Far Forward Biological Sequencing Generates Chem Bio Defense Advantages by Innovating at the Speed of Relevance

In the past, fielding technologies to warfighters has followed a structured lather, rinse, repeat routine. The demand signal for a capability comes from the services, requirements to fulfill that capability are documented, equipment is developed, ensuring that each requirement is met, and then the item is fielded. That process can sometimes take decades, depending on the complexity of the requirement. However, a decade is too long to wait when it comes to biological threats. Due to the evolution of technology and the possibility for state actors to introduce new and engineered threats, pacing the biological threat has become an even more difficult task and one that needs to be tackled quickly. The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) understands that and is looking to an incremental approach to fielding products to get warfighters the capabilities they need today, while continuing innovation to meet evolving threats.