Modernization
White House: Trump won't intervene in DOD cloud deal
Despite his repeated public venting of anger at Amazon, President Trump won't play a part in the Pentagon's move to award a cloud contract, a spokesperson said.
People
Lynch re-ups at Defense Digital Service
The founding leader of the Pentagon's digital service team and a key leader of the Cloud Executive Steering Group is sticking around for a third year.
People
Does the Vacancies Act really matter?
The law is supposed to prevent acting officials taking on Senate-confirmed roles indefinitely, but the statutory language is vague and enforcement is uneven.
Modernization
Deputy defense secretary says DOD will get its 'arms around' cloud
The Pentagon and industry base aren't on the same wavelength when it comes to acquisition reform and readiness, says the DOD's No. 2 official.
Acquisition
Why the Army is wary of other transaction authority
Undersecretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy said that while agile acquisition authorities are welcome, there's a risk in using them.
People
Navy axes CIO office in reorg
Navy Undersecretary Thomas Modly announced his new role as Navy CIO, collapsing the previous office that oversaw IT guidance for the Marine Corps and Navy.
Modernization
Tech trade groups urge DOD to rethink cloud strategy
The Department of Defense reaped more than 1,000 comments on cloud procurement, including suggestions for technology trade groups to reshape its approach on a planned single-vendor cloud deal.
Acquisition
USAF head praises OTAs, but warns on micromanagement
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told a Capitol Hill panel that she was pleased with new acquisition authorities, but said micromanagement is still slowing the pace of procurement.
Digital Government
Now's not the time for a Space Force, STRATCOM leader says
Following President Donald Trump's comments, U.S. Strategic Commander Gen. John Hyten said he loved the idea of a Space Corps, but America doesn't need one yet.
Acquisition
Why acquisition reform is about more than OTAs
The Air Force materiel commander says organizational culture matters more than novel procurement authorities when it comes to reforming cumbersome processes.
Cybersecurity
Military looks for ways to bring in cyber talent at better salaries
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said $37,000 may be sufficient for Hill staffers answering the phone, but is much too low for military cyber specialists.
Modernization
Microsoft withdraws protest against U.S. Transcom's classified cloud plans
A proposed sole-source task order with Amazon Web Services prompted the protest. It's still unclear how "the issues involved were resolved to Microsoft’s satisfaction."
Modernization
Service heads quiet on DOD cloud plan
At a D.C. defense policy event, the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force skirted the issue of the Pentagon's centralized cloud procurement strategy.
Digital Government
Raytheon, Palantir win $876M battlefield tech contract
After years of protests and legal wrangling, Palantir is finally part of the Army's battlefield intel analytics system.
Modernization
DOD's latest cloud moves leave plenty of questions
Speculation is still swirling about the implications of the draft solicitation for JEDI -- and about why a separate agreement for cloud-migration services was scaled back so dramatically.
Cybersecurity
Lawmakers lose patience with NBIB over clearance backlog
Senators expressed deep frustration about the government's lack of progress reducing the backlog of 700,000 pending security clearance requests, with some threatening to overhaul the process completely.
Modernization
DOD details its plans for JEDI cloud contract
The timeline for a department-wide commercial cloud solution is aggressive, but Pentagon officials say deeper in-house expertise and better internal cooperation can get them to an award this year.
Cybersecurity
Air Force plans to convert IT staff into cyber force
The Air Force hopes to solve the cyber worker shortage by redefining traditional IT jobs, starting at seven bases.
Modernization
DOD scales back $950M cloud agreement
A DIUx-driven Other Transaction Authority agreement with REAN Cloud that had been DOD-wide will now be limited to U.S. Transportation Command, and given a much lower ceiling of $65 million.
Cybersecurity
White House names deputy undersecretary for DOD R&E
Lisa Porter, the executive vice president of CIA venture arm In-Q-Tel and director of IQT Labs, would help run the Pentagon's newly reorganized IT and R&D operations.
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