Beyond the Frontier is a practical guide to building generative AI for the domains where frontier models fall short. Moving from first principles through fine-tuning, domain-specific embeddings, RAG, evaluation, self-hosted inference, governed agents, and edge deployment, it shows how organizations can turn proprietary and mission-specific data into AI capabilities they truly control. With hands-on laboratories and a running SATCOM Operations Assistant case study, *Beyond the Frontier* bridges AI theory and fielded engineering-showing how smaller, specialized models can deliver secure, resilient, domain-aware intelligence from the enterprise to the tactical edge.