Author Archive
Lauren C. Williams
Senior Editor
Lauren C. Williams is senior editor for Defense One. She previously covered defense technology and cybersecurity for FCW and Defense Systems. Before then, Williams has reported on several issues, including internet culture, national security, health care, politics and crime for various publications. She has a master's in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park and a bachelor's in dietetics from the University of Delaware. She can be contacted at lwilliams@govexec.com or follow her on Twitter @lalaurenista.
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Defense Systems
Made in the USA: Defense companies tense as Congress pressures them to buy domestic
A draft version of the 2025 defense authorization act has several provisions targeting China-made critical materials.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
The Air Force needs more in-house coders
Andrew Hunter, the service’s lead buyer, said adding experts on staff would make the government a better software customer.
- Lauren C. Williams
Threats
The D Brief: Russia pressures Kharkiv; Zelenskyy postpones travel; Putin to visit China; Army’s FPV drone plan; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
Why DOD’s network agency is SATCOM-curious
The Defense Information Systems Agency is experimenting with multiple satellite communications providers as it works to make the network more resilient.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
The Pentagon’s brewing a build-a-cloud program for defense agencies
The young platform, dubbed Olympus, is designed for self-service commercial cloud needs.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
There’s ‘still more work to be done’ for DOD on AI
The Pentagon has started to use the technology, but challenges lie ahead.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
The Navy is embedding info-warfare chiefs in recruiting commands
It’s part of a new initiative to attract and retain young tech talent.
- Lauren C. Williams
Science & Tech
Will Australia’s giant quantum project bring militaries’ fears to life?
A $620 million contract aims to make a computer powerful enough to break codes by 2027.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
Air Force adds two EW squadrons
The new squadrons will focus on software capabilities and defending against spoofed signals.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
The Army is trying to identify all the obstacles to adopting AI in 100 days
Launched in March, the effort is looking at poisoned datasets, adversarial attacks, Trojans, and more.
- Lauren C. Williams
Threats
Mideast missile duels have cost US Navy nearly $1B, secretary says
Carlos Del Toro is asking lawmakers to make it up in a supplemental.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
Space Force outlines vision for hybrid military-commercial-allied mission architectures
New strategy offers guidance on what the USSF wants to buy, but not how much it plans to spend.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
Drones, maps, and storm-tracking in the Pacific
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working with partner nations in the Indo-Pacific to map the region as part of the Biden administration’s push for security.
- Lauren C. Williams
Science & Tech
The Army’s relationship with Austin hits new stride—and snags
Amid the protests that met Pentagon officials at the SXSW mega-conference, there were signs of new interest from the tech industry.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
The Navy wants to make info-warfare training ubiquitous
The plan is to open three new training centers and integrate nearly two dozen systems into the live, virtual, constructive training environment.
- Lauren C. Williams
Business
Pentagon will use commercial space assets in military operations, under new plan
The unclassified document aims “to be transparent” about what the military needs and how private companies fit in.
- Lauren C. Williams
Defense Systems
The Pentagon wants to help boost cybersecurity for small contractors
A new strategy outlines how the Defense Department plans to increase security and strengthen relationships across the industrial base.
- Lauren C. Williams
Business
Defense officials tease new commercial space strategies
The documents would detail how the Pentagon and Space Force want to use private space companies for military missions.
- Lauren C. Williams
Science & Tech
Meet the Army’s tech incubator
Army Applications Lab turns five this year—and boasts that the startups it has worked with raised nearly $1 billion in funding.
- Lauren C. Williams