Defense Systems

House panel advances FY2021 DOD spending bill

The House Appropriations Committee passed its 2021 defense spending bill along party lines, 30-22, including funding for COVID-19 procurement and support for cyber workforce recruitment.

Defense Systems

How DOD's executive exodus could affect tech modernization

Back-to-back resignations raise concerns about how things will be run without permanent leadership in key areas from policy to tech development.

Defense Systems

DIU issues $13 million in drone contracts to fight COVID

The Defense Department's innovation arm has fast-tracked $13.4 million in small-drone contracts under the Defense Production Act.

Defense Systems

White House CTO to take over DOD's top research role

Defense Secretary Mark Esper names U.S. CTO Michael Kratsios to be acting undersecretary of defense for research and engineering after Michael Griffin's resignation from that post took effect July 10.

Defense Systems

Deadline looms for contractors to ditch banned Chinese equipment

A broad federal prohibition on contractors that use gear from a host of Chinese tech makers goes into effect in mid-August.

Defense Systems

DOD CMO boasts $11B in savings as Congress moves to cut position

The Defense Department has saved $11 billion in the past two years thanks to reform efforts, said Lisa Hershman, DOD's chief management officer.

Defense Systems

Navy, Marines look to boost virtual ‘sailorization’ for recruits

Wwhile recruits are under restricted movement orders to reduce the spread of COVID-19 , the Navy and Marine Corps are using a distributed learning environment where lessons to recruits are pushed to wireless devices.

Defense Systems

JADC2 tops Pentagon’s artificial intelligence efforts

The Pentagon’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center is focused on overlaying AI tools on the military’s mega information-sharing platform effort, called Joint All Domain Command and Control.

Defense Systems

Defense contractors mount pressure for more pandemic stimulus funds

Major defense company executives are pushing the White House and Pentagon for additional financial relief due to increased costs caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Defense Systems

Securing the federal supply chain

Because supply chains are already compromised, agencies must also implement stringent controls ranging from network segmentation to analytics and threat intelligence.

Defense Systems

VA secretary touts department's telework, telehealth efforts

Secretary Robert Wilkie also discussed the electronic health care records rollout and VA's need to pay more for certain essential hires.

Defense Systems

Perspecta takes NGEN protest to court

Perspecta is going to the judicial arena in the company's fight for at least another opportunity to try and keep its large NGEN network services contract with the Navy.

Defense Systems

Marines connect smart base infrastructure

The smart base testbed will leverage Marine Corps Air Station Miramar’s investments in both autonomous vehicles testing and microgrid technology.

Defense Systems

New vulnerability could impact global enterprise networks

A particularly dangerous vulnerability has been uncovered in F5’s BIG-IP networking devices produced by F5, impacting enterprise networks across the globe.

Defense Systems

Lawmakers call on Army to coordinate small-drone defenses

A bipartisan amendment would charge the Army with coordinating defenses against small drones across the Defense Department.

Defense Systems

DOD may closely track researchers thanks to NDAA provision

A provision added to the House version of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act raised privacy concerns, but security considerations won out.

Defense Systems

Labor protections, spectrum rules make the grade in House NDAA

The House Armed Services Committee unanimously passed its version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act; tech provisions include spectrum sharing restrictions targeting Ligado 5G networks and new artificial intelligence initiatives.

Defense Systems

House panel advances measure to eliminate CMO

The Defense Department's number three job would be eliminated thanks to a late-add amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

Defense Systems

NSA to release VPN security advisory amid telework boom

Organizations that spent the past decade hardening their corporate networks must now contend with their workforce signing in from insecure, unmanaged personal devices at home.

Defense Systems

Congress weighs fate of DOD's chief management officer

The Defense Department's chief management office is, again, fending off political pressure to eliminate it.