The Go Faster initiative drives Sandia to accelerate every step of its work across divisions — from discovery and design to testing, validation and deployment. By compressing timelines and reducing technical risks early through advanced modeling and rigorous qualification, Go Faster ensures America’s nuclear deterrent remains credible, resilient and trusted.
When national security is on the line, urgency becomes more than a project parameter; it is a responsibility.
When a Sandia sponsor faced a critical acquisition challenge, it asked a team from Sandia to step in as an impartial, technically rigorous advisor. The team’s collaborative and mission-focused response shortened the sponsor’s program timeline and safeguarded more than $100 million in future spending.
Breakthrough and impact
The sponsor asked the Sandia review team to provide an independent technical review of a vendor’s system that would influence national-level decisions. Sandia’s project leadership quickly established an approach, set intermediate milestones, defined clear roles on the team and focused on delivering a minimum viable product.
Rather than getting lost in the details, the review team provided the sponsor with high-value insight for critical decisions, shortening the timeline by nearly two years. If it had failed, the final deliverable would have been completed long after the nation needed it. The review team needed to move fast, within weeks or months, to prevent the sponsor from committing to years of additional work. The independent review wrapped as the sponsor was considering extending the vendor’s contract for more money and an extended timeline.
Within two months, the review team completed its analysis and delivered a comprehensive 60-page report. This document was a pivotal decision-support asset and offered clarity needed to evaluate vendor performance and rethink the broader program roadmap. This preserved mission timelines and likely avoided more than $100 million in unnecessary future costs.
“We focused on delivering the insights that mattered most, and that clarity helped drive rapid, confident decisions,” said Ken Plummer.
Collaboration that fueled velocity
Before the project began, the Sandia review team had cultivated a strong relationship with the sponsor, and the team received funding early, which enabled work to begin within three days of the initial request. The review team’s rapid response benefited from a culture that prioritized mission focus, collaboration and the ability to mobilize expertise the moment a national need emerges.
Experts across mission areas joined a cross-disciplinary team that offered expertise in radio frequency systems, antennas, networks and digital signal processing. Frequent communication between the review team and the sponsor provided opportunities for continuous feedback. This allowed the review team to quickly onboard technical experts, establish mission context early and integrate sponsor feedback as their review evolved.
Speed factors and process improvements
Decades of experience with modeling and simulation tools, as well as capabilities in radio frequency system design, antenna modeling, network characterization and digital signal processing, enabled the review team to critically evaluate the vendor technology.
Throughout the effort, the minimum-viable-product mindset served as a compass. The review team focused on excellence rather than perfection and prioritized insights that had the greatest impact. This approach ensured delivery of the technical assessment that the sponsor needed and precisely when the sponsor needed it.
Lessons and inspiration
The review team immediately understood the national significance of the sponsor’s request when they received it. Many paused their day-to-day work and redirected their expertise to ensure mission success.
The minimum viable product was more than a way to manage scope. It helped people acknowledge when an 80% solution was good enough and allowed high-performing staff to stay focused on excellence. It was also a practical tool for making quick progress during periods of uncertainty and it is something the review team plans to use in future fast-turn projects. The project was an exemplar of responsiveness, objectivity, deep technical knowledge and commitment to the nation’s needs.
In recognition of the team’s impact, the project was honored with the Lab Director’s Award for technical excellence at the 2026 Employee Recognition Awards. This team’s effort is as a reminder that when Sandia is called upon, it responds with collaboration, clarity and purpose. The result is insight that shapes decisions and strengthens national security.