Building the Modern DoDNet: Defense Enclave Services
When Leidos was awarded the $11.5B Defense Enclave Services (DES) contract in February 2022, it marked the start of one of the most consequential IT modernization efforts across the DoD Fourth Estate. The mission was ambitious: consolidate, modernize, and secure IT services for Defense Agencies and Field Activities (DAFAs) under a unified, enterprise-grade architecture.
You can read the original award announcement here:
https://www.leidos.com/insights/disa-awards-leidos-115-billion-defense-enclave-services-contract
I’ve had the opportunity to help lead the technical direction of that effort—working at the intersection of architecture, operations, migration execution, and enterprise transformation. DES isn’t just about standing up new infrastructure. It’s about fundamentally changing how services are delivered, standardized, and secured at scale.
One of the most visible milestones has been the retirement of DISA’s legacy DISANet environment and the transition to the modernized DoDNet architecture. In AFCEA SIGNAL coverage, I spoke about the significance of that transition and what it represents for modernization across the enterprise.
https://www.afcea.org/signal-media/defense-operations/disanet-dodnet-legacy-network-retires-welcomes-modernization
From the outside, retiring a legacy environment can look like a simple switch. In reality, it requires sequencing thousands of dependencies, validating performance baselines, aligning security controls, and ensuring mission continuity at every step. Modernization at this scale is less about dramatic moments and more about disciplined execution over time.
As DES has progressed, migration velocity has increased. DISA has continued awarding additional work to expand DoDNet adoption and integrate new technologies and services into the enterprise architecture.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leidos-receives-three-disa-awards-to-launch-the-next-phase-of-it-transformation-and-end-user-migrations-to-the-modernized-dodnet-302323280.html
More recent reporting highlights continued large-scale migration efforts across the Fourth Estate.
https://www.executivebiz.com/articles/leidos-dodnet-migration
Scaling migrations at enterprise volume demands more than technical talent. It requires repeatable engineering patterns, automation that reduces time-to-migrate, tight coordination between engineering and operations, and clear accountability across stakeholders. One-off heroics don’t scale. Systems do.
Operational maturity has been another major focus of my work. Modernization doesn’t end at cutover—it begins there. Visibility, telemetry, and intelligent IT operations are foundational to running a modern enterprise network securely and efficiently. In a ScienceLogic case study, I discussed how improved operational insight strengthens our ability to respond to change and grow the environment with confidence.
https://sciencelogic.com/product/resources/case-study-leidos-sciencelogic-enhancing-mission-readiness-through-intelligent-it-ops
The shift to DoDNet represents more than infrastructure consolidation. It reflects a broader transformation: reducing redundancy, improving cyber posture, advancing Zero Trust principles, and delivering a more consistent user experience across agencies with very different missions.
DES materials describe the effort as modernizing and standardizing IT services across the Fourth Estate while strengthening cybersecurity and reducing duplication.
https://www.leidos.com/sites/leidos/files/2023-06/PDF-DES-IT-Solution.pdf
What I’ve learned throughout this effort is that enterprise transformation succeeds when architecture, execution, and culture move together. Clear technical standards matter. Automation matters. Operational ownership matters. But collaboration across government and industry teams matters most.
Defense Enclave Services is not simply a contract vehicle—it is a long-term modernization journey. I’m proud of the teams who have made the progress possible, and I’m energized by what’s ahead as DoDNet continues to scale, mature, and evolve.
If you're interested in enterprise modernization, Zero Trust implementation at scale, or how to move tens of thousands of users without disrupting mission operations, I’m always open to the conversation.
