Kristen Smith 
- Flaherty spent six years leading emerging technology work at KPMG
- His background covers 5G, private networks, cloud and edge infrastructure
- DOW issued its Private 5G Deployment Strategy in late 2024
Future Technologies has named Michael Flaherty program director for government and emerging technologies as the company pursues a growing market for private 5G networks.
Flaherty brings extensive telecommunications experience in 5G and private networks, complemented by expertise in cloud, edge infrastructure and operational strategy, the company said Tuesday.
Private 5G and next-generation wireless remain priorities across defense modernization programs. The Potomac Officers Club will host the 2027 Defense R&D Summit on Feb. 4 in Virginia, where officials will discuss future-generation wireless capabilities, unmanned systems and trusted AI. Save your seat now.
What Experience Does Flaherty Bring to Future Technologies?
Flaherty spent six years at KPMG Federal as director of emerging technologies, leading 5G smart integrations and Industry 4.0 implementations, as well as smart warehouse engagement spanning infrastructure, network, software engineering and cyber teams, according to his LinkedIn profile. That work included deploying a private 5G network and standing up an associated lab.
Before that, he was vice president of management consulting at Samsung’s TeleWorld Solutions, working with U.S. carriers on 4G and 5G network strategy and small cell product development. He spent more than three years as a senior manager at Deloitte and held director and manager roles at PwC and PRTM Management Consultants, which PwC acquired in 2011.
Earlier in his career, Flaherty was director of business and technology development at Cyren Call, a startup advocating a nationwide 700 MHz broadband network for first responders, and co-founded IT Pioneers, an enterprise data management consulting firm. He holds a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and a bachelor’s degree in management studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
How Is DOW Approaching Private 5G?
Flaherty’s appointment comes as federal defense leadership accelerates its push into private cellular infrastructure. The Department of War issued its Private 5G Deployment Strategy in late 2024, outlining a plan to deploy private networks at military installations. The strategy directs the department to analyze whether mission, coverage, security and performance requirements can only be met by private 5G; to accelerate acquisition through common architectures and risk frameworks; and to expand use of Open Radio Access Network systems for vendor diversity and supply chain security.
Spectrum is the constraint. The military services rely on the 3.2 to 3.45 GHz S-band for weapons, radars and other systems, while the telecommunications industry has pressed for portions of that band to be auctioned for commercial 5G. The department awarded contracts to five teams — Peraton Labs, Interdigital Communications, Nokia Federal Solutions, RTX BBN Technologies and Northwestern University — for Advanced Spectrum Coexistence demonstrations, expected to begin in November, to test whether government and industry can operate simultaneously on the same band, DefenseScoop reported.
What Private 5G Work Does Future Technologies Hold?
Nokia is Future Technologies’ partner in the federal market, where the two have agreed to handle private 5G projects and offer end-to-end services, including private 5G core, edge compute and radio access networks.
Future Technologies works as a systems integrator, handling requirement definition, design, procurement, deployment and sustainment across private 5G, fixed wireless, Wi-Fi and fiber networks. It announced more than $50 million in private 5G contracts from DOW in September 2025, covering base infrastructure modernization and use cases such as connected warfighter applications, unmanned aircraft, augmented and virtual reality training, and test and training work.
Future Technologies recapitalized with Battle Investment Group in October 2025 and has been expanding its leadership team since. Sarah Campbell joined as chief operating officer in May after serving on the company’s advisory board, and Kent Brown was named senior vice president of sales, arriving from Cambium Networks.
