The DAFITC 2026 theme, "Accelerating the Digital Edge: From Enterprise to Orbit," highlights the need for a continuous, resilient digital thread. However, the most vulnerable point in that thread is not hardware or software—it is the human element. As the DoW transitions to an AI-augmented architecture, we are simultaneously facing a massive "Knowledge Cliff" as the original architects of our enterprise systems retire. How do we accelerate to the edge if we lose our foundational knowledge?

This session reframes how the DoW must treat its workforce and its legacy debt by looking through the lens of the next generation. Presented by a two-time DoW SMART STEM Scholar and Doctoral of IT Student, the discussion draws on the speaker's rapid trajectory—from a 2022 Master's graduate to a frontline engineer tackling enterprise modernization. By bridging academic research with federal service, this presentation demonstrates a human-centric approach to the AI transition.

Key discussion points will include:

• The Human Digital Thread: Why true resilience requires connecting the "Legacy Sages" (retiring experts) with incoming digital natives, and how AI serves as the ultimate translator.
• The "Digital Agent" Concept: A conceptual look at how passively capturing knowledge with GenAI to transform routine workflows and meeting transcripts into an organizational "brain". This can immunize the enterprise against personnel turnover, ensuring the digital edge is never dulled.
• Intersection of Academia & Mission: How leveraging DoW initiatives (like the SMART Scholarship) and applied doctoral research can bring cutting-edge industry practices directly to the government floor.
• Modernizing the Legacy: How continuous knowledge capture actively de-risks the modernization of legacy systems. You cannot safely upgrade a system without understanding why it was built. An interactive discussion on how we currently capture (or lose) this data, and how AI-driven context accelerates the upskilling of the next generation of Digital Warriors.

Audience Takeaway:
Attendees will leave with a renewed perspective on the "Digital Edge," understanding that it is driven by human continuity as much as cloud architecture. Participants—whether PMs, senior leaders, fellow developers, or if you're new to the public sector—will gain actionable insights on how to foster an AI-fluent culture, recruit untapped talent, and upskill the next generation of Digital Warriors.