The Daily Scoop Podcast — Episode Summary
DOD maps out plan for new enterprise command-and-control program office
Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Billy Mitchell

Overview

This episode of The Daily Scoop Podcast, hosted by Billy Mitchell, delivers key updates on the Defense Department's initiatives to modernize command and control operations and employ AI-driven solutions for cybersecurity assessments. The main focus is on the newly planned Enterprise Command and Control (EC2) Program Office at the Pentagon, designed to integrate and accelerate the use of advanced technology for real-time warfighting and data sharing across the U.S. military. Other news includes the department’s increasing adoption of artificial intelligence and automation to meet impending Zero Trust cybersecurity requirements.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Establishment of the EC2 Program Office

[00:32]

• The Pentagon is preparing to launch a new Enterprise Command and Control (EC2) Program Office, aiming to consolidate and refresh long-standing efforts around common operating platforms and AI tools.
• Purpose: To enable real-time tracking and targeting of adversaries, supporting the fast-paced, multidomain nature of modern combat.

"Internal guidance regarding a new EC2 program office suggests that its establishment would ensure that the Defense Department has the authority, resources and accountability to deliver capability at the speed of relevance."
— Billy Mitchell [01:20]

• The Envision Hub will merge capabilities from the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s Maven Smart System (MSS) and Edge Data Mesh into the new EC2 suite—a fresh platform intended for joint all-domain command and AI-enabled warfighting.

• The program aims to fuse multiple Pentagon elements that have evolved since the late 2010s, centralizing efforts to digitize command and control and deploy AI across the Joint Force.

2. Transition of Responsibility & Structure

[01:50]

• The Under Secretariats for Intelligence & Security (I&S), and Research & Engineering (R&E) will submit plans to transfer MSS authorities, infrastructure, and responsibility from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) to the EC2 office.

• This move re-aligns previously scattered initiatives, such as those springing from Project Maven (notably the Maven Smart System, developed by Palantir) under a unified structure.

"Responsibilities for most of Maven’s program features were split between NGA and the CDAO, while certain duties shifted to the INS office. All three organizations have been mostly unforthcoming about MAVEN related operations since the transition."
— Billy Mitchell [02:35]

• In 2025, the DoD raised the contract ceiling for Palantir’s MSS from $4 million to almost $1.3 billion through 2029, a significant investment signaling the importance of these capabilities.

3. Modernizing the Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2)

[02:16]

• CJADC2 is the Defense Department’s vision for seamlessly connecting sensors, shooters, and decision-makers across all domains (air, land, sea, space, cyberspace), both within U.S. forces and with coalition partners.
• MSS, rooted in Project Maven, is a cornerstone for bringing this concept to operational reality.

4. AI and Automation for Zero Trust Assessment

[03:10]

• The DoD is soliciting input on how AI and machine learning can enhance the Zero Trust assessment process to meet its agency-wide compliance deadline by end of fiscal 2027.
• Zero Trust is a cybersecurity model assuming persistent adversary presence, requiring constant monitoring and user authentication.

"The Portfolio Management Office wants to see if AI capabilities can help with initial approval and future continuous monitoring."
— Billy Mitchell [04:15]

• Purple Teaming—combining Red Team (attacker) and Blue Team (defender) assessments—is central to validating compliance but is resource- and time-intensive.
• The Pentagon is seeking commercial, off-the-shelf AI/ML solutions to automate and scale these assessments for both unclassified and secret networks, helping to avoid pulling skilled personnel from other missions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the new EC2 Office’s mission:
  "Its establishment would ensure that the Defense Department has the authority, resources and accountability to deliver capability at the speed of relevance."
  — Billy Mitchell [01:20]

• On the complexity of inherited programs:
  "All three organizations have been mostly unforthcoming about MAVEN related operations since the transition."
  — Billy Mitchell [02:35]

• On the urgency of AI for Zero Trust:
  "Officials are asking vendors to submit ideas for commercial, off the shelf AI and ML enabled platforms and services that can scale Purple Teaming for Zero Trust evaluations on both unclassified and secret networks."
  — Billy Mitchell [04:32]

Important Timestamps

• 00:32 — Introduction of the EC2 Program Office and its capabilities
• 01:20 — EC2’s mission to deliver at the "speed of relevance"
• 02:16 — Explanation of CJADC2 and integration of MSS/Project Maven
• 03:10 — DoD request for AI/automation ideas for Zero Trust assessments
• 04:15 — The challenge and necessity of automating Purple Team assessment

Summary Flow

Billy Mitchell presents a clear narrative around the Pentagon’s strategic push to centralize command and control modernization under a new EC2 office, leveraging AI and real-time data platforms evolved from Project Maven. The episode also reports on the increasing need for AI-assisted cyber compliance (Zero Trust), emphasizing government interest in commercial solutions to automate critical but labor-intensive assessment processes. Listeners gain valuable insight into how technology integration and organizational restructuring underpin the DoD’s current priorities.

For continuous coverage of federal government technology news, visit fedscoop.com.