Fed tech leader outlines why Post-Quantum Cryptography is an urgent modernization imperative
Electrosoft Chief Operating Officer Jamie Holcombe has authored a new Federal News Network commentary, making the case that post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is a present-day responsibility for federal agencies. In the piece, “Post-quantum cryptography: A strategic imperative for modernization,” Holcombe argues that adversaries are already harvesting encrypted government data today, banking on the ability to decrypt it once quantum computing matures, and that agencies who wait for a single "Q-Day" moment to act will already be behind.
"Federal agencies are facing the intersecting challenges of legacy systems, long procurement cycles, and enormous operational pressure. Still, quantum readiness has to fit into that reality for the organizations to be protected,” said Dr. Sarbari Gupta, CEO of Electrosoft. “Jamie wisely points out that agencies with rigid architectures will struggle most when standards shift, while those building in cryptographic agility now will be best positioned for post-quantum attacks.”
In the article, Holcombe connects PQC directly to initiatives agencies are already pursuing, including cloud migration, Zero Trust architecture, and AI adoption. His argument: cryptography is the foundation underneath all of it. If the encryption protecting an agency's data and identity systems is compromised, the integrity of AI-driven decisions and the reliability of Zero Trust access controls erode along with it.
He also pushes back on the idea that quantum risk is a single future event, pointing instead to institutional inflexibility as the greater danger agencies face right now. "The greater danger is not the sudden arrival of quantum capability," Holcombe writes. "The greater danger is institutional inflexibility."
Read Holcombe’s full commentary on Federal News Network to see his complete case for why cryptographic agility, more than budget size or technology, will determine which organizations are ready for what comes next: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/commentary/2026/07/post-quantum-cryptography-a-strategic-imperative-for-modernization/
About Electrosoft Services
Electrosoft is a cybersecurity, digital engineering and intelligent automation firm delivering secure, scalable solutions for federal agencies. With 25 years of experience, the award-winning company combines deep mission expertise with modern engineering practices to help agencies operate securely, modernize with confidence and accelerate operational performance. Electrosoft is headquartered in Reston, Virginia. www.electrosoft-inc.com.