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

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

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.

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

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.

Cybersecurity

Mandatory review of DOD's compliance on CMMC is delayed

The Defense Department was supposed to submit a review to Congress by March 1 assessing whether components complied with the guidelines of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. That deadline has been pushed to June.

Acquisition

Could 2022 see the end of OCO?

As the Biden administration prepares to deliver its first budget, the question arises of whether there's enough political clout to end the controversial overseas contingency operations account.

Cybersecurity

First set of CMMC certification orgs emerge

The Defense Department's unified cybersecurity program is making gains with its first tranche of certifying bodies, but assessments for defense contractors are a ways off.

Modernization

JADC2 needs to be Pentagon's 'big bet,' Flournoy says

Michèle Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy, said Joint All Domain Command and Control "needs to be one of the big bets that the Pentagon places" if it wants to be prepared for the future of warfare.

Cybersecurity

CMMC body hires ex-CISA deputy as first CEO

The governing body in charge of implementing the Defense Department's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program has hired Matthew Travis, former CISA deputy director, as new CEO.