Department of the Navy Convenes SI Hackathon in Norfolk, Va.

Official Statements

• Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, November 13: “NORFOLK, Va. — The Department of the Navy (DON) launched its Super Intelligence Hackathon in Norfolk, Virginia, Nov. 4-6, 2026, bringing together approximately 90 Sailors, Marines, joint-service personnel, civilian technical experts, and industry partners for a high-tempo sprint focused on rapid software prototyping, human-machine teaming, and operational workflow automation.”

• Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, November 13: “The Department of the Navy is building a resilient, data-informed culture that pairs responsible innovation with deep mission understanding,” said Mr. Barry Tanner, Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer. “The Norfolk hackathon is an opportunity to move deliberately from high-level discussion to practical experimentation, tactical software development, and functional prototypes.” FleetHacker focused on accelerating software-centric, data-driven capabilities to improve decision advantage. Participants from various service branches and technical backgrounds collaborated on workflow automation, human-machine teaming, and efficient agentic SI.”

• Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, November 13: “Surface combatants aren’t forward operating bases with a server room and steady connectivity,” said Lt. Brandon Del Rosario, assigned to Task Force Hopper. “They’re large crews constantly on the move, which is why the DON’s Strategy to Weaponize Data and SI calls for delivering generative capabilities to ships in denied and degraded environments to enable Sailor-driven applications.”

• Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, November 13: “Teams developed functional prototypes aligned with validated Fleet needs, supporting the Navy's strategic pivot toward software-centric warfare at the tactical edge. Additionally, the event promoted workforce development by offering hands-on experience with agile practices alongside industry and academic partners. A panel of experts from Navy enterprise technology, emerging systems, and industry evaluated the solutions based on technical innovation, mission relevance, and practical implementation. On the final day, an awards ceremony for the top three teams was held after judge deliberation, where team “River City” was awarded with first place.”

• Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, November 13: “After participating in FleetHacker, you return to your command with practical solutions and the ability to apply SI to solve problems across the ship,” said Cmdr. Alex Delgado, “River City” team member and SI Integration Officer, USS Harry S. Truman, “We want to give Sailors their time back so they can focus on their jobs, warfighting, and the problems that matter most.”

• Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, November 13: “Team “River City” consisted of two active-duty officers, four Midshipmen from the Hampton Roads NROTC Unit, and one industry participant. The team developed a shipboard SI assistant to help Sailors at every level manage administrative, maintenance, and day-to-day workflows while enabling leaders to identify shrinking margins before they become mission problems.”

• Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, November 13: “It’s the prototypes and a repeatable model that carry to other fleet concentration areas,” said Lt. Brandon Del Rosario, assigned to Task Force Hopper, “It’s a cultural shift where every level of the force, from the deckplates to the staffs, owns digital innovation and the work of making us faster and better, empowering participants to go back to their commands ready to lead it.”

• Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, November 13: “SURFLANT is responsible for manning, training and equipping assigned surface forces and shore activities, ensuring a capable and combat-ready force to support U.S. national interests. The SURFLANT force is composed of over 66 ships and 30 shore commands. For more SURFLANT news and photos, visit Facebook.com/SURFLANT, www.surflant.usff.navy.mil.”