Golden Dome: a generational opportunity to modernize national defense infrastructure

The Defense Department is preparing for one of its largest protective undertakings in history: the Golden Dome. As described in Executive Order 14186, this missile shield is intended to defend against advanced aerial attacks, which the administration identifies as the most catastrophic threat facing the United States.

With a 10-year, $151 billion SHIELD contract (Scalable Homeland Enterprise Layered Defense) recently announced by the Missile Defense Agency, the stakes couldn't be higher. Taxpayers deserve assurance that this massive investment will deliver results, not repeat the cost overruns and delays that have plagued previous defense initiatives.

The Golden Dome's success hinges on a critical choice: will the defense sector treat this strictly as a missile defense project, or as a complete modernization of the nation's defense infrastructure? If built on a strong technological foundation with fiscal discipline at its core, the Golden Dome presents a rare opportunity to fortify national security while demonstrating responsible government spending.

Smart Spending Must Drive Smart Defense

The federal government is already moving toward cost-effective solutions with the recent COTS Executive Order that mandates agencies utilize Commercial-Off-The-Shelf solutions "to the maximum extent practicable." This approach isn't just about saving money—it's about leveraging proven technologies that can be deployed faster and maintained more efficiently than custom-built alternatives.

For the Golden Dome, prioritizing COTS solutions over expensive, bespoke systems will save vital time and funding that can be reinvested in core defense capabilities. When combined with comprehensive Financial Operations (FinOps) practices that track every device, service, and deployment in real-time, the DOD can ensure SHIELD funding achieves maximum impact per dollar spent.

This fiscal discipline is essential because the Golden Dome faces the same technological challenges that have hindered previous defense projects: siloed systems that can't communicate effectively.

Breaking Down the Silos That Undermine Security

Many defense agencies still treat IT networks, operational technology systems, and IoT sensors as separate environments. This creates dangerous blind spots and operational inefficiencies that no amount of new technology can fix if the underlying infrastructure remains fractured.

Consider a military installation where IT security, building access controls, and perimeter surveillance operate independently. A breach in the drone surveillance network could go undetected by IT security teams, leaving the entire base vulnerable. When systems can't share threat intelligence or coordinate responses, even the most advanced individual components fail to provide comprehensive protection.

The 2020 SolarWinds cyberattack demonstrated how interconnected our systems truly are—and how devastating the consequences can be when security gaps exist between different technology domains. Building the Golden Dome on top of such fragmented infrastructure would be like constructing a state-of-the-art security system while leaving the back door unlocked.

The Golden Dome demands real-time convergence of IT, operational technology, and IoT domains to detect threats and orchestrate rapid responses. Without this foundation, even the most sophisticated missile defense technology cannot reach its full potential.

A Path Forward That Delivers Results

The Golden Dome can set a new standard for how the federal government executes large-scale technology initiatives efficiently and effectively. This requires three key commitments from day one:

Interoperability by design. Rather than connecting disparate systems after the fact, the Golden Dome must be built on a unified technological foundation that enables seamless communication across all defense domains.

Proven solutions over custom builds. Leveraging COTS technologies wherever possible reduces risk, accelerates deployment, and ensures ongoing support from established vendors.

Financial transparency and accountability. Embedding FinOps practices ensures every dollar is tracked and justified, providing Congress and taxpayers with real-time visibility into how SHIELD funding is being used.

These aren't just best practices—they're essential requirements for a project of this magnitude and importance.

Beyond Missile Defense: A Modern Defense Infrastructure

The Golden Dome represents more than protection from aerial threats. It's an opportunity to establish a centralized defense posture where the DOD, Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies operate from a shared digital backbone.

This integration would enable real-time threat detection, rapid inter-agency coordination, and more agile responses to emerging challenges. Such interoperability is critical not only for the Golden Dome's success but for addressing the full spectrum of national security threats we face today and will encounter tomorrow.

Critics rightfully point to the project's enormous scale and question whether such coordination is achievable. Their skepticism is understandable given past defense technology disappointments. However, with proper technological foundations and fiscal discipline, the Golden Dome can demonstrate that large-scale government initiatives can deliver on their promises without breaking the bank.

The Golden Dome is not just about defending our skies—it's about building a modern, adaptable foundation that proves responsible government can tackle ambitious challenges effectively. Success here will show that we can meet today's threats while preparing for tomorrow's uncertainties, all while respecting the taxpayers who make it possible.