By: Katie Doyle, CANA Senior Logistics Analyst Transitioning from the Marine Corps to the Contracting World Transitioning from active duty to “the real world” can be overwhelming after spending two decades in the Marine Corps. Training and experiences do not always translate easily into the civilian world. Looking back on my journey from a Logistics Officer in the Marine Corps to a civilian contractor, I’ve realized that while the clothing changes, the mission remains the sam

By Breanne Spencer, CANA Data Science Analyst Every college senior dreams of landing that one amazing internship the kind where you aren't just getting coffee or doing busy work tasks, but working alongside industry experts. My experience at CANA has been exactly that. It has been one of the most transformative chapters of my education, allowing me to tackle real-world problems, implement actionable changes, and grow immensely as both a developer and a researcher. While it mi

By Kurt Eades, CANA Principal Information Systems Security Manager At CANA, we believe efficiency isn’t just a metric, it’s a competitive advantage. For years, the government contracting world has been tethered to industry standard systems. We were told these large, expensive platforms were the only way to escape the heavy Excel trap. The reality? It just added layers of complexity and cost without solving the core problem. We decided to break the cycle. We scrapped the lega

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” - Warren Bennis CANA Senior Operations Research Analyst Mark Raffetto has a mission: to integrate multi-disciplinary leadership, technical innovation, and subject matter expertise to redefine defense logistics. As the Chief Data Scientist and Technical Team Lead on a project developing comprehensive logistics tool suites in support of DoW clients, Mark is helping to shape the next generation of military logistical

By: Kristin Fairman, Principal Contracts Manager Kristin Fairman is a seasoned expert in the world of government contracting. With over twenty years of experience spanning the spectrum from working with massive primes to agile small businesses, she brings a unique, high-energy perspective to a field many find daunting and perhaps a little less than joyous. We’re talking about the magic behind the scenes, the devil found in the details, and finding joy and success in the gover

BY ERIC GOUMILLOUT, SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER In the 1960s, the Department of War funded a project that private industry wouldn't touch: ARPANET. Investors saw no immediate "shareholder value" in a decentralized network for data. Today, we call that moonshot the Internet. I’ve spent my career at CANA LLC operating in that same high-stakes space. We aren't just looking for incremental gains; we are pursuing the next Great Leap in energy logistics - the kind of innovation that

By Jack Murray, Senior Project Manager Generative AI and predictive modeling are rapidly transforming project management workflows. Every organization in the federal space is facing a significant hurdle: the need for trust-based AI. This is where we lead. At CANA, we are not just observing this transformation; we are actively engaging with it to deliver superior results for our clients and our own organization. Our domain experts and subject matter experts (SMEs) are the vali

CANA ENTOURAGE has been assessed “Awardable” for Department of War work in the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s (CDAO) Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace. This designation means our solution has met rigorous evaluation standards and is ready for rapid acquisition by DoW customers. The Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace is the premier offering of Tradewinds, the Department of War’s (DoW’s) suite of tools and services designed to accelerate the procurement and ado

By Joe Moreno The first time you do it, it’s a hack. The second time you do it, it’s a trick. The third time you do it, it’s a best practice. CANA has developed an ideal modern approach to software development called CANABAN that’s perfect for project-based, budget-driven organizations. CANABAN’s 11 steps melds the best of Agile/Scrum and Kanban with project management’s best practices. We’ve successfully applied our CANABAN process to both product development and custom soft

By Scott Cohick The Emerging Techniques Forum (ETF) 2025—marking its 10th anniversary—was a tremendous success. Held 2–5 December 2025 and hosted by Systems Planning & Analysis (SPA), the event brought together 96 registrants for three days of vital discussions on analytic methods, AI, and the future of operations research in national security. This year’s program reflected the rapidly shifting analytic landscape. Artificial intelligence dominated the agenda, with presenters

When most people think of a Director of Business & People Operations, they imagine someone with a traditional MBA or a career spent strictly climbing the Human Resources ladder. They see spreadsheets, compliance checklists, and rigid corporate hierarchies. But at CANA LLC, we have always done things a little differently, and that includes the decision to create the Director of Business & People Operations position in 2023. Late in 2021, I approached CANA leadership with thi

As we move into 2026, advances in energy technology and the DoW’s evolving acquisition policies can work together to accelerate the time to deliver game-changing energy technology.

By Gavin Rosander CANA Futures Program Intern During my internship at CANA, I’ve had the opportunity to dive deep into a fast-moving, established project, evolving from core tasks to delivering system-wide impact. This journey has been defined by feature development, system validation, and the cultivation of foundational code discipline. Technical Contributions & High-Impact Projects My work focused on enhancing the intelligence and usability of a Supply Chain Assistant, a mu

As the year winds down and calendars fill with holiday plans, I wanted to take a moment to share a little HR perspective — not about policies or payroll deadlines this time — but about people. The end of the year is often a mix of excitement, exhaustion, reflection, and gratitude. It’s the season where we pause just long enough to realize how much we’ve all handled, built, and learned together over the past twelve months. Whether this year brought growth, change, challenge, o

By Walt DeGrange & Nick Ulmer In the dynamic world of analytics, technical prowess is undeniably essential, giving us the tools to transform data into insights. However, what truly distinguishes exceptional analysts—the ones who successfully drive change—is their ability to distill complex ideas into clear, actionable insights. This crucial skill, often honed in the classroom, reveals the profound connection between teaching and practicing analytics. Many recognize that teach

The 2025 NFL season marks 106 years of thrilling gridiron action. With 32 teams playing a grueling 17-game schedule, the league generates...

In today’s world, data is everywhere—and it’s growing at an unprecedented pace. But having data isn’t enough. The real challenge lies in...

CANA has always encouraged its team members to think outside the box and test new ideas. A recent CANA CRATE project perfectly...

Energy resilience and independence are not just desirable – they are mission-critical. Consider the impact of Hurricane Florence on...

CANA recently had the valuable opportunity to participate in the Wargaming in the Southern Region Workshop , held in Miami, Florida, in...