In recent years, the Department of Defense has been rethinking how it approaches communications technology — shifting from traditional, insular solutions to embracing innovation from the commercial sector. While off-the-shelf cellular devices aren’t suitable for the battlefield, the underlying technologies powering 5G and emerging 6G networks are becoming too valuable to ignore.
This week on Feds At The Edge, we explore how the military can harness advanced commercial technologies like 5G, 6G, and AI to enhance battlefield operations. The discussion centers on three critical considerations:
Edge Computing for Resilience: In combat zones where communication links are vulnerable to disruption, processing data at the edge is essential.
Agile Networks for Rapid Response: Battlefield conditions evolve quickly. Flexible standards in 5G/6G — especially through tools like 3GPP’s Network Data Analytics Function — enable self-optimizing, reconfigurable networks.
Upgrades Without the Overhead: Upgrading physical hardware in remote or high-risk environments (like submarines) can be difficult, but software-based systems offer promising alternatives.
Tune in on your favorite podcasting platform today to hear how AI and machine learning integrated with next-gen networks could transform decision-making and data processing at the tactical edge.
To view this webinar: Bringing 5G to the Battlespace.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Venkatesh Ramaswamy
Chief Technologist, NextG
Dr. Venkatesh “Venki” Ramaswamy, MITRE’s Distinguished Chief Technologist for NextG, leads technical innovation and R&D activities in 5G/6G technologies. He has more than 22 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and has held technical leadership positions at top technology companies, startups, and research labs. Currently he serves on the ATIS/Next G Alliance Research Council, working on the development of a comprehensive North American 6G strategy. He is also an industry researcher at the NSF Edge AI Institute, where he explores synergies between networking and AI. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and holds numerous patents, served as a Technical Program Committee member for various conferences, and participated in several technical panels. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Mississippi.
Chief Technologist, NextG,
MITRE
LT COL Benjamin Pimentel
USMC, FutureG, OUSD(R&E)
Lieutenant Colonel Pimentel entered the Marine Corps in May 2007 through the United States Naval Academy. Upon completion of The Basic School and the Basic Communications Officer Course, he reported to Headquarters and Service Company, 7th Marine Regiment in Twentynine Palms, California in June 2008 where he served as the Communications Platoon Commander, deploying to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from October 2009 to October 2010.
In March of 2011, he departed 7th Marines for the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California after being selected for the Special Education Program. He graduated with distinction in June 2013, earning a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering and an academic certificate in cyber warfare. Subsequently, he was assigned to the Office of Naval Research in Arlington, Virginia where he joined the Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and Combating Terrorism Department, serving as the Deputy Program Manager, and Program Manager (acting) of the Command & Control, Communications, Computers (C4) and Cyber Program.
In June 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Pimentel reported to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan where he served as the Network Operations Officer and the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff G-6. In July 2018, he was reassigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) after being selected to serve as Aide-de-Camp to the III MEF Commanding General.
In July 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Pimentel returned to the Naval Postgraduate School after his selection for the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Technical Program. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Information Sciences in June 2022. Following his graduation, Lieutenant Colonel Pimentel reported to the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration in Quantico, Virginia where he joined the Force Design Research Group. He is currently on a temporary assignment to the FutureG Office in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering where he serves as the Marine Corps Lead for Warfighter Engagement and leads the Camp Pendleton 5G experiment for Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.
Lieutenant Colonel Pimentel’s military education includes non-resident Expeditionary Warfare School, the College of Naval Command Staff, and the Joint Cyberspace Operational Planners Course. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star.
FutureG, OUSED (R&E),
USMC
Gregory Burrill
5G & Networking Alliance Manager
Gregory Burrill is the 5G and Networking Alliance Manager for Dell Federal, where he manages an ecosystem of technology partners that provides innovative solutions for mission critical connectivity and supports account teams by leveraging appropriate technologies to address customer requirements. Prior to working at Dell Technologies, Greg served 20 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, and 6 years as a civilian employee of the Federal Government, where he focused on supporting connectivity and mission requirements for the Special Operations and Intelligence communities.
5G Alliance Manager,
Dell Technologies
Caroline Chan
VP & GM, 5G Infrastructure Division
Caroline Chan is vice president in the Network and Edge Group, and General Manager of Network Business Incubator Division at Intel Corporation. She has overall responsibility for Intel’s global network infrastructure strategy and solution development related to 5th-generation wireless technology, especially around private networks, new use cases and IoT verticals enabled by 5G, AI and edge compute. Chan leads the P&L of private network business incorporating assets in IoT, RAN/core network, accountable for silicon and software as service revenue.
Chan is an independent director on Enersys (NYSE:ENS) board. She also serves on the board of Telecom Infrastructure Project (TIP), 5G Open Innovation Lab, SAP 5G Advisory Council and Rural Cloud Initiative.
Chan holds bachelors and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, respectively./fusion_text]
VP & GM, 5G Infrastructure
Division, Intel Corporation
Michael Kennedy
Moderator & Contributing Editor
Michael Kennedy retired in May 2017 from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). He had an extensive career in the Federal Government, with leadership responsibilities leading to numerous national level roles at the Senior Executive Service level since April 2006. He served in many positions within the ODNI beginning in its first year of operation and culminating in his final assignment as the Deputy Program Manager for Technology and Standards for the Program Manager – Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE), within the ODNI.
Mr. Kennedy has left an indelible mark of professional accomplishment and Leadership across a broad spectrum of complex issues, most notably in the development of innovative technology solutions and transformative outcomes for the Intelligence Community (IC) during 42 years of total government service in IT and other leadership roles:
- Deputy Program Manager for Technology & Standards, ODNI (Nov 2011 – May 2017)
- Director, INTELINK, ODNI (July 2008 – Nov 2011)
- Chief, Information and Technology, ODNI (April 2006 – July 2008)
- Chief, Networks & Operations – Plans, Policy, & Resource; National Air & Space Intelligence Center (April 2003 – April 2006)
- Chief, Intelligence Systems Division, U.S. Southern Command (Feb 2000 – April 2003)
- Chief, Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems (DoDIIS), System Integration Management Office, U.S. Central Command (March 1995 – Feb 2000)
- Head of Customer Support & Dep COTR, Supercomputer Center; Deputy Chief – Communications and Networks, Naval Oceanographic Office (Oct 1989 – Feb 1995)
- Retired U.S. Navy Captain with over 30 years combined active and reserve duty (1975 – 2009)
Contributing Editor,
FedInsider
