In 2024, the U.S. Cyber Command and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) strengthened their partnership by agreeing on future planning requirements for the Constellation pilot program. The program, known as Constellation, aims to accelerate the deployment of cyber technologies from the research phase to the actual cyber battlefield. It is distinguished by its user-driven pipeline and step-by-step approach, designed to expedite the adoption of software at all stages of the process.
Lt. Gen. William Hartman, the deputy commander of Cyber Command, emphasized the importance of pushing technological boundaries to enhance national security during a keynote address at the 2024 RSA Conference. Through Constellation, promising technologies from DARPA are being developed into critical capabilities under focused projects to expedite delivery to the warfighter.
Since its inception in 2022, Constellation has facilitated the development of multiple projects through the Orion Consortium, which consists of DARPA performers and Cyber Command developers. The consortium is responsible for selecting DARPA projects for advancement. Two more projects are in line for awards, and the first pilot project has already delivered an operational prototype successfully in just six months.
Dr. Kathleen Fisher, the director of the Information Innovation Office, stressed the significance of a pipeline model that minimizes research risks and establishes essential connections between end-users and research teams. By participating in DARPA-funded initiatives, organizations can stay at
