ACES High: Tactical Software Development for Operational Insight

Official Statements

• Portfolio Acquisition Executive Mission Systems (PAE MS), November 9: “YUMA, Ariz. — The Overmatch Rapid Capability Cell, in partnership with Project Dynamis and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, tested a prototype command and control capability during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) 1-27 from Oct. 5-13, 2026.

  The effort demonstrated how rapid software development, direct operator engagement and continuous feedback can accelerate the delivery of capabilities tailored to operational needs.

  Leveraging the internal development capabilities of Maven Smart Systems, Overmatch’s Architecture Analytics and Emerging Capabilities (ACES) team created an integrated dashboard to provide enhanced situational awareness.

  “Ready-to-use C2 tools are critical as 3rd MAW continues to experiment with the various methods of supporting joint air defense command and control,” said U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Henry Dolberry Jr., assistant wing commander of 3rd MAW. “The collaboration among Overmatch, Project Dynamis, and fleet operators at WTI drives us forward.”

  The ACES team combines systems engineering and data analytics to connect subject matter expert knowledge, system models, and authoritative data into mission products. Less than two months after receiving 3rd MAW’s request for support, the ACES team identified existing data sets, built a functioning prototype, and deployed it to the field aboard Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.

  Being on the ground at WTI 1-27 allowed the ACES team to receive first-hand feedback from operators in a tactical training environment. These conversations provided valuable insight into current operational processes, user needs, and how the dashboard can best align with real-world workflows. That feedback will inform further prototype development and iteration as the ACES team builds towards deploying the tool in future exercises.

  The rapid development cycle demonstrated the value of maintaining close collaboration between software developers and the operators who will ultimately use the capabilities.

  “Being there right next to an operator, seeing what they see, understanding the context for the software - that’s key to developing meaningful and relevant capabilities,” said Elena Skidmore, Overmatch RCC’s ACES team lead. The Overmatch Rapid Capability Cell, formerly known as Project Overmatch, delivers advanced prototype capabilities for PAE Mission Systems by partnering directly with the fleet to meet the naval warfighter’s immediate operational needs.

  Project Dynamis is a service-level plan to accelerate the modernization of Marine Corps contributions to combined joint all-domain command and control. Overmatch and Dynamis have been working closely to enable rapid development of operational capabilities for the Navy and Marine Corps respectively. Their partnership at WTI reflects the deep and continuing integration between the Navy and Marine Corps at the cutting edge of command and control.

  For Overmatch’s ACES team, seeing how the dashboard was used in the exercise helped validate areas where it is already providing value and identified opportunities to improve usability, relevance, and user confidence. The ACES team, working with Project Dynamis representatives and government developers, showed their responsiveness and flexibility by incorporating feedback and updating the dashboard between the first and second weeks of WTI.

  The updated dashboard was extremely well received by the Marines, demonstrating the value of maintaining close user engagement and rapidly turning operational feedback into tangible improvements.

  The collaboration among the ACES team, 3rd MAW and Project Dynamis is indicative of Overmatch’s warfighter-centric approach to capability development. “We’re not building capability in a vacuum,” said Marine Col. Craig M. Clarkson, program manager, Overmatch RCC. “We start with the Sailor or Marine, and everything we do is focused on making them more lethal, more capable, and more ready to win the next fight.”