Acquisition

Will DOD's new cyber rules crush small business?

Two contract attorneys tell FCW that the DOD's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework could have a negative impact on small business and startups.

Digital Government

DOD pushes back on open source

The Government Accountability Office wants the Department of Defense to implement governmentwide open source software requirements, but the Pentagon's top tech official has other plans.

Modernization

Esper still mulling JEDI strategy

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he's examining the strategy and execution of the DOD's planned $10 billion cloud buy and doesn't have a deadline to complete his review.

Cybersecurity

NSA: Just say no to hacking back

The National Security Agency's chief counsel said organizations that suspect a cyberattack should call Homeland Security or the FBI instead.

Acquisition

DOD releases unified cybersecurity standard for contractors

The Defense Department's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework is ready for public comment.

Modernization

The Pentagon is looking for an AI ethicist

The Pentagon’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center chief is looking bring a new perspective to the military's embrace of advanced algorithms.

Digital Government

How the Army is advancing facial recognition technology

The Army's C5ISR Center has been operating a facial recognition system that uses a mix of web-based biometrics tools to help identify suspicious actors for Central Command.

People

Esper announces Fourth Estate review

In a rare press conference, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said a “defense-wide review process” has begun to evaluate the Fourth Estate agency resources.

Cybersecurity

National Guard looks to help states help with ransomware response

The National Guard is contemplating an expansion of its cybersecurity vulnerability assessment pilot following recent ransomware attacks in Texas and Louisiana.

Acquisition

DOD looks to expand drone industrial base amid supply chain concerns

Ellen Lord, DOD’s undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, told reporters that it couldn’t use commercially available and popular drones made by DJI, a China-based firm.

Acquisition

Lawmaker sounds alarm on supply chain risk

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) wants the Defense Department to shore up cyber vulnerabilities in the defense supply chain and says the newly formed Cyberspace Solarium Commission could help.

Modernization

IC looks to stand up a new enterprise IT program office

The intelligence community wants to stand up a new program executive office to help develop new IT capabilities.

Digital Government

Army faces familiar workforce woes in cyber, electronic warfare units

The Government Accountability Office warned the Army's rapid integration of cyber and electronic warfare force components poses staffing and training concerns.

Modernization

How DOD will survive its next audit

The Defense Department's chief financial experts explained how the second audit will leverage the benefits of the first.

Modernization

Pentagon sets up new 5G shop

DOD Undersecretary for Research and Engineering Michael Griffin said the department is in the midst of adding assistant directors to lead the "strategic shaping" of 5G research and development.

Digital Government

Researchers use AI in hunt for improved battery life

Army-funded researchers are tapping artificial intelligence to explore combinations of materials that could be used to improve energy storage.

Acquisition

DOD tries to take control of the JEDI 'narrative'

The Defense Department's CIO shop is trying to control the narrative on the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure procurement, a massive cloud computing acquisition that has generated intense scrutiny because of its size, scope and a hard fought lawsuit from one of the companies eliminated from the bidding.

Cybersecurity

USAF pays out $123K in 3-month bug bounty contest

The Air Force found 54 vulnerabilities following its first assessment focusing on continuous monitoring of the cloud-based Common Computing Environment.

Cybersecurity

Small business cuts coming amid NBIB merger

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, which is absorbing National Background Investigations Bureau expects to combine contracting offices and staff, while shrinking small business goals.

Modernization

$10B JEDI cloud contract on hold for SecDef review

Newly appointed Defense Secretary Mark Esper said via spokesperson that "no award will be made on the program" until he's reviewed it.