Last week’s Alamo ACE conference in San Antonio brought together an impressive cross-section of Air Force, Space Force, and industry leaders—all focused on one theme: the speed of change. Cyber requirements are shifting faster than ever, and what used to be considered “future planning” now feels like an urgent, near-term mandate.
For Worksters, this year’s event reinforced that our focus areas—secure communications, encryption modernization, and post-quantum readiness—are exactly where the Department of Defense is heading.
PQC and Cryptographic Modernization Took Center Stage
In multiple sessions, one message kept resurfacing: the Pentagon is prioritizing the discovery of cryptographic vulnerabilities and upgrading algorithms across every mission system.
Breaking Defense recently summarized this push well. In an interview, Pentagon Deputy CIO David McKeown emphasized that modernizing cryptography
ahead of quantum-enabled threats is now the top priority for DoD IT leadership. The full article is worth a read:
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/10/pentagon-info-officers-top-priority-upgrading-cryptography-ahead-of-quantum-enabled-hackers/
His remarks at AFCEA align with what we heard throughout Alamo ACE:
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Quantum-capable adversaries won’t wait.
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Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) isn’t a “2020s problem”—it’s a now problem.
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The DoD must examine every interface, every sensor, every legacy system, and every transport layer to understand where encryption breaks down.
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Migrating to quantum-resistant cryptography will be a multi-year effort requiring industry support.
This is exactly the work we’ve been preparing for. Whether it’s securing legacy interfaces through software-based encryption or enabling PQC-ready communication paths, Worksters is leaning in where the need is growing.
Legacy Systems Modernization Is No Longer Optional
Another major theme at Alamo ACE was the reality that many mission-critical systems—still running on outdated protocols or older cryptographic libraries—need a clear path to modernization. Not a rip-and-replace strategy, but targeted, minimal-disruption upgrades that allow commands to continue operating at full tempo while improving security posture.
This mirrors what we see across the field: teams aren’t asking for theoretical solutions; they’re asking for practical ways to secure what they already have.
Zero Trust by 2027: A Real Deadline
DoD leaders reaffirmed the department’s commitment to implementing Zero Trust by 2027. It’s a massive lift, and they were candid about the scale of the challenge. But what stood out was how closely Zero Trust ties into encryption modernization:
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Stronger identity
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Continuous validation
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Secured data paths
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Protected machine-to-machine communication
Without reliable, modern cryptography underneath it, Zero Trust simply doesn't work.
Why Alamo ACE Matters for Small Innovators
One of the most energizing aspects of the conference was how open the DoD is to working with smaller, specialized companies. The conversations we had this year were deeper, more focused, and clearly driven by emerging requirements rather than hypothetical future needs.
Several leaders said the same thing in different ways:
“We’re going to need industry’s help—especially from companies that can move fast.”
As Worksters continues developing our capabilities in secure communications, encryption upgrades, PQC-ready solutions, and support for legacy systems, Alamo ACE confirmed that we’re aligned with the mission needs shaping the next decade.
Looking Ahead
We left San Antonio encouraged, energized, and more focused than ever. The DoD is preparing for a world where quantum computing, accelerated cyber operations, and evolving threats reshape how we secure information. The timeline is tightening, but the opportunity for meaningful, impactful work is growing.
Worksters will continue positioning ourselves to be part of that mission—supporting modernization efforts, enabling secure communications, and helping agencies accelerate their path to PQC readiness.