Business
Civilians Are Cheaper Than Contractors for Most Defense Jobs, Internal Report Finds
Contractors are particularly more expensive in the capital and Southeastern regions, according to a report obtained exclusively by Government Executive.
Ideas
Don’t Be Surprised the Next Time Trump Ends a US Mission
No one knows why the president pulled the plug on Syria now, but NATO and South Korea should be worried.
Ideas
Trump Just Screwed Up the One Thing He Did Better Than Obama
His capricious decision to withdraw troops from Syria will create havoc.
Defense Systems
DISA awards $323M processing contract
Hewlett Packard Enterprise wins a $323.9 million processor capacity services contract with DISA.
Threats
ISIS Is Not Defeated. Pulling US Troops From Syria Would Jeopardize Everything
I just returned from my fifth trip to Northeast Syria in 18 months. If the US quits now, there are four winners: ISIS, Assad, Russia, and Iran.
Threats
Russia Claims To Be On Track to Deploy a Maneuverable ICBM Next Year
Observers say that’s unlikely.
Policy
Trump’s Space Force Request Is Coming — But Final Form Remains Hazy
Will his proposed space organization more resemble the Air Force or the Marines? Pence didn’t say.
Ideas
Want NATO Allies to Boost Defense Spending? Don’t Build Fort Trump
Basing an American division in Poland will reduce allies’ incentive to build up their own forces.
Policy
The Biggest Difference Between Inhofe and Smith? How Much Danger They Think the US Faces
The incoming SASC chair says “we live in the most dangerous world of my lifetime.” His HASC counterpart calls that “simple paranoia.”
Science & Tech
US Army Narrows Search For Light Tank to Two Companies
General Dynamics and BAE Systems will each build 12 prototypes of an up-to-40-ton armored vehicle.
Science & Tech
Inspectors Find Big Cyber Vulnerabilities in US Missile Defense System
The managers of the nation’s missile defense system aren’t implementing basic cybersecurity practices, according to a new inspector report.
Ideas
Pentagon Needs Better System to Track Fraudulent Spending
The incoming Congress should tie defense budgets to accounting improvements.
Ideas
The World in 2019: Trump’s Luck, Cold Wars, and Trouble in the Americas
As foreign-policy experts assess what the year ahead holds, one issue comes to the fore: whether President Trump’s good fortune will continue.
Ideas
Russia Is the Biggest Backer of Cybercrime. The US Must Get Serious About Deterrence
Convincing Putin that further attacks will trigger automatic, severe responses is the best way to start.
Ideas
The Divide Between Silicon Valley and Washington Is a National-Security Threat
Closing the gap between technology leaders and policy makers will require a radically different approach from the defense establishment.
Defense Systems
The 2019 Federal 100: Nominate today!
Help FCW find the individuals having the biggest impact in defense IT.
Defense Systems