Sea-Air-Space, the premier maritime exposition of the United States, is an educational hub for defense industry leaders, Government leaders and top military decision-makers to network and discuss the latest insights and advancements in the maritime and space domains.
Joined by over 40 of our technology partners, Carahsoft showcased solutions on cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and more at Sea-Air-Space 2025, providing customers the opportunity to engage with and explore technologies designed to enhance the efficiency of mission objectives.
This year’s conference featured six key themes for attendees to explore.
1. Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Maritime Missions
The efficiency of AI enhances the speed and accuracy of decision-making, providing real-time insights for Sea Service personnel. Integrating AI and other autonomous systems into military operations can satisfy the critical need for close collaboration between the technology industry and the defense sector. Speakers at Sea-Air-Space discussed the importance of finding practical applications of AI, machine learning (ML) and automation across warfighting, business processes, logistics and readiness.
Major General of the United States Marine Corps, Matthew Glavy, spoke about the Marine Corps’ strategic use of AI. Presently, there is a “campaign of learning” aimed at aligning training and acquisition with AI capabilities. One goal is integrating algorithm management and scalability into AI training. Another is finding AI that functions in harsh maritime environments to improve warfighter’s abilities. Speakers stressed that AI is not just a tool for the future, but a present-day necessity that enables the Sea Services to significantly enhance the effectiveness, precision and longevity of their platforms and operations. With AI’s ability to detect and respond to cyber threats, the nation can better maintain its strategic defense edge.
2. Preparing Data for Mission Readiness
Currently available technology, assets and resources can be used to prepare data for future missions. As data can be used to enhance awareness amongst combat environments, sourcing data from diverse sources is vital to developing logistics systems for operations.
Autonomous systems can be used to collect and translate data into actionable insights, enabling the Sea Services to improve operational readiness, extend lethality and respond swiftly at the tactical edge. The usability of data is just as important as having a diverse source.
Technology with visualization tools, such as user-friendly dashboards, make data more accessible and predictive. This readability enables forces to anticipate failures, identify vulnerabilities and make data-driven decisions that impact mission readiness, ensuring personnel are equipped to outpace evolving threats.
3. Maintenance for Operational Readiness
Readiness is critical to maintaining a competitive edge. The United States Navy’s aims to achieve and sustain 80 percent combat surge ready posture for ships, submarines and aircraft by 2027. To accomplish this, platforms must be maintained and enhanced with the newest technology to ensure they are up-to-date and at their best capacity. Novel approaches to training, manning, and sustainment can all improve force readiness.
In the session “Ready Our Platforms,” panelists discussed tips on the path to maintain pace with this goal.
Sea Service personnel should:
- Engage with maintenance initiatives to strengthen planning, execution and partnerships to improve on-time delivery
- Take boats out of public shipyards in a timely fashion to ensure combat readiness
- Invest in original equipment manufacturing for maintenance work and quality assurance
- Review and update the Navy’s acquisition strategy to better acquire services for systems with diminishing subject matter expertise
- Increase the number of structural engineers embedded with maintenance teams to enable faster technical resolution of issues
- Create a dedicated force to focus on material ordering and provisioning for major maintenance efforts
By embracing a proactive approach to training, manning, modernization and sustainment, the U.S. Navy can ready and bolster its force to improve combat readiness.
4. Enhancing Security Through Space Systems
To maintain its competitive edge, the Sea Services must strategically utilize all available assets, including space. In the session “The Critical Role of Industrial Space Assets in Maritime Security,” speaker John Hill, the assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space and Missile Defense (PTDO) at the Department of Defense (DoD), discussed the five foundational space mission areas: generating, processing, storing, transporting and protecting data. By aligning mission objectives across the Space Force, Space Command and other relevant forces, the Sea Services can maintain pace with industry goals. Affordable, proliferated space systems and high-value technology can enhance maritime security by providing resilience and durability against emerging threats. By taking a proactive approach to innovation, the defense sector can leverage industry momentum and accelerate capability development.
5. Innovation With Enterprise Solutions
To support innovation and experimentation, the Sea Services aim to move from traditional procurement models towards modern, iterative approaches that empower operational commands and developers to co-create solutions in real time.
The key strategies in this shift include:
- Using agile methodologies and continuous delivery pipelines
- Giving operational teams authority to drive mission-specific solutions
- Building open, modular systems with interoperability standards that allow for adaptable integration that maintains pace with threats and mission priorities
- Involving end users throughout the process, ensuring that the burden of integration at scale does not fall to combatants
- Providing consistent funding that supports innovation and experimentation
- Fostering a culture that accepts measured risk and supports transformation
By decentralizing development and giving operational teams the authority to drive mission-specific solutions, the Navy aims to collapse development timelines, remove bureaucratic friction and deliver high-impact capabilities faster. The initiative provides persistent, mission-aligned funding streams that support innovation and experimentation without excessive risk aversion, creating pathways for scalable solutions at the pace of technological advancement.
6. A Dive into Maritime Initiatives with Francis Rose
A special Sea-Air-Space 2025 edition of Francis Rose’s Fed Gov Today explores the critical convergence of maritime security, technology and strategy in today’s evolving global environment. An interview with Vice Admiral Andrew Tiongson, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, discussed how the Sea Services have increased presence and coordination along the West Coast to counter maritime border incursions. Melissa Carson, Vice President and General Manager at Iron Mountain Government Solutions, highlights the critical need for structured data governance to enable effective AI-driven defense operations. Dr. Abbie Tingstad, Research Professor at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, underscores the strategic importance of maintaining multi-domain presence in the Arctic through international partnerships, as environmental shifts and great power competition reshape polar governance. These insights collectively demonstrate how technological modernization, AI literacy, data readiness and strategic partnerships are essential for securing maritime domains against complex threats.
Reliable, adaptable and verifiable technology enables the Sea Services to fulfill mission objectives. By leveraging today’s technologies to meet resource needs, extend the lifecycle of critical assets and enhance mission readiness, the Sea Services continue to outpace evolving threats and uphold its promise to protect the nation.
To learn more about innovations amongst the Sea Services, visit Carahsoft’s defense portfolio to explore solutions showcased at Sea-Air-Space. For additional research into the key takeaways that industry and Government leaders presented at Sea-Air-Space, view Carahsoft’s full synopsis of key sessions from the tradeshow.
