Defense Systems

Lawmakers pull cybersecurity provisions from defense bill

Unsuccessful attempts to mandate federal IT security could open the door to potentially serious risks if cybersecurity legislation isn't revisited in 2011, some officials say.

Defense Systems

House passes lean defense authorization bill

A bill that aroused controversy throughout the year makes it through the House in a weakened form but senators say they expect to pass it as well.

Defense Systems

Issa, Cummings will lead House oversight committee

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has a wide jurisdiction to track how programs are running and propose ways to fix problems.

Defense Systems

McKeon, Smith to lead House Armed Services Committee

The panel's leadership will change as Republicans take control of the House in the upcoming Congress.

Defense Systems

NASA chooses Keegan as associate deputy administrator

NASA named Richard Keegan as the agency's associate deputy administrator on Dec. 16. He replaces Charles Scales, who has held the position since April 2007. Scales is retiring.

Defense Systems

Marines award task order for IT infastructure support

Jacobs Technology Inc. will provide technical and sustainment support to the Marine Corps under a one-year task order worth $10 million.

Defense Systems

Army HQ flooded with requests for more drones

Requests from Army units in Afghanistan for unmanned aircraft systems are at an all-time high, and in response, officials are hammering out a set of principles for how the systems will be acquired and fielded, reports Kate Brannen at Defense News.

Defense Systems

Counterfeit hardware poses security risk

Counterfeit computer hardware poses a significant security risk to private corporations and the military.

Defense Systems

DOD launches IT personnel exchange pilot

The Defense Department will start a pilot program to allow federal IT employees to get a temporary glimpse of private sector work.

Defense Systems

Air Force slowly phases out predator drone

Beginning in February 2011, the Air Force will accept its last Predator delivery as it moves to the faster Reaper drone over time.

Defense Systems

Air Force blocks sites that provide WikiLeaks information

The Air Force blocks its personnel from accessing media sites publishing WikiLeaks material.

Defense Systems

Air Force software tools promote interoperability

The Vocabulary OneSource Toolset allows DOD and allied users to analyze and work out networking glitches.

Defense Systems

Navy unexpectedly cancels CIO blog

The Navy CIO blog has been stopped, and archived posts are no longer available on the site.

Defense Systems

DOD blacklist authority could go too far, say small-biz advocates

Small-business groups say the 2011 Defense Authorization bill would allow DOD officials to secretly blacklist contractors and bar them from doing any business with the federal government.

Defense Systems

Treasury announces senior tech hires

Tim Duncan and David Forrest will be the senior technology leaders for the implementation team at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Defense Systems

Air Force buys tracking system for pilots of remote aircraft

Air Force operators of remotely piloted aircraft are getting a new set of software tools with which to track data and communicate with the military units they support.

Defense Systems

PlayStations power Air Force's green supercomputer

Cluster made of Sony PlayStation consoles gives Air Force green supercomputing on the cheap.

Defense Systems

Army PEO EIS gets new senior leader

Army Program Executive Office gets a new senior leader, promoted up through the ranks.

Defense Systems

DISA moves to eliminate contract redundancies

DISA's strategy for 2011 includes eliminating redundant efforts and putting more emphasis on competition.

Defense Systems

Army hires contractor to help with counter-IED effort

The Army has awarded a new contract to CACI-WGI to furnish various support services to the military organization responsible for developing tactics and tools to combat improvised explosive devices.