Abstract: Various embodiments include systems and methods for managing communication between a network computing device and a wireless device for performing operations to authenticate the wireless device. As part of an authentication process or procedure, a network computing device may send to a wireless device an identity request that includes an identity request attribute indicating a type of a wireless device identity that is preferred by the network computing device. The wireless may send to the network computing device an identity response based on the acceptable type of wireless device identity indicated in the identity request attribute. The network computing device and the wireless device may then perform authentication operations for the wireless device using the wireless device identity of the acceptable type of wireless device identity.