People

Hicks talks budget and CMO duties in confirmation hearing

Kathleen Hicks, President Biden's pick to serve as deputy secretary of defense, pressed for new incentives to improve DOD's business reform efforts at her confirmation hearing.

Modernization

Pentagon awards OTA for online AI marketplace

The Joint Artificial Intelligence Center awarded an other transaction agreement to build and manage an online environment for rapid procurement of AI capabilities.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers press NSA for answers about Juniper hack from 2015

A group of Democratic lawmakers is calling on the NSA to explain its part in developing a flawed encryption algorithm that was used and subsequently exploited through Juniper Network's security products, citing the supply chain hack involving SolarWinds Orion.

Modernization

DOD signals it could move on from JEDI if court battles drag out

The Pentagon is committed to enterprise-wide cloud capabilities at the unclassified, secret and top secret levels, but if a court case around the JEDI procurement doesn't go their way, DOD is signaling it could find other paths to the cloud.

Acquisition

Pandemic response drives DOD's sharp uptick in OTA spending

The Defense Pricing and Contracting Agency recorded more than $16 billion in other transaction agreements in 2020 in the Defense Department's response to the pandemic.

Cybersecurity

Final rule, formal training orgs on CMMC could hit this summer

A final rule on the Defense Department's unified cybersecurity standard could debut as soon as this summer but implementation hinges on standing up a formal training system.

Cybersecurity

DOD moves to centralize security clearance disputes

The Defense Department issued new policy for those who have had their clearances revoked.

People

USAF chief looks to combat extremism in the ranks

To create a better environment for all service members, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the Air Force's chief of staff said leadership will have to lay out "what our expectations are for those who are to be a part of our force."

Acquisition

Army CIO details digital strategy, changes for IT enterprise

Army CIO plans to release new enterprise digital strategy and rein in $2 billion of bloated IT spending.

Cybersecurity

Navy to stand up DevSecOps task force

The task force, which is planned for March, is responsible for delivering recommendations that would become the Navy's enterprise-wide roadmap for implementing DevSecOps.

People

SASC gavel set to change hands

With Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) as the new chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Democrats will set the tone on defense policy and budgets.

People

Austin tackles cyber and social policy in nomination hearing

Senators question defense secretary nominee about cyber and racism as several National Guardsmen removed from inauguration duty.

Modernization

Telework, BYOD and DEOS

Telework made the idea of bringing your own device a top priority as the Defense Information Systems Agency begins transitioning to a permanent version of the commercial virtual remote environment.

Cybersecurity

Rob Joyce to lead NSA cyber office

Joyce's predecessor, Anne Neuberger, is joining President-elect Joe Biden's administration as a deputy national security advisor.

Acquisition

CMMC, industrial capital strategy could continue in Biden's DOD

The Defense Department's top buyer, Ellen Lord, said the incoming Biden administration will have to contend with adversarial investments and cybersecurity weaknesses in the contractor base.

People

DOD outlines breakup of chief management office

Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist outlines plan to divvy up the Pentagon's number three job.

People

Civilian-military concerns trail Biden's defense secretary pick

With the Senate Armed Services Committee prepping to hear the nomination of retired Army General Lloyd Austin to serve as secretary of defense, some lawmakers are concerned about preserving civilian control of the U.S. military.

Modernization

DOD looks to kickstart 5G competition

The Defense Department is looking to expand its 5G exploration to include a new network of technologies with a competitive challenge.

Acquisition

DOD does away with diversity training modification for contractors

The Pentagon eliminated a class deviation that implemented the president's executive order purging diversity training across federal grants and contracts.

Modernization

DISA to take over defense cloud implementation

The Defense Department's cloud office will have a new home at the Defense Information Systems Agency later this month.