Modernization

Breaking down the Army's new network plan

The Army wants to be able to freely send data back and forth from its legacy and business systems to the tactical edge. Key to doing that is its strategy to unify tactical and enterprise networks and creating a common "data fabric." But will it work?

Modernization

Army CIO sets out to revamp IT policy

Army CIO Raj Iyer wants to overhaul IT policy so it doesn't stand in the way of the services' goal to become more technologically agile.

Modernization

One Army corps sees data education as the foundation of AI-enabled targeting

Expanding data education has proven to be foundational and a defining metric as the Army tests artificial intelligence to improve weapons targeting for the 18th Airborne Corps.

Acquisition

DOD could get new software, sustainment tech oversight positions

Heidi Shyu , undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, wants to add new oversight roles for software and sustainment efforts.

Acquisition

IT spend expected to trend up, acting DOD CIO says

Rising IT and cyber budgets may lay ahead as the Defense Department moves forward with implementing zero trust architecture and begins relying more on artificial intelligence.

People

DOD personnel now subject to 'continuous vetting'

Defense and military personnel are now a part of an automated "continuous vetting" program that will flag concerning behavior or circumstances as part of the security clearance process.

Acquisition

Nominee to lead USAF acquisition names software, IT as top priorities

Improving how the service acquires software and IT systems, while making DevSecOps the norm ranks among the top priorities for Andrew Hunter, the White House nominee to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics.

Cybersecurity

Tough conversations on ransomware ahead

The U.S. government, will have to start regularly having hard conversations "country to country" on state-sponsored cyberattacks, according to a top Defense Department official.

Modernization

DISA reorganizes cloud office

The Defense Information Systems Agency has reorganized its cloud offices, combining the Cloud Computing Program Office with DISA's hosting services directorate and ecosystem.

Cybersecurity

CISA chief: Cyber incident reporting can't become a burden

Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, stressed the importance of cyber incident reporting but said mandates should be careful of potentially overburdening companies -- and CISA -- with "reporting noise."

Cybersecurity

Coast Guard looks to direct commissioning for cyber personnel

The maritime military branch opened up its direct commissioning program to cyber roles in cyberspace operations, cybersecurity, information assurance and cyber threat intelligence.

Modernization

Keeping up with software cadence at the Air Force Test Center

Maj. Gen. Evan Dertien, commander of the Air Force Test Center, said the organization wants rapid software update capabilities for the USAF fleet, but that approach won't work in every use case.

Digital Government

House passes 2022 defense policy bill

The House passed its version of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act with a $24 billion topline spending increase over the Biden administration's budget proposal, potentially eliminating a major hurdle once the bill heads into conference with the Senate.

Modernization

How the Air Force is tackling electronic warfare challenges

The Air Force is on high alert when it comes to electromagnetic spectrum threats. But extensive system updates pose a risk.

Cybersecurity

Air Force secretary mulls space acquisitions nominees

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said candidate interviews are underway for the space acquisition system secretary position and he expects to make a recommendation to the defense secretary and White House soon.

People

Telework is the new normal for Air Force Materiel Command

Air Force Materiel Command is preparing to have half of its headquarters personnel working remotely at least some of the time, Commander Gen. Arnold Bunch said.

Cybersecurity

Zero trust, EMS top Air Force cyber priorities

Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, the commander of the 16th Air Force, said implementing zero trust principles was "foundational" to improve data use and mitigate vulnerabilities from the defense industry supply chain.

Cybersecurity

White House nominates John Sherman for DOD CIO

John Sherman was named DOD's principal deputy CIO in 2020 and has been acting in the CIO role since January.

Cybersecurity

Inglis: First rule of cyber education is budget accountability

The newly appointed cyber director has been setting priorities and carving out turf for his office to cover. With that will likely come some scrutiny of how the government spends resources on cyber.

Acquisition

How the Pentagon copes with funding hiccups

The Government Accountability Office examines some of the Defense Department's tactics to lessen the effects of inconsistent funding during continuing resolutions.