Hackathons and other structured technical events (code sprints, Red/Blue Team Exercises, Prototyping Challenges) are playing a growing role in the Department of Defense (DoD)’s approach to rapid problem-solving and early-stage technology development. These events frequently generate promising prototypes, practical technical insights, and new modes of engagement with industry and the broader defense innovation community. Yet hackathons and similar initiatives remain only loosely linked to the Department’s formal acquisition and fielding pathways. As a result, even solutions that demonstrate clear operational relevance often stall at the proof-of-concept stage, lacking a reliable mechanism to transition to sustained experimentation, structured prototyping, or programs of record. A recurring concern is that the core legal framework needed to support certain follow-on actions already exists under current authorities, and in some cases is already used in practice. The practical gap, however, is less the absence of legal authority and more the absence of repeatable implementation mechanisms, resourced transition planning, and program-aligned investment decisions that move promising hackathon outputs from event delivery to funded acquisition pathways.
