Modernization

Microsoft to launch top secret cloud

The company is waiting on government accreditation for the new top secret regions.

People

Congress axes CMO office in 2021 defense bill

The Defense Department’s third top position will get eliminated after just two years in existence, according to language in the final version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

Modernization

How COVID-19 accelerated IT modernization

As previous IT investments proved their worth in 2020, the pandemic is prompting agencies to accelerate their modernization efforts

Digital Government

Congressional leaders push back on NDAA veto threats

Defense committee leaders plan to vote on the annual defense bill without key items on President Trump's wish list.

Acquisition

DISA refreshes strategic plan for 2022

The Defense Information Systems Agency has refreshed its three-year strategy to better emphasize cyber defense and role of enterprise services.

Modernization

JAIC focuses on warfighting capabilities

Now that it's up and running the Pentagon's Joint Artificial Intelligence Center wants to increase adoption throughout the department from warfighting and business operations.

Digital Government

USAF primed to launch new phase of data strategy

Eileen Vidrine, the Air Force's chief data officer, talks about department's priorities are, how they've changed this year and how the Defense Department's data strategy ties it all together.

People

Pentagon tightens workplace restrictions as COVID cases spike

The increase of coronavirus cases in the Washington, D.C. region preceded the Pentagon’s decision to revert to stricter workplace protocols.

Acquisition

DOD, Coast Guard resume MHS Genesis deployment

After a pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Defense Department's commercial health record installation program is back online. The Coast Guard is also transitioning to the new system.

Acquisition

CMMC countdown is on but are there enough assessors to do the job?

Katie Arrington, DOD's CISO for acquisition, said having enough assessors to do in-person audits of defense contractors is her biggest concern.

People

DOD fails third audit, but sees progress with cost-savings

The Defense Department boasts cost savings as it chases a clean audit. But using the $1 billion audit to find savings could be short-sighted.

Acquisition

GSA explains lowered DEOS price tag

GSA worked with the Defense Department and vendors to push more efficiencies into the DEOS cloud contract, ultimately resulting in a lowered ceiling, said the contract's manager.

Modernization

Making software more than 'IT thing'

Software modernization has a branding problem, and it's going to take more than the colloquial culture shift to speed up the Defense Department's adoption of modern tech capabilities, according to Deputy CIO Peter Ranks.

Acquisition

Cyber and AI investments could trend up in defense spending

Investments in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence efforts may increase even with flat defense budgets, but a worsening pandemic could dampen those projections.

Modernization

Dana Deasy's year of delivery

How 2020 became the Defense Department's best test case for digital modernization.

People

Esper out at DOD

President Trump announced on Twitter that he had fired his secretary of defense, with Christopher C. Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, taking over on an acting basis.

People

DOD's reform efforts could wane without consistent leadership

The Government Accountability Office found that leadership and organizational changes, namely the future of DOD's chief management officer role, could hamper long term reform efforts.

Modernization

Second wave solicitations coming for DOD 5G test sites

The Defense Department plans to award the first three of seven new 5G test bed contracts in the spring.

Modernization

AI meets cyber as Army tests tactical network protection

The Army recently wrapped up 11 weeks of testing more than 30 fresh-out-the-lab technologies that could be available in 2023.

Digital Government

DOD 'data commandments' are in the works

David Spirk, the Defense Department’s chief data officer, touted the need for data commandments and continuous education to make JADC2 a reality.