General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) will deploy a new AI-powered cybersecurity system across 187 US Air Force bases worldwide.
The $120-million task order, awarded under the air force’s Next Generation Gateway program, tasks GDIT with rolling out its Everest Zero Trust Digital Accelerator, a data-centric solution designed to protect information at every classification level.
The system will cover more than one million users globally, integrating artificial intelligence to detect and respond to cyber threats faster.
Brian Sheridan, GDIT’s senior vice president for defense, emphasized the growing urgency of cyber defense.
“As cyber threats continue to escalate in velocity and sophistication from our adversaries, zero trust is fundamental to our national security,” he said. The air force aims to meet the Department of Defense’s mandate ahead of the September 30, 2027 deadline.
GDIT’s approach aligns with the air force’s broader push to modernize its cybersecurity posture, combining advanced software, AI analytics, and enterprise-scale deployment to reduce vulnerabilities across its networks.
What Zero Trust Means
Zero trust is a cybersecurity model based on the principle of “never trust, always verify,” requiring continuous authentication and authorization for every user, device, and application, regardless of location.
For the US Department of Defense, zero trust is a top priority: the Defense Information Systems Agency has integrated zero trust controls into cloud environments, using specialized laboratories and assessment tools to validate security configurations before wider deployment across defense networks.
Meanwhile, industry partners are supporting this push. For example, Xage Security secured a $1.5-million contract from the US Space Force in 2023 to develop zero trust access and identity management tools aimed at data protection.
