Threats
US, UK Officials Call for Russia to Stop Hacking COVID-19 Researchers
“It is completely unacceptable that the Russian Intelligence Services are targeting those working to combat the coronavirus pandemic,” a British official said.
Policy
Ban by Omission: US Military Leaves Confederate Flag Off Approved List
Esper’s order seems designed to bar the flag from display without provoking the president.
Ideas
Congress Needs a Veto, Not a Notification, on Arms Sales
The Trump administration’s efforts to evade oversight show why more is needed.
Science & Tech
Russia’s Attempted Vaccine Hack Suggests Research — and Putin’s Grand Plan — Has Stalled
The Kremlin’s cyber attack on the UK, U.S., and Canada suggests their coronavirus vaccine — and a key Putin promise — is far from reality.
Science & Tech
Wednesday’s Hack Shows that The Whole World Is in Your Twitter DMs
We treat direct messages on Twitter as private conversations. Last night’s hack shows that isn’t the case.
Ideas
Happy Birthday to the Bomb
If we want to avoid nuclear destruction for the next 75 years, we must take the president’s finger off the button.
Science & Tech
Build Allies Into Tomorrow’s Battlefield Network, Army Leaders Say
The service is trying to build a communications network that’s big enough to include coalition partners but small enough to fit on a truck and drive off to war.
Defense Systems
NDAA gets new wave of Solarium cyber amendments
Much of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's agenda is being pushed into this year's defense authorization process, including its crown jewel idea of a national cyber director.
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.
Science & Tech