WASHINGTON — Senior industry representatives assembled on Friday at a waterfront conference venue overlooking the Potomac River and the Washington skyline to present solutions aimed at addressing the most challenging problems faced by the special operations community.
The inaugural Accelerator Event, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low‑Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC), was described by SO/LIC Assistant Secretary Derrick Anderson as “a new approach to industry engagement.”
Anderson emphasized that the initiative reflects a transformational shift in acquisition practices and a priority to innovate for special operations while serving as a model for the department. He noted that rapid technological advances leave no room for delay, stating that reliance on legacy bureaucratic processes jeopardizes readiness.
Officials explained that, similar to other Pentagon accelerators, the objective is to dismantle bureaucratic obstacles that traditionally impede acquisition, demonstrating that the system can deliver needed capabilities to special operations forces without a decade‑long wait.
Cara Teeter, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Analysis, Resources, and Capabilities, urged attendees to shift focus from procedural compliance to measurable outcomes.
SO/LIC officials solicited industry input on challenges identified by operational commands, such as surveillance payloads for Group 3 medium‑sized drones and beyond‑line‑of‑site communications that avoid low‑Earth‑orbit satellites. After receiving roughly 700 submissions, they narrowed the pool to 15 capabilities for Shark‑Tank‑style presentations. (Reporters were excluded from observing the pitches.)
Anderson remarked that the Pentagon often pledges to be a better partner, customer, and collaborator with industry while remaining insular, and this event was designed to foster more iterative engagement.
A distinguishing feature of the event, officials noted, is its live, challenge‑driven format that enables immediate contract awards.
Teeter explained that selected firms can invoice the government immediately after being declared winners, emphasizing that the documents are authentic legal contracts rather than placeholder checks. She added that contracting officials on site draft these agreements in real time.
The accelerator also serves as a pilot for the broader military, helping to surface technologies that other services can adopt.
Anderson described the initiative as the start of a lasting, rapid entry point into the defense innovation ecosystem. If the nine operational challenge areas are successfully addressed, a new blueprint will be created that the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps can adopt.
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