Welcome to The Wrap for Tuesday, April 21!
From the newsroom at MeriTalk, it’s the quickest read in federal tech news. Here’s what you need to know today:
Warfare is no longer defined or dominated by the largest, most expensive platforms, but by low-cost, technologically capable systems that are reshaping the battlefield. That was the news from
United States Department of the Air Force
Chief Technology Officer Scott Heitmann, who we were lucky enough to chat with in a recent interview. Heitmann explained that as the “art of war changes,” so does the Air Force’s playbook. “So much [of recent warfare] has been dominated by low-cost, highly capable drone warfare and surveillance … and that is going to adjust how we focus on procurement and modernizing technology capabilities,” Heitmann said. The Air Force, he explained, is emphasizing speed, scalability, and adaptability, with a focus on affordable, autonomous systems that enable faster battlefield decisions. We chatted about tech priorities, the expansion of the defense tech ecosystem, and innovation at home. Please click through for all of Heitmann’s insights (and a fun fact about his love for cooking).
We attended the
Sea-Air-Space Expo
conference in National Harbor, Md., today, where
US Navy
Secretary John Phelan said the service is on track to stand up its remaining five Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) in the coming months. Phelan said the final positions will cover industrial operations, Marine Corps, maritime systems, strategic systems programs, and undersea capabilities, bringing the total number of PAEs to six. The Navy stood up its first PAE focused on robotics and autonomous systems in late 2025. “We have reorganized how we manage acquisition,” Phelan said. “We’ve established portfolio acquisition executives, single accountable leaders responsible for delivering results across defined portfolios.” ICYMI: The PAE structure stems from a broader DOD effort announced in November 2025 by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to accelerate the delivery of new technologies to U.S. forces. Budget woes: During his keynote, Phelan also warned against the consequences of a delayed approved budget and a possible continuing resolution. Increasing readiness, he explained, “requires a budget that is passed on time.”
Can Ransomware be Terrorism?
A former senior FBI cyber official is urging Washington to take a harder look at hospital ransomware attacks, arguing that strikes on hospitals and other critical systems can put lives on the line and may warrant treatment as acts of terrorism. Testifying before the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday, Cynthia Kaiser said the government should evaluate whether existing terrorism designation authorities apply to ransomware actors who knowingly and repeatedly target hospitals. Kaiser is now senior vice president of the Ransomware Research Center at
Halycon
, an anti-ransomware platform provider. She also said lawmakers should consider murder and manslaughter charges when attacks cause death. Kaiser argued that current law already defines terrorism as “acts dangerous to human life,” and said ransomware attacks that lock up hospital systems while patients are diverted should be examined through that lens. Her bottom line: The “worst of the worst” should face consequences that match the damage they cause.
Celebrating Cyber & AI Leaders
Have any plans on May 21? The countdown is on for MeriTalk’s America 250 Powering Progress Awards – and that means it’s time to mark your calendar for Tech Tonic on May 21 at
Morton’s The Steakhouse
in Washington, D.C., from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Join us as we recognize this year’s honorees with an evening of connection, celebration, and conversation. So, who are this year’s Cyber Defenders and AI Innovators? Well, we can’t say who just yet. We’re in the final stages of selecting this year’s class from a highly competitive pool of peer nominations. But they are the government and industry leaders driving real impact across federal IT. Aka, the people you’ll want to know. Save your spot for Tech Tonic on May 21 in D.C. – and we’ll see you at Gov IT’s Happiest Hour!
Once again, let’s “call IT a day,” but we’ll bring you more tomorrow. Until then, please check the MeriTalk breaking news website throughout the day for the latest on government IT people, progress, and policy.
And finally, please hit the news tip jar (with leads, breaking news, or simply your two cents) at newsstaff@meritalk.com.
