The United States Air Force and United States Space Force (USSF) are at a pivotal moment in their journeys to modernize human capital management (HCM) systems, reduce technical debt, and harness the power of AI-enabled, cloud-native solutions. This panel brings together key stakeholders from across the modernization landscape—including USSF Human Resource Management (HRM) IT leadership, system integrators who have worked on both the Air Force Oracle HCM SaaS initiative and current USSF SBIR efforts, and representatives from leading SaaS vendors Oracle and Workday.

Panelists will provide a candid, multi-faceted discussion on the challenges and lessons learned from the Air Force’s efforts to replace its legacy HR systems with Oracle HCM SaaS, including acquisition strategy pivots, technical hurdles, and organizational alignment. The conversation will then shift to the USSF’s current efforts to modernize its 1990s-era HRM IT infrastructure, highlighting how lessons from the Air Force experience are shaping a more agile, cloud-native, and AI-driven approach.

Representatives from Oracle and Workday will offer insights into how their platforms address DoW requirements, enable AI-powered talent management, and support secure, scalable cloud migration. The panel will also explore the role of SBIR-funded innovation in bridging gaps between commercial SaaS offerings and unique DoW needs.

Attendees will gain:

• Firsthand perspectives from Government, industry, and engaged integrators on the realities of legacy system modernization
• Comparative insights into leading SaaS HCM solutions and their embedded AI capabilities
• Practical strategies for reducing technical debt and accelerating digital transformation in the HR domain
• An interactive Q&A opportunity to address specific challenges and future trends in DoW HR IT modernization

This session is designed for program managers, IT leaders, acquisition professionals, and anyone involved in digital transformation across the Air Force and Space Force.

Panelists (Tentative):

• USSF HRM IT leadership
• Air Forces system integrator Rep
• USSF system integrators ( SBIR project leads)
• Oracle representative
• Workday representative