Pat Host 
- Space is a fast growing defense market, especially in GEOINT and autonomy
- Carahsoft was selected for MDA’s Golden Dome SHIELD IDIQ
- Carahsoft’s Lacy Wean sat down for a Spotlight interview to discuss space, AI and UAS
Commercial innovation is reshaping defense technology, with government increasingly turning to industry for capabilities spanning space, geospatial intelligence, autonomous systems and AI.
ExecutiveBiz recently sat down with Lacey Wean, Carahsoft senior director of geospatial, space and autonomous systems, for a Spotlight interview about how Golden Dome and other emerging initiatives are driving that transformation. As an awardee on the Missile Defense Agency’s Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense, or SHIELD, IDIQ, Carahsoft is helping to connect government customers with the commercial technologies that support these next-generation defense missions.
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ExecutiveBiz: What are the biggest technology trends you’re seeing across the defense technology market?
Lacey Wean: Space is one of the fastest-growing areas, particularly where it intersects with geospatial intelligence and autonomous systems. Technologies that once felt like separate markets are increasingly supporting the same government missions, attracting significant investment from government, commercial industry and venture capital.
That creates opportunities not only for established defense companies, but also for startups developing new capabilities around satellite data, AI, autonomy and space operations. We’re still in the early stages of that growth, but it’s moving very quickly.
Beyond space, there is also growing interest in predictive analytics for maritime domain awareness, combining satellite data with AI to monitor fleets and track non-U.S. vessel activity. AI can analyze where a vessel says it’s going, compare that with where it’s actually headed and identify anomalies that could indicate illegal fishing, smuggling or other suspicious activity.
EBiz: Golden Dome is one of the largest defense initiatives underway. From your perspective, what does it signal about where government technology is headed?
Wean: The Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD IDIQ is expected to become the primary acquisition vehicle supporting Golden Dome and Carahsoft is one of the awardees. But what’s especially interesting is the scale of the program: roughly 3,000 awardees. Bringing together thousands of technology providers across the defense ecosystem will require tremendous integration work across systems and technologies.
That’s where Carahsoft can really add value. We work with many of those companies; whether they’re product vendors, systems integrators or commercial technology providers; and help connect government customers with the right technologies early in the acquisition process.
EBiz: Golden Dome has been described as a “system of systems.” What does that mean from a technology perspective?
Wean: Again, one of the biggest challenges is integration. As Golden Dome brings technologies together, performance, security and resilience must be maintained.
That’s driving demand for capabilities such as space-based sensors, space domain awareness and technologies that help operators monitor satellite performance and quickly identify when something isn’t working properly.
We’re also seeing increased interest in cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity. As more of these systems become connected, defense organizations must secure both the integrated systems themselves and the enormous volumes of satellite data they collect.
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EBiz: How are commercial space companies changing the way government approaches these missions?
Wean: Government agencies are increasingly relying on commercial providers because they can often deliver mature capabilities faster and more cost-effectively than building every solution internally.
We’re seeing that across the space ecosystem. ICEYE is helping agencies turn commercial satellite imagery into actionable intelligence. Slingshot Aerospace is giving operators better visibility into satellite health and space operations through capabilities like real-time tracking and simulation.
EBiz: Where are you seeing the greatest innovation in drones and autonomous systems?
Wean: Autonomous systems continue to be one of the fastest-moving areas of the market.
On the defense side, we’re working with companies like Shield AI that support military missions
At the same time, commercial platforms like Skydio are seeing significant adoption across government. In fact, Skydio has become one of our largest unmanned aircraft system, or drone, programs with the U.S. Army because those smaller platforms support a wide range of operational needs.
What’s interesting is that drones are no longer just a defense story. Adoption is growing across homeland security, law enforcement, and state and local government—a trend that will continue as autonomous capabilities mature.
EBiz: How is Carahsoft supporting this rapidly expanding technology ecosystem?
Wean: These markets have become a major focus for us. In 2024, we launched our dedicated space vertical, building on a geospatial business that has supported government customers for many years. Beyond expanding our partner ecosystem, we’re also focused on bringing government and industry together.
