Shaping the future of networking with secure and scalable solutions
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organizations face increasing demands for faster, more reliable, and secure networking solutions to drive mission-critical operations. Networking modernization is at the heart of this transformation, enabling seamless connectivity, improved efficiency, and enhanced resilience.
To explore these challenges and opportunities, we sat down with Richard Wheeler, the company’s vice president for our networks practice, whose dynamic and multifaceted background brings a unique perspective to the conversation, making him an invaluable voice in tackling the challenges and opportunities shaping the future.
Combining the precision and discipline of a licensed commercial pilot with the dedication of a beekeeper and equestrian in the eventing discipline, Richard’s journey—from growing up on a large dairy farm in Ohio to serving in the U.S. Army and excelling in complex fields—reflects a commitment to excellence and adaptability. His diverse experiences enrich his approach to networking modernization, uncovering how innovative technologies are empowering organizations to stay ahead in a hyper-connected world.
What are some of the key pain points federal agencies are currently facing when it comes to network modernization, and how do you plan to address these challenges in your new role?
Federal agencies are navigating a unique set of challenges with network modernization—complex regulatory requirements, aging infrastructure, and an evolving cyber threat landscape. Budget constraints further complicate their ability to implement cutting-edge solutions. My goal at Leidos is to develop a networks practice that balances these pressures by offering scalable, secure, and mission-aligned solutions that maximize operational efficiency without overwhelming budgets. We’ll be focusing on modular solutions that agencies can implement incrementally, allowing for strategic, phased modernization aligned with their specific mission needs.
Related reading: Leidos awarded $331 million contract to modernize the Army’s Global Unified Network
As the federal landscape continues to evolve, how do you envision ad hoc and episodic network strategies shaping the future of government IT infrastructure?
The federal IT landscape requires agility—so ad hoc and episodic connectivity strategies and alternatives will play an increasingly pivotal role. These approaches allow agencies to address urgent mission needs swiftly while balancing their longer-term IT goals. At Leidos, we’re pioneering adaptive network solutions that integrate seamlessly into both planned and reactive strategies, enabling agencies to scale and adjust as mission requirements shift. By adopting flexible architectures, we’re helping federal clients strike a balance between long-term infrastructure goals and the need to react to emergent operational demands.
Collaborating with customers, Leidos program managers, and strategic partners to drive the evolution of federal networking is an extraordinary opportunity to foster innovation across the entire ecosystem. By embracing the future state of networking, where secure, adaptive, and AI-driven connectivity empowers federal missions, we can create resilient, scalable solutions that redefine how agencies achieve their goals in an interconnected world.
Richard Wheeler
VP, Networks Practice Lead, Leidos
What specific steps will Leidos take to ensure that its network solutions are aligned with the unique mission requirements of federal clients, especially in terms of security, resilience, and cost-efficiency?
We’re committed to tailoring our network solutions to each client’s mission—our approach starts with in-depth collaboration and understanding specific operational contexts. For security, we’re embedding Zero Trust principles and adopting a risk-based approach to build resilience against cyber threats. We’re also focusing on cloud-enabled, cost-effective solutions that offer agility and scalability to support the evolving mission. Leidos emphasizes transparency, helping agencies project costs over the solution's lifecycle, so clients can plan effectively within their budget constraints while benefiting from a highly resilient, modernized, and secure infrastructure.
With network infrastructure continuing to transform government operations, how do you see Leidos evolving over the next five years to stay ahead of technology trends and deliver more value to our federal customers?
Over the next five years, Leidos plans to increasingly focus on automation, multi-domain orchestration, AI, and advanced analytics within our network solutions. These capabilities will help agencies achieve faster, data-driven decision-making and more effective threat responses. We will continue to invest in edge computing and multi-cloud environments to support greater data processing at the source, which is crucial for mission-critical, remote, and secure operations.
Related Reading: Is multi-cloud the key to defense modernization?
How will your leadership influence Leidos partnerships and collaborations within the federal space to enhance the delivery of network solutions, particularly in addressing mission-critical demands?
Strategic partnerships are essential to delivering high-value network solutions, particularly as federal requirements grow in complexity and mission scope evolves. Under my leadership, Leidos will seek to strengthen alliances with technology leaders in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and next-generation networking. By fostering collaboration across vendors and customers, we can integrate best-in-class capabilities tailored to federal missions. I’m also prioritizing partnerships with emerging tech firms to keep us at the forefront of innovation. This approach ensures we’re not only meeting current mission needs but are also well-positioned to address future demands.
