Breaking News Threats

Rocket Attack Hits US Base in Iraqi Kurdistan; Casualties Reported

Five Americans wounded, including one US troop, and one non-U.S. civilian killed in attack claimed by an Iran-linked militia group, as indirect fire hits airport compound and other sites in Erbil.

Ideas

Confederate Military Base Names Just Met Their Gettysburg

A Black admiral, a gruff Marine, a never-Trumper, and the maker of a viral video slamming Confederate sympathizers? Say goodbye to “Fort Bragg” and the rest.

Ideas

The Pentagon Needs Budget Agility to Compete with China

It can take two or more years to shift funding from a failing program. That’s more than a money problem.

Policy

Only a Tiny Fraction of Sexual Assaults Against DoD Civilians Are Being Documented, GAO Says

Over a recent half-decade, DoD recorded 357 cases of sexual assaults that involved civilian employees. But a survey of employees indicated that thousands may have occurred.

Science & Tech

AI-Powered Tools for Commanders Are a Top Priority for ‘Connect-Everything’ Effort

DoD’s artificial-intelligence efforts are moving beyond just helping analysts spot things in video.

Defense Systems

Biden taps former NSA cyber director to lead SolarWinds response

The lawmakers had sent a letter to the White House earlier this week urging President Joe Biden to select one official to oversee the federal government’s response to the breach.

Threats

New Supercomputers Turbocharge Military Weather Forecasting

Housed at Oak Ridge National Lab, the new forecasting tool is more than six times faster than its predecessor.

Policy

Biden: ‘I Will Never Politicize’ US Troops

Biden also announced a new Pentagon-led review of military strategy towards China.

Ideas

We Must Reorient US Cyber Strategy Around the Only Safe Assumption

We should assume adversaries are already in our networks — and Congress should take these five steps to mitigate the damage.

Defense Systems

Space Force begins onboarding cyber specialists

The U.S. Space Force has begun transferring more than a thousand cyber professionals into its ranks as of Feb. 1 with plans to start recruiting talent for multiple career fields from across the military branches this year.

Defense Systems

Lawmakers demand accountability for 'disjointed' SolarWinds response

The two leaders of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence say the government's response to the hack so far has been "disjointed and disorganized."

Defense Systems

NIST posts enhanced requirements for protecting CUI

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has published requirements that can help organizations protect controlled unclassified information against nation-state backed threats.

Defense Systems

New risks threaten defense industry's cybersecurity, report claims

Newly reported cybersecurity vulnerabilities inched past 17,000 in 2020, signaling worsening security in the defense industrial base, according to a National Defense Industry Association report.

Defense Systems

HASC adds cybersecurity subcommittee

Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) will chair a new subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee focused on cybersecurity, emerging tech and information systems.