This week, our team at Worksters had the opportunity to attend the Navy Gold Coast conference—one of the premier Navy procurement expos in the country—right here at the San Diego Convention Center. As a small business focused on cybersecurity and encryption, we found the Cyber Tract: NAVWAR Cybersecurity Looking Forward session especially relevant.
The panel, led by NAVWAR CISO Mark Compton and featuring Rachel Bondi (PMW 130) and Andrew Mansfield (NIWC LANT), gave a clear-eyed view of where federal cybersecurity is headed. From Zero Trust implementation to the future of secure naval operations, it’s evident that cybersecurity is no longer a side conversation—it’s front and center in defense planning.
One highlight for us was learning about the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program. It’s designed specifically for small businesses like ours that have ready-to-field technology—in our case, encryption hardware built for defense and critical infrastructure. The program can help bridge the gap between innovation and procurement, which is a huge opportunity for small tech companies trying to break into the federal market.
We also took note of the importance of OTAs (Other Transaction Authorities) and consortiums. These are becoming increasingly vital tools to help non-traditional defense contractors (like us) get their foot in the door and connect with federal buyers.
If you're a small business with cyber capabilities, we highly recommend looking into APFIT (ac.cto.mil/apfit) and checking out active consortia related to your niche. With funding flowing into secure technologies and modernization efforts, now is the time to be proactive.
We left Navy Gold Coast inspired, better informed, and even more energized to deliver secure solutions where they’re needed most.
Department of the Navy Gold Coast Small Business Exposition – 2025 Gold Coast Conference