Science & Tech
Microsoft Stands By Its $480 Million Pentagon Contract
The company reaffirmed its commitment to provide the Army with augmented reality headsets despite resistance from employees.
Threats
Pentagon Wins a Reprieve with Trump Approval of ‘Residual’ Forces in Syria
General Dunford is “confident” U.S. allies will now agree to stay, but for how long remains undetermined.
Policy
AFRICOM Adds Logistics Hub in West Africa, Hinting at an Enduring US Presence
From Ghana’s capital, a new supply network will ferry supplies and arms to special forces troops across the region.
Science & Tech
Judge Puts Hold on Lawsuit on Pentagon’s JEDI Cloud Contract
The battle over the Pentagon’s Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract just got more interesting.
Policy
Trump Officially Directs Pentagon to Create Space Force, Within Air Force
If Congress approves, Space Force would exist like the Marine Corps within the Navy Department.
Science & Tech
DARPA Thinks AI Could Help Troops Telepathically Control Machines
The Pentagon is looking to build artificial intelligence into neural interfaces to let humans control machines with their thoughts.
Policy
The US Air Force Has Won Control of the Space Force
Six months ago, service leaders said they were being cut out of the planning process. Now they’re being put in charge of it.
Science & Tech
DARPA Is Trying Bioelectric Implants to Help Heal Wounds
One of the Pentagon’s new research programs could see biosensors, actuators and even artificial intelligence implanted in soldiers to speed up the body’s healing processes.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Pushes for Speed in Cloud Strategy
The Defense Department expects multiple providers to support the different kinds of clouds of its missions.
Threats
Lawmakers Tell Pentagon: Revise and Resubmit Your Climate-Change Report
The most recent one didn’t even meet the legal requirements contained in the 2018 defense authorization act.
Policy
Top General in Middle East Says He Wasn’t Consulted on Syria Withdrawal
U.S. Central Command commander Gen. Joseph Votel provided the first public confirmation that the Pentagon was caught by surprise by Trump’s December tweet.
Science & Tech
The Teams Who Test US Cyber Defenses Aren’t Being Tough Enough: Pentagon Report
Overworked trainers and penetration testers can’t properly simulate the worst real-world threats, leaving operators “overconfident.”
Ideas
The Jury Is Still Out on the Pentagon’s Audit
The real failure will happen if lawmakers and defense officials don’t implement its lessons.
Policy
Recruiting, Faster Tech Acquisition Are Vital to Maritime Superiority: CNO
Delays in getting new technology to the fleet is the U.S. Navy’s Achilles heel, says its top officer.
Policy
Acting SecDef: I Haven’t Told the Pentagon to Prep for Afghanistan Withdrawal
In his first remarks to media as defense chief, Pat Shanahan says U.S. leaders are keeping their eyes on peace talks.
Ideas
What to Ask Defense Leaders About the Border Deployment
On Tuesday, a Trump administration official will make his first appearance before a House Armed Services Committee led by Democrats.
Ideas
An Admiral Slammed the Shutdown. Can He Do That?
The Coast Guard commandant's viral video reminds us that senior military officers can speak out, carefully — and probably should do so more often.
Ideas
Don’t Play Mob Ball: What Acquisition Pros Can Learn from Kids Soccer
PEOs tend to grab onto a hot new contract approach like elementary schoolers chasing a ball.
Threats
Missile Defense Review Calls for Protecting US From Cruise Missiles
The long-awaited report calls for technology development, but stops short of calling for the deployment of hypersonic interceptors and space-based lasers.
Ideas