Acquisition

Consortium OTAs suffer from lack of guidance, data, IG finds

The Defense Department's internal watchdog found a lack of data on other transaction awards made through consortiums.

Modernization

HASC chair calls for new incentives to reduce defense costs

Divesting of legacy systems to make way for new technologies is expensive and at the heart of the Defense Department's budget debate. But could new incentives for contractors make a difference?

People

Pentagon readies new policy to boost cyber workforce amid recruitment challenges

The Defense Department is developing a new policy series aimed at improving the cyber workforce, but it has substantial work to do to recruit the talent needed in the future.

Modernization

Space Command moves for tighter cyber integration

U.S. Space Command is standing up a dedicated joint cyber center to improve integration with U.S. Cyber Command.

Digital Government

House Dems back bill to put guardrails around IGs

The proposal would limit the power of the president to remove inspectors general to for cause reasons and outline exactly who can serve as an acting IG.

Digital Government

Army kicks off first major test to thwart small drone attacks

The Army is putting its new counter small drone strategy to the test with its first demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground, focusing on how to limit damage when facing direct threats.

Cybersecurity

White House stands down groups tackling SolarWinds, Microsoft Exchange

The move comes days after the administration sanctioned Russia for its alleged role in the cyberattacks

Cybersecurity

USTRANSCOM prepares for third-party cyber compliance assessments

U.S. Transportation Command is preparing a proof of principle for a cyber compliance program in preparation for broad adoption of CMMC.

Digital Government

Pentagon officials debut innovation steering group

The new group is tasked with looking for areas in research and engineering that, if improved, would make the Defense Department better at adapting new technology.

Acquisition

IVAS and the future of defense acquisition

The Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System has been in the works for years, but the potentially multibillion deal could mark a paradigm shift in how the Defense Department buys and leverages technology.

People

Biden taps former Obama defense policy chief as Army secretary

The White House announced plans to nominate Christine Wormuth, the Pentagon’s former top policy official, to be the first woman as Army secretary.

Modernization

JAIC feels pressure to go faster as tight budgets loom

The Defense Department’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center believes AI-driven productivity gains could become "an economic necessity."

People

SecDef plans new screening, training to weed out extremism

The Defense Department has ordered several personnel policy changes to address extremism in the military, ranging from updating intake questionnaires for recruits to training to prepare service members for potential targeting by extremist groups.

Digital Government

Biden's $1.5 trillion 2022 budget plan tilts spending toward civilian agencies

The administration is adding money to multiple tech modernization programs and removing the Overseas Contingency Account from the Defense Department request and folding in warfighting funds into the base budget.

Modernization

DOD bets big on financial data to improve business performance

The Defense Department is betting that insights from its financial data will help improve its business operations, from optimizing the workforce to divesting of legacy systems.

Cybersecurity

CMMC announces new advisory council to collect industry feedback

The new organization will eventually produce regular public reports and address common industry concerns like the cost of implementation.

Cybersecurity

A renewed push for secure modernization

With the SolarWinds breach as a catalyst and new leadership across government, agencies are rethinking their roadmaps.

Cybersecurity

Space Force satellite communications contract gets nod for CMMC

A request for information for the Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network and Global Xpress contract was amended March 31 to include requirements for the CMMC pilot program.

People

Biden taps DIU head for top Pentagon acquisition post

President Joe Biden nominates three for senior defense posts, including Michael Brown, the head of Defense Innovation Unit.

People

DOD should update emergency response plans to accommodate telework, IG says

Each component should also update its plan "to include revised assumptions regarding telework for personnel and the resources required to support the teleworking workforce," the IG wrote in an April 1 report.