Business
Lessons of the VA Scandal
The VA needs a skilled executive much more than it needs a decorated soldier -- and 9 other takeaways from the recent scandal that rocked the department. By Norm Ornstein
Threats
Hagel Visits U.S. Warship in Black Sea at ‘Troubling Time’
Defense Secretary Hagel continues to flex American muscle at Russia, bringing the spotlight eastward to the USS Vella Gulf. By Kevin Baron
Policy
Obama Picks Dunford as Next Marine Corps Commandant
The question now is who will replace Gen. Joseph Dunford as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan to oversee the end of the war? By Ben Watson
Defense Systems
Army boosts bandwidth with new suitcase-sized satellite terminals
T2C2, now a program of record, takes portable battlefield communications from kilobits to megabits per second.
Threats
Number of Islamic Extremists Groups Up 60 Percent Since 2010
Terrorist groups based out of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen represent the most serious threat to the United States, according to a new RAND report. By Rachel Oswald
Policy
Justice Department Renews Focus on Domestic Terrorism
A committee that hasn’t met since 9/11 reconvenes to focus on domestic threats. By Kaveh Waddell
Business
How Pay Incentives Compounded VA's Problems
This is not the first time the Senior Executive Service pay and performance system has been the focus of criticism. By Howard Risher
Ideas
Inside the Air Force's Secret Drone Pilot Training Classroom
The technology of war is changing, but the fundamental conflict is the same. By Corey Mead
Threats
Dunford Expects Nearly 14,000 Troops in Post-War Afghanistan
Gen. Joseph Dunford says NATO nations will contribute 4,000 troops to join President Obama's post-war mission in Afghanistan. By Kevin Baron
Threats
Taliban Tells Bergdahl ‘Don’t Come Back to Afghanistan’
The Taliban released a dramatic video Wednesday showing Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl being handed over to U.S. special forces. By Stephanie Gaskell
Defense Systems
Russia to restrict military use of GPS stations in its territory
The retaliatory move comes in the wake of U.S. rejection of Russian GLONASS monitoring stations, but will have little effect on GPS users.
Defense Systems
Air Force switches contractors with $298M award for FAB-T satellite terminals
Raytheon snags contract from Boeing to provide terminals for “nuclear survivable” satcom.
Defense Systems
NSA accredits Lockheed Martin to help respond to cyberattacks
The agency’s National Security Cyber Assistance Program seeks to pre-approve vendors for cyber defense.
Policy
Congress Wants Answers on Bergdahl
After a closed-door briefing on the Hill, members of Congress have even more questions about the deal to exchange the American POW for five Taliban prisoners. By Molly O’Toole
Threats
Snowden: I Wasn’t a ‘Low-Level’ Employee at NSA
Edward Snowden tells a Portuguese television station that he ‘had more access than almost any other official in the intelligence community.’ By Marina Koren
Threats
Obama, Hagel, Kerry on NATO Defense Blitz
With a $1 billion sweetener, U.S. leaders hope Russia’s Ukraine invasion sparks other NATO countries to pony up. By Kevin Baron
Ideas
After Ukraine, Obama Keeps an Eye on the Baltics
The Obama administration is considering beefing up its military presence in Europe, perhaps going so far as granting a Baltic request for permanent NATO military bases. By Tara Sonenshine
Policy
Dempsey: Bergdahl Is 'Innocent Until Proven Guilty'
With some howling for Bergdahl’s head, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dempsey issues a statement to calm the mob. By Kevin Baron
Defense Systems
Cyber Grand Challenge offers millions for better cyber defense
Automated cyber defenses developed for DARPA’s competition could eventually compete against human hackers.
Defense Systems