{"id":2208,"date":"2026-01-19T01:29:56","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T01:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/?p=2208"},"modified":"2026-02-12T12:06:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T12:06:01","slug":"setaf-af-stands-up-advanced-capabilities-directorate-to-drive-innovation-data-decision-dominance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daily-bullet.com\/?p=2208","title":{"rendered":"SETAF-AF Stands up Advanced Capabilities Directorate to Drive Innovation, Data, Decision Dominance"},"content":{"rendered":"
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VICENZA, Italy \u2014 U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) launched its Advanced Capabilities Directorate, signaling a strategic leap in integrating innovation, data and rapid procurement to enhance modern warfighting, Jan. 5.<\/p>\n

Replacing the former initiatives, the new directorate reports directly to the SETAF-AF chief of staff. It centralizes innovation and operational data efforts to improve decision-making and drive transformation across SETAF-AF missions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the big news, we\u2019re growing,\u201d said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nicholas R. Dubaz, innovation branch chief for SETAF-AF. \u201cThe Advanced Capabilities Directorate brings together our innovation division and operational data team to achieve decision dominance and better use the data we work with every day to execute our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

ACD integrates new technologies, tests how well they work in real situations and shares those results with Army leaders, industry partners and those developing official procedures and guidelines.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt includes a full-time innovation division who focus on identifying and implementing new technologies, and an operational data team responsible for analyzing and managing information,\u201d said Dubaz.<\/p>\n

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Armand L. Balboni fills the newly created science and technology advisor role and serves as the innovation branch deputy chief.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m serving two functions,\u201d Balboni said. \u201cOne is helping run the new directorate. The other is ensuring that medical innovation is fully integrated. Innovation isn\u2019t just about acquiring technology. It\u2019s about the human-technology interface, command and control, and how systems function across complex operations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Balboni brings extensive acquisition and technology experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cI spent 14 years on active duty evaluating and procuring new technologies, along with private-sector experience as a technology company chief executive officer,\u201d said Balboni. \u201cI\u2019m currently a reservist serving on active-duty operational support orders, as well as a professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The directorate includes officers and specialists focused on operational integration, coordinating internal processes across functions, external outreach and engagement, as well as acquisition.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne key addition is a full-time Global Tactical Acquisition Directorate representative who serves as a liaison to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology,\u201d said Dubaz. \u201cThis representative enables SETAF-AF to pursue faster, more adaptive procurement pathways.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ACD will lead innovation support for the exercise African Lion 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur focus right now is execution,\u201d Dubaz said. \u201cAfrican Lion is where innovation meets reality. We can integrate advanced technology into an exercise, but if we don\u2019t assess it, collect data and understand what works and what doesn\u2019t, then we\u2019ve failed our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

SETAF-AF leads AL26, U.S. Africa Command\u2019s largest annual joint exercise, which takes place from April 20 to May 8. The exercise validates units and systems under realistic battlefield conditions. AL26 involves more than 5,600 civilian and military personnel from over 30 nations, using innovation to drive partner-led regional security.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese aren\u2019t demos run by vendors,\u201d Dubaz said. \u201cThese systems are in the hands of Soldiers, being used the way they would be in combat. That\u2019s the only way to truly assess effectiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n

AL26 will incorporate more than 45 technologies across three operational vignettes: defense in depth, deep attack and counterattack.<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnologies evaluated include unmanned and counter-unmanned aerial systems, loitering munitions and autonomous ground systems for breaching and obstacle emplacement,\u201d said Dubaz. \u201cAdvanced command-and-control architectures that fuse sensors into a common operating picture are also tested.\u201d<\/p>\n

The assessments feed directly into Army decision-making on doctrine, procurement and future investment.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor many industry partners, this is the first time their technology is exposed to real-world operations,\u201d Dubaz said. \u201cHeat, dust, electronic warfare, heavy loads and battlefield chaos each reveal strengths and weaknesses that no lab can replicate.\u201d<\/p>\n

ACD uses an iterative innovation approach to repeatedly collect and examine data, evaluate technology performance and quickly update recommendations. This process ensures insights and improvements lead to actual, usable capability enhancements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat works in a lab may not work in the desert, under fire or with soldiers carrying heavy loads in degraded environments,\u201d Dubaz said. \u201cOur role is to provide feedback so industry can make systems that work when it counts.\u201d<\/p>\n

At its core, leaders say the ACD exists to close the gap between technological potential and battlefield reality. It aims to do so at the speed required by modern conflict.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe traditional procurement cycle is long,\u201d Balboni said. \u201cOne of the gaps we\u2019re trying to close is speed, getting the right capabilities to Soldiers in time to actually impact the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

By integrating innovation, data analysis, assessment and acquisition, SETAF-AF positions the ACD to deliver faster decisions, smarter investments and more impactful warfighting capabilities across Europe and Africa.<\/p>\n

By SSG Raquel Birk<\/em><\/p>\n

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