‘Days, not years’: Army principal cyber advisor on overhauling acquisition to match speed of modern war

WASHINGTON — For decades, the Pentagon has purchased technology on timelines measured in years. But with 3D-printed drones and artificial intelligence redefining the battlefield in Ukraine for mere dollars, Army leadership is warning that the old way of doing business is no longer sustainable.

Brandon Pugh, the Army’s principal cyber advisor, laid out a new strategy this week to break that bureaucratic deadlock: a venture capital-style approach designed to get prototypes into soldiers’ hands in as little as 30 days.

Speaking on the McCrary Institute’s Cyber Focus podcast, Pugh described the shift as essential for the Army’s “no fail” mission: ensuring that a cyberattack on critical infrastructure does not paralyze the military’s ability to mobilize tanks and troops during a conflict.

“We don’t have to go through a multi-year acquisition cycle … where we’ve seen 3D-printed drones for mere dollars in some cases being leveraged,” Pugh said. “We need some of these capabilities in a matter of days or weeks, not years.”

At the center of this reform is the Army’s FUZE initiative, a program designed to bypass traditional procurement sluggishness.

At its core, FUZE is about speed, Pugh said — “to have a prototype in the hands of a soldier within 30 to 45 days.”

Under the new model, the Army is adopting a “VC-like mindset,” encouraging partnerships with smaller firms that previously might have been locked out of defense contracts due to bureaucracy. The goal is to allow units to test technology in the field immediately. “If it’s not working, how can we fine-tune that now during the early stages?” Pugh asked.

The urgency for faster technology is driven by a specific vulnerability: the reliance of U.S. military power projection on civilian infrastructure. Pugh emphasized that the primary concern is Defense Critical Infrastructure (DCI) — the power grids and rail lines required to deploy forces.

“Where it is a no-fail mission is where if an adversary goes after one of our military bases and we can’t mobilize people, tanks, equipment in a time of conflict; that is a major concern,” Pugh stated.

Beyond acquisition, Pugh argued that the Army must aggressively integrate artificial intelligence. While acknowledging the need for safety, he warned against over-regulation that could hamstring U.S. forces.

“I actually would say it’s a national security imperative to leverage AI,” Pugh said. “We know adversaries are going to leverage AI … or exploit our AI regardless of what we do here.”

To staff these high-tech missions, the Army is leaning heavily on the National Guard and Reserves. Pugh, a reservist himself, noted that these soldiers bring private-sector expertise the military could not otherwise afford to replicate.

“We have some individuals that show up their reserve weekend in … $400,000 vehicles because they are the experts in what they do as civilians,” Pugh noted. “Who is better to address some of these OT and critical infrastructure concerns than those who already are working in the power companies?”

For more on Pugh’s work and goals, you can find the full episode here.