Project Authentication on the Move (ATOM): Context-Aware Authentication Framework for Austere Environments

Project ATOM aims to develop a secure, context-aware, and portable authentication framework for the Department of the Air Force (DAF) to address limitations of traditional authentication in mobile, disconnected, or high-mobility environments. This framework will validate identity and mission authorization at the tactical edge, functioning independently of static infrastructure and aligning with the DAF's Zero Trust strategy. Key capabilities include context-aware authentication using multi-modal inputs, disconnected operation in austere environments, cross-domain portability (Air, Land, Sea, Space), Zero Trust integration, resilient infrastructure, and scalable interoperability with existing DAF systems. Phase I focuses on architectural design, identity modeling, and feasibility demonstration in a controlled testbed. Phase II will advance the prototype into a hardened, field-validated solution for multi-domain tactical operations, ensuring secure interoperability between human and autonomous systems. Phase III will transition the framework into operational use across Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) environments and U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) logistics, with significant dual-use potential for commercial logistics, space mobility, and emergency response sectors.