Navy Modernizes Acquisition to Deliver Capabilities 'Early and Often' | WEST 2026

The War Department is modernizing its acquisition ecosystem to meet the demands of modern warfare. Designed for speed, the updated approach redefines how the Pentagon manages risk, incorporates feedback and iterates on capability delivery. Speaking at AFCEA/USNI WEST in San Diego, California, Louis Koplin, the Navy's acting program executive officer for PEO Digital, said the Department of the Navy is focused on delivering capabilities early and often, using technology investment horizons to guide innovation. Iterative development, he said, relies on direct warfighter feedback and embedding operators within development teams. Koplin added that industry input is shaping lessons learned across the department to address current challenges. Commercial and dual-use technologies, he said, are transforming how the Navy acquires and deploys new capabilities.