Ideas
Once Again, Trump Fails to Press Putin on Electoral Interference
No one in government other than Trump denies the Russian attack. That makes his May 3 phone call even more surreal.
Threats
Pentagon Shifts Much Classroom Training to Another Federal Agency
The Office of Personnel Management will use the Defense Department learn how employees learn and where more training is needed.
Science & Tech
DIU Is Helping the US Army Field More Backpack-Sized Drones
The Pentagon’s internal startup accelerator wants to get consumer quadcopters in the hands of soldiers in a matter of months, not years.
Defense Systems
Defense software budget may get streamlined in 2020
Defense Department acquisition head, Ellen Lord, hopes to simplify software buying and improve business systems following the release of the Defense Innovation Board's final software acquisition study.
Defense Systems
Who's accountable for the $20B defense health IT overhaul?
Despite pressure from Congress, DOD and VA don't appear to be racing to name a single point of accountability to lead the electronic health records transformation at the two agencies.
Defense Systems
Air Force Lab wants wearables to monitor warfighter health
The Air Force Research Lab teamed with a biosensor startup to develop implanted sensors that would allow medical personnel to continuously monitor troops for indications of a potential illness.
Ideas
Trump Signs Executive Order to Boost Federal Cyber Workforce
Initiatives include cyber aptitude assessments for agency insiders and a President’s Cup cybersecurity competition.
Science & Tech
Fighter Jets with Missile-Killing Lasers Take Another Step Toward Reality
U.S. Air Force says a ground-based laser downed multiple test missiles over New Mexico.
Science & Tech
US Drones May Soon Run on Open-Source Software
The Defense Innovation Unit is exploring whether a popular commercial platform could help the military keep up with the rapidly advancing drone industry.
Ideas
Protecting Civilians Still Matters in Great-Power Conflict
It’s easy to see why counterinsurgency campaigns tread carefully around local bystanders. It’s no less important in larger-scale war.
Threats
Pentagon Warns Of China’s Rise in the Arctic, Missile Subs, Influence Operations
Annual "China Military Power" report notes that Beijing’s deterrence fleet is up to six ballistic missile subs.
Science & Tech
Instagram and Facebook Ban Far-Right Extremists
Alex Jones, Infowars, Milo Yiannopoulos, Paul Joseph Watson, Laura Loomer, Paul Nehlen, and Louis Farrakhan have all been removed from the platforms.
Ideas
Why Baghdadi Risked a Video Appearance
ISIS faces dangers as an organization that are more significant than the ones Baghdadi does as an individual.
Ideas
A US-Russia-China Arms Treaty? Extend New START First
Trump’s proposed pact is likely a pipe dream — or a smoke screen for scuttling yet another arms-control agreement.
Ideas
In the Global Power Era, Remember the Bin Laden Raid
The Defense Department must make choices, but we cannot become complacent about the fight against terrorism.
Ideas
How an Elaborate Plan to Topple Venezuela’s President Went Wrong
The United States thought all the pieces were in place for Maduro to leave. Then everything came crashing down.
Defense Systems