Author: Ashley Brumbaugh

Dave “Duck” Miceli to represent tactical edge networking perspective at premier naval rotary-wing aviation event

Fuse Integration, a warfighter-focused non-traditional engineering firm, today announced that Dave “Duck” Miceli, Program Manager and Rotary Wing and Expeditionary Warfare Subject Matter Expert at Fuse, will serve as a panelist on the Captains of Industry panel at the Naval Helicopter Association 2026 Annual Symposium. With a theme of “Forged to Fight,” NHA 2026 will take place May 12–15 at Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center, California.

On May 13, the panel will bring together senior industry leaders to explore how defense companies are delivering operational advantage through speed, integration, adaptability, and real-world relevance for the warfighter. They will examine the capabilities shaping the future of maritime and expeditionary aviation.

“The NHA Symposium is exactly where this conversation belongs, in a room full of the warriors who fly the missions and understand what operational relevance truly means,” said Sumner Lee, CEO of Fuse. “We are proud to have Duck contribute to a dialogue that puts the warfighter first.”

SESSION INFORMATION

The Captains of Industry panel is designed to move beyond traditional platform discussions and focus on how industry partners are delivering operational advantage through speed, integration, adaptability, and real-world relevance for the warfighter.

Event: Naval Helicopter Association 2026 Annual Symposium | “Forged to Fight”

Panel: Captains of Industry

When: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | 1345–1500 PT

Where: Harrah’s Resort Southern California, Valley Center, California | TEC 11–13

Members of the media interested in scheduling an interview with Miceli before, during, or after the symposium should contact Joyce Bosc at jbosc@boscobel.com.

About Fuse Integration

Fuse Integration is a warfighter-focused, non-traditional engineering firm that designs, prototypes and rapidly fields tactical edge networking solutions for defense customers in the United States and allied nations. The company’s airborne and maritime gateway systems and virtualized network architectures are operational today, enabling real-time data sharing across air, land and sea environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in San Diego with a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com

Fuse Integration CTO and Vice President of Engineering and Technology, Allen McAfee, recently appeared on TECHNE Connect’s Behind the Mission podcast to discuss his career journey, the opportunities that defense technology careers offer, and what both professionals and hiring managers should keep in mind in this space. Launched in response to the sector’s growing talent shortage, the podcast amplifies voices from the defense and aerospace industry and inspires the next generation to explore engineering careers in defense.

In the conversation with TECHNE Co-Founder Ferris Aitchison, McAfee traced an unconventional path to defense tech: from a Navy corpsman and Iraq veteran to 3D printing startup to Fuse, where he has spent the past seven years helping shape the company’s mission around airborne networking and seamless connectivity across defense systems.

A thread running through the entire conversation was Fuse’s commitment to warfighter-driven design and McAfee’s conviction that it should shape how engineers at every level approach their work. “We are adamant about the warfighter,” he said, describing it as a defining part of Fuse’s culture and engineering philosophy. For engineers considering the defense space, he framed that ground-level connection not simply as a company value but as a career asset: “Sitting behind a screen is fine, but understanding the context of where your product is going is going to benefit your career.”

On the question of purpose, McAfee was direct: his personal mission at Fuse is to “lift the fog of war.” Drawing on his own combat experience, he described the real cost of information blackouts in the field and the satisfaction of hearing from users that what once took an hour now takes five minutes.

For engineers considering the defense space, McAfee highlighted key skill areas currently in high demand while offering broader career notes as AI tools take on more routine coding and testing work. He also reflected on Fuse’s growth trajectory, as the company has career openings across engineering roles, with more production hiring expected later this year.

Listen to the full episode on TECHNE Connect’s Behind the Mission podcast.

About Fuse Integration

Fuse Integration is a warfighter-focused, non-traditional engineering firm that designs, prototypes and rapidly fields tactical edge networking solutions for defense customers in the United States and allied nations. The company’s airborne and maritime gateway systems and virtualized network architectures are operational today, enabling real-time data sharing across air, land and sea environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in San Diego with a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com

For third year, firm recognized for supporting veterans and the military-connected community

Fuse has been recognized as a 3 Star Employer in the 2026 VETS Indexes Employer Awards program, underscoring the company’s enduring commitment to recruiting, hiring, retaining, developing, and supporting veterans and the broader military-connected community. This marks the third year Fuse has earned this distinction.

“Fuse was built by and for warfighters to solve real-world communications and networking challenges, and that mission continues to shape everything we do,” said Sumner Lee, Fuse CEO. “The veterans on our team bring operational insight that comes from firsthand experience in contested environments. They have a real understanding of mission demands at the tactical edge and a relentless focus on what has to work when it matters most. The VETS Indexes award reflects the strength of that community within our company and the advantage it brings to those we serve.”

The VETS Indexes survey and recognition program analyzes employers’ policies, practices, and outcomes in detail, across the following five categories:

• Veteran job candidate recruiting and hiring
• Veteran employee development and retention
• Veteran-inclusive policies and culture
• Support for members of the National Guard and Reserves
• Military spouse/family support

On its website, Fuse outlines its commitment and approach to hiring veterans.

“Veterans and military-connected professionals strengthen every part of our business, from engineering and program execution to customer support and innovation,” said Scott Rosebush, Fuse President. “Their leadership, discipline, and mission-first mindset elevate how we execute for customers and how we show up for each other in the workplace every day.”

The full list of 2026 VETS Index Award Winners is available online.

About Fuse Integration

Fuse Integration is a warfighter-focused, non-traditional engineering firm that designs, prototypes and rapidly fields tactical edge networking solutions for defense customers in the United States and allied nations. The company’s airborne and maritime gateway systems and virtualized network architectures are operational today, enabling real-time data sharing across air, land and sea environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in San Diego with a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com

About VETS Indexes

VETS Indexes is a leading voice on veteran employment issues, overseeing the VETS Indexes Employer Awards, hosting the Employing U.S. Vets Conference, unearthing unique and unprecedented data on veteran employment through the Veteran Employment Benchmarking Service, and developing custom indexes, linked to financial products, that track the performance of the publicly traded companies that have established themselves as the best employers for veterans. Learn more at VETSIndexes.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

The San Diego Business Journal has named Fuse CEO, Sumner Lee, a 2026 CEO of the Year finalist. Each year, SDBJ honors San Diego’s most influential chief executives whose leadership, vision, and decision-making have driven organizational success and regional economic growth. Finalists are singled out for their strategic impact, commitment to innovation, and ability to lead with integrity through change.

“It’s an honor to be recognized alongside so many exceptional leaders who make San Diego’s business community one of the most innovative and mission-driven in the country,” said Lee. “As we look ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for Fuse as we accelerate growth to meet the urgent need for real-time defense data sharing across air, land, and sea environments.”

A former naval aviator, Lee founded Fuse with a vision to deliver critically needed capabilities to the warfighter through the application of Design Thinking processes. The rapidly growing non-traditional engineering firm is relentlessly focused on delivering innovative communications and networking solutions that provide U.S. and allied forces with essential real-time connectivity in the battlespace. Over the past year, the company has expanded its production footprint while advancing multiple tactical networking solutions toward field deployment.

“Sumner has assembled a team of former military operators, network experts, and bold engineers who thrive on solving real operational challenges,” said Scott Rosebush, Fuse President. “His leadership rewards the team for taking smart risks, iterating quickly, and creating intuitive designs that directly support mission success.”

The full list of 2026 CEO of the Year Finalists is available online, with award winners to be announced April 29 at the CEO of the Year Reception 2026.

About Fuse Integration

Fuse Integration is a warfighter-focused, non-traditional engineering firm that designs, prototypes and rapidly fields tactical edge networking solutions for defense customers in the United States and allied nations. The company’s airborne and maritime gateway systems and virtualized network architectures are operational today, enabling real-time data sharing across air, land and sea environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in San Diego with a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com

Non-traditional defense engineering and design firm rises to 85 on the 2026 list

Inc., the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future, has named Fuse Integration to its sixth annual Inc. Regionals: Pacific list for the third consecutive year. The 2026 list ranks the fastest-growing companies in the Pacific region, which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska. Fuse climbed to number 85, up from number 100 last year.

“Being named to the Inc. Regionals list for the third year in a row highlights the growing demand for our capabilities as U.S. and allied forces navigate increasingly complex communication challenges at the tactical edge,” said Sumner Lee, CEO of Fuse. “With production ramping up across funded programs, we’re well positioned to sustain our growth trajectory.”

An extension of the national Inc. 5000 list, the Regionals list offers a data-driven look at the independent small businesses driving growth across the Pacific economy. Companies are ranked based on revenue growth from 2022 to 2024 and demonstrate exceptional revenue expansion, resilience, and job creation during a challenging economic period.

Building on a year of production momentum and award-winning innovations, the company is expanding its portfolio of tactical edge networking solutions engineered for global interoperability and mission-ready deployment.

“Our growth is a direct result of the talent and commitment of our team,” said Scott Rosebush, Fuse’s President. “Every milestone we achieve is powered by their ingenuity, discipline, and focus on delivering for the mission.”

Complete results of the Inc. Regionals: Pacific, including company profiles and an interactive database sortable by industry and metro area, is available at: https://www.inc.com/regionals/pacific.

About Fuse Integration

Fuse Integration is a warfighter-focused, non-traditional engineering firm that designs, prototypes and rapidly fields tactical edge networking solutions for defense customers in the United States and allied nations. The company’s airborne and maritime gateway systems and virtualized network architectures are operational today, enabling real-time data sharing across air, land and sea environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in San Diego with a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com

Tactical edge networking breakthroughs position company for expanded production and global interoperability

2025 marked a defining year for Fuse Integration, with successful demonstrations across air, maritime, and distributed mobile environments reinforcing the company’s leadership in secure networks at the tactical edge. From a cross-country connectivity demonstration of the Fuse’s Tactical Edge Network (TEN) across a distributed mobile network to a first-of-its-kind deployment of its TENTaCLE architecture delivering secure global wideband connectivity aboard the B-1B, Fuse continues to validate mission-ready capabilities aligned with U.S. defense and joint force priorities. These milestones also position the company for expanded production across multiple platforms.

“Over the past 15 years, we’ve developed and tested tactical edge networking architectures in increasingly complex operational environments,” said Sumner Lee, CEO of Fuse. “In 2025, we proved that we’re moving decisively from advanced testing into full-rate production across multiple programs and platforms, delivering mission-critical capabilities to warfighters at the edge.”

Building on these validated demonstrations, Fuse is accelerating the innovation of networking solutions designed for contested and denied environments. The company’s AI Radio Environment (AIRE) and its GenAI tool, RANGER, further showcased how intelligent software can dynamically optimize latency, throughput, and link prioritization in denied or contested environments. Industry recognition followed. The Fuse AIRE + RANGER solution received a 2025 EDGE Award in the Communications & Networks innovation category while the company’s Tactical Edge Network earned a 2025 Military + Aerospace Electronics Innovators Award. Such recognition underscores the company’s leadership in flexible, innovative defense networking.

As Fuse expands its programs and prepares for increased production, the company has strengthened operations with new leaders. Experienced program managers and business development leaders, including military veterans who bring direct warfighter insights, are reinforcing the organization as it scales and optimizes its quality and manufacturing processes to support global interoperability.

“As we move from experimentation to scaled production, our focus is on delivering repeatable, resilient capability that operators can depend on,” said Scott Rosebush, president of Fuse. “Our role now is to operationalize innovation, ensuring that the breakthroughs our engineers design are delivered, supported, and sustained for the long term.”

With validated technology, growing production readiness, and continued innovation at the tactical edge, Fuse enters its next phase delivering resilient networking capability for today’s fight — and tomorrow’s coalition operations.

About Fuse Integration

Fuse Integration is a warfighter-focused, non-traditional engineering firm that designs, prototypes and rapidly fields tactical edge networking solutions for defense customers in the United States and allied nations. The company’s airborne and maritime gateway systems and virtualized network architectures are operational today, enabling real-time data sharing across air, land and sea environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business headquartered in San Diego with a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com

Live demonstration connects show floor to an operational aircraft in Southern California

Fuse Integration today announced it will conduct a live-flight tactical networking demonstration during WEST 2026, February 10–12 at the San Diego Convention Center. Co-hosted by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute, WEST brings together Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard leaders with industry and academia experts and is considered the premier naval conference and expo on the West Coast.

From its booth (#1840), Fuse will demonstrate its KRAKEN Expeditionary Gateway exchanging live voice, video, and mission data with a Fuse Test Squadron aircraft flying over Southern California — showcasing a fully operational tactical edge network connecting forward-deployed systems to command-and-control environments in real time.

“Our tactical edge networking solutions are delivering operational capability right now,” said Sumner Lee, CEO of Fuse. “WEST is where we’re proving it, as we showcase our ready-now solutions delivering resilient communications to aircraft and expeditionary units, connecting surface/subsurface platforms for real-time mission awareness when it matters most.”

FUSE LIVE FLIGHT DEMONSTRATION

A live demonstration of Fuse’s TENTaCLE Architecture from the Fuse booth with live voice, video, and target data exchanged with a Fuse Test Squadron aircraft flying over Southern California. During the demonstration, attendees will observe and interact with real-time voice, video communications, and data exchange between forward-deployed systems and the command environment.

What: KRAKEN Expeditionary Gateway Live Flight Demo

When: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. PT

Where: AFCEA WEST 2026, San Diego Convention Center

Booth: 1840

Devices Featured:

KRAKEN Expeditionary Gateway

KRAKEN Mobile

CORE® multi-function network controller

To observe the demo or to schedule an interview with Lee at or before WEST 2026, contact Joyce Bosc at jbosc@boscobel.com.

About Fuse Integration

Fuse is a warfighter-focused, non-traditional engineering firm providing innovative communications, networking, and computing solutions for defense customers. The company’s virtualized network systems, tactical edge network, and airborne networking gateway products improve the sharing of information, video, text, and voice among warfighters throughout airborne, maritime, and ground environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business with headquarters in San Diego and a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com

Sumner Lee shares how warfighter-focused innovation helped Fuse navigate SBIR ecosystem

The GovCon Unscripted podcast recently dropped a new episode featuring Fuse Integration CEO, Sumner Lee. In the episode, “From Prototype to Program of Record: What it Really Takes to Transition in GovCon,” Lee shared how the company has successfully turned warfighter-focused innovation into operational defense capability.

Host Chelsea Roberts explores how Fuse has leveraged the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) ecosystem to transition beyond prototyping and into real-world use. During the discussion, Roberts describes Fuse as a GovCon “unicorn,” highlighting the company’s uncommon path: seven SBIR awards that expanded into 12 different Phase II contracts and ultimately transitioned into five Phase III contracts with programmatic funding.

Lee credits much of Fuse’s SBIR success to relentless warfighter-focused engineering and design, paired with deep customer relationships built by the company’s veteran workforce. “By pulling in veterans who understand the real needs of the warfighter, who understand how the platforms work together, that’s where we can really connect,” he explains. “That human connection is really what is so important.”

The conversation also examines how Fuse has avoided the well-known “valley of death” that stalls so many small businesses. According to Lee, the first valley occurs when companies lack a true understanding of military operations, making it difficult to gain traction. The second, and often more challenging, valley comes during the transition from development and testing into programs of record. To get through the second valley, “You’ve got to be able to work through building advocates inside the program offices,” notes Lee.

The episode goes on to explore lessons learned from Fuse’s journey, including how warfighter engagement and operational testing create what Lee calls “unfair advantages.”

Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/40W1sMfHcRWs7s4W7CSgoV

About Fuse Integration

Fuse is a warfighter-focused, non-traditional engineering firm providing innovative communications, networking, and computing solutions for defense customers. The company’s virtualized network systems, tactical edge network, and airborne networking gateway products improve the sharing of information, video, text, and voice among warfighters throughout airborne, maritime, and ground environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business with headquarters in San Diego and a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com

Growth momentum fuels rise on the fastest-growing companies list

In its annual ranking of the fastest-growing small businesses, Washington Technology ranked Fuse number 26 on the 2025 Fast 50. Rankings are based on companies’ compound annual growth rate over five years of revenue data, from 2020 to 2024. Reflecting a strengthening market position and sustained growth momentum, the company rose 23 spots in its second year on the coveted list.

“As near-peer threats intensify, our armed forces and allies are doubling down on modern, resilient technologies to stay ahead,” said Sumner Lee, CEO of Fuse. “Our growth is fueled by our capacity to deliver mission-critical tactical edge networking solutions that bring advanced and legacy platforms together — strengthening warfighter readiness for the fight tonight and tomorrow.”

Fuse’s momentum comes from both an increasing demand at the tactical edge and the company’s rapid pace of innovation. AI enablement is just one of several innovations Fuse introduced this year. The company’s AI Radio Environment (AIRE) application offers an interface for third-party AI developers to train on real-time radio frequency and network data models. It enables them to equip non-engineer warfighters with the ability to make informed, timely network decisions in support of the mission.

Additionally, Fuse’s groundbreaking GenAI too, RANGER (Radio and Network Guidance, Evaluation and Response) uses a Mixture of Experts (MoE) architecture to enhance performance on small SWaP edge devices like Fuse’s CORE® multi-function network controller.

When unveiling this year’s list, Washington Technology’s Editor-in-Chief, Nick Wakeman, noted the prevalence of AI and machine learning which were, “by far the most common capability claimed by the Fast 50 companies this year, with 78% doing so. This dominance makes the argument that AI is not just marketing jargon, but has become table stakes for success in the public sector market.”

To qualify for the list, companies needed a minimum of $100,000 in government revenue in 2020. View the full 2025 Fast 50 list on the Washington Technology website.

About Fuse Integration

Fuse is a warfighter-focused engineering and design firm providing innovative communications, networking and computing solutions for defense customers. The company’s virtualized network systems, tactical edge network and airborne networking gateway products improve the sharing of information, video, text and voice among warfighters throughout airborne, maritime and ground environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business with headquarters in San Diego and a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com

Navy and Air Force vets now shape engineering and growth of company’s product portfolio

Fuse today announced that the San Diego Business Journal has honored two company leaders as 2025 Veteran Leaders of Influence. Jon Klaus, Director of Business Development, and Allen McAfee, Director of Engineering and Technology, and are among this year’s honorees. The annual SDBJ honor celebrates 50 influential veteran leaders who live and work in San Diego County for their contributions and commitment.

“Our teams are built by leaders who have lived the mission. Jon and Allen carry their decades of service into every decision they make at Fuse, always putting the warfighter first,” said Sumner Lee, CEO of Fuse. “This recognition reflects the strength of their character and the impact they continue to make for those on the front lines.”

Jon “Santa” Klaus served in a wide range of operational and leadership roles during his 30-year Air Force career, from instructor pilot and flight commander in the KC-135Q and evaluator pilot in the C-141 to operations officer for the C-21 and commander of a KC-135R squadron. He later served as the U.S. senior defense official and defense attaché to Sweden, advancing U.S.–Sweden defense cooperation and shared security objectives. Klaus was also assigned as a National Defense Fellow with the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress and as executive officer to the Air Force Chief Information Officer. Before joining Fuse, he was Vice President and Senior Director for Business Development at Saab Inc., where he developed, marketed, and sold air-related products across the U.S. defense services. Today, Klaus leads the development, implementation, and execution of growth strategies across the portfolio.

Allen “Kanye” McAfee’s time in uniform included more than six years as a Navy Corpsman with combat experience serving with 1st MARDIV in Iraq. After transitioning from military service, he built a strong record of success in new product development and introduction across both government and consumer markets, earning recognition such as the CES Best of Innovation Award and the Good Design® Award. He is an MBA candidate at the University of California San Diego, a member of the Forbes Technology Council, and an occasional mentor for the Tech Stars community. Today, McAfee leads the engineering development of product lines, overseeing engineering operations and capability demonstrations while ensuring all development efforts align with customer strategic goals. He champions warfighters’ needs through user-centric design and expertly balances the Fuse development cadence with evolving customer requirements.

For the full list of this year’s honorees, view the SDBJ 2025 Leaders of Influence profiles online.

About Fuse Integration

Fuse is a warfighter-focused engineering and design firm providing innovative communications, networking and computing solutions for defense customers. The company’s virtualized network systems, tactical edge network and airborne networking gateway products improve the sharing of information, video, text and voice among warfighters throughout airborne, maritime and ground environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business with headquarters in San Diego and a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com