’s technical challenges, she said.

In an interview with FedScoop, Holder said that DISAWERX helps circumvent some of the bureaucracy in the Pentagon that slows down innovation.

“At DISA, when you’re trying to bring new technology into the building, you have to get a lot of approvals. It takes a lot of time,” she told the news outlet.

DOD personnel can access the laboratory either in person or virtually. Remote access can be achieved through virtual private networks and virtual machines.

The laboratory also includes a collaboration space for technical exchange meetings, on-site computing resources and sandbox environments, among others, DISA’s website says.

DISAWERX held its inaugural event in May with a focus on artificial intelligence. Upcoming events will tackle zero trust, cybersecurity and data management, Holder.