Ensuring mission-critical energy resilience to meet evolving capabilities for the future requires scalable secure microgrids ready for widespread deployment across Department of Defense (DoD) installations. This project captures and analyzes lessons learned from both successful and under-performing DoD microgrid investments to identify capabilities gaps and failure modes. These findings will inform service-specific recommendations and updates to United Facilities Criteria 3-550-04 Resilient Installation Microgrid Design. Additionally, a cross-service peer network will facilitate ongoing knowledge exchange and collaboration. This effort supports the transition from pilot projects to operational microgrids that modernize DoD energy infrastructure and strengthen mission assurance. 

This project will host four workshops as interactive forums for DoD staff to provide insights from their experiences designing, procuring, operating and maintaining microgrids on installations. Attendees will include the following staff/organizations from each of the tri-services: installation energy managers (IEM) supporting operating microgrids; execution organizations supporting acquisition and sustainment (Military Construction and third-party financed); cybersecurity, operational and information technology; DoD Labs. 

Before each workshop the Performers from National Laboratory of the Rockies, Air Force, Army, Navy and Converge Strategies will work with IEMs to populate a slide template describing their microgrid. At each workshop, four microgrids will be presented, and breakout sessions will be used to map challenges and develop recommendations. Participants will vote to prioritize recommendations. Recommendations will be tailored for implementation within each service, or at higher levels within DoD. 

This project represents the next wave of cutting-edge microgrid development within DoD, bringing together key stakeholders across the tri-services to collaboratively advance acquisition and maintenance practices to the level of other critical infrastructure assets. By analyzing shared experiences and challenges, it will pinpoint what works and where improvements are needed, informing key updates to Unified Facilities Criteria3-550-04. This collaborative approach fosters a shared understanding essential for seamless microgrid integration. The resulting recommendations will streamline processes, reduce costs, and accelerate scalable deployment—strengthening energy resilience and mission readiness across DoD installations. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2027)