Policy

Carter: Wider US-Vietnam Military Relations Not ‘Directed’ at China

Lifting the arms embargo continues years of Obama’s efforts to link American and Vietnamese militaries, the defense secretary said, as president visits country.

Ideas

A New Front In Obama's War on Whistleblowers

Fired Pentagon assistant inspector general John Crane is going public with allegations senior officials retaliated against whistleblowers, destroyed permanent records and altered audits under political pressure.

Ideas

The Military Isn't Fully Tracking Sexual Assault Reports

Watchdog says DOD has yet to comply with a new law to tally discharged troops who had reported being assaulted.

Business

As Threat of Russian Missiles Rise, NORAD Looks to the Future

No longer a Cold War leftover, NORAD and its new leaders will have their work cut out for them.

Threats

Pentagon To Harden US Military Bases Against ISIS Attacks

Defense Secretary promises three-year, $180 million force-protection effort, following threats in Chattanooga and elsewhere.

Ideas

The DIUx Is Dead. Long Live The DIUx

By taking early corrective action, Ash Carter is upending the typical Washington playbook of prolonging failure.

Science & Tech

Pentagon Shakes Up Silicon Valley Outreach

Defense Secretary Ash Carter gives DIUx new leaders, a new office, and a promotion.

Science & Tech

NATO and the Pentagon Want to Get Their Hands on the Technology Behind Bitcoin

Blockchain technology promises secure, tamper-proof, and even faster communications and data transfer.

Policy

Trump May Be the US Military’s Least-Liked GOP Presidential Candidate In Over a Decade

Mitt Romney, John McCain, and George W. Bush all polled higher, according to Military Times surveys.

Business

GPS Upgrades Are Late and Over Budget. Here's Why We Should Stay the Course

There's no better alternative to the GPS III and OCX programs, which thankfully appear to be on track at last.

Ideas

Why Is the US Military Short-Staffing Its Sickest Children?

The military health-care system serves 2 million children with just a handful of full-time pediatric social workers. In the civilian world, this kind of staffing is 'unimaginable.'

Ideas

The Pentagon's Intel Chief Already Has Some Advice for the Next US President

'The integration of intelligence of the past 15 years is a journey that is not finished,' said Marcel Lettre, undersecretary of Defense for intelligence.

Ideas

Forget Technology. The Real Military Edge Comes From Promoting Smart People

A military culture that values people – and their intellectual development — will drive the innovation needed to win our wars.

Ideas

The US Needs More Weapons That Can Be Quickly and Easily Modified

The U.S. military will lose its technological edge unless it figures out how to foster adaptable systems. Here's one idea.

Ideas

Three Ways to Judge the Pentagon’s Tech-Sector Outreach

Hint: it’s not about how many zeroes are on the first checks.

Science & Tech

The Problem with the Pentagon's Hypersonic Missile

Military officials say their superfast weapons of the future won’t carry nuclear warheads. But will other nuclear nations believe it when the missiles start flying?

Ideas

Harvard’s Love-Hate Relationship with the US Military

The gap between America’s elite educational institutions and its military remains wide. Harvard faces a moral imperative to help close it.

Business

Carter Seeks New Powers for Joint Chiefs, Top Commanders in War on Terrorism

Obama’s defense secretary unveils his Goldwater-Nichols reform plan, and the most sweeping changes to the military's top command in a generation.

Business

Giddy Among Fellow Nerds, Carter Pitches Pentagon Work to Techies

The defense secretary takes his outreach tour to robotics labs and startup centers in Austin and Boston.

Business

Carter Watches PBS on Fridays, and Other Bombshells from His Email

SecDef's redacted private messages reveal — gasp! — Washington insiders asking about jobs for friends and challenge coins for their kids.