Policy

SecDef Teases New Deterrence Strategy, Vows Billions More for AI

In pursuit of "integrated deterrence," Lloyd Austin committed $1.5 billion over five years to the Pentagon’s artificial intelligence hub.

Business

Pentagon Cancels JEDI Cloud Contract

The Defense Department will opt for a new multibillion-dollar, multi-vendor contract.

Threats

Digital Authoritarianism is a National Security Threat, Pentagon Cyber Leader Says

The U.S. must fund the development of technology that can compete with the offerings of authoritarian countries, said Mieke Eoyang, deputy assistant defense secretary for cyber policy.

Policy

Defense Digital Service Director Violated Policy by Using Signal App, IG Says

Evidence suggests outgoing DDS Director Brett Goldstein also encouraged subordinates to use the encrypted messaging app.

Science & Tech

JEDI Cloud Update Coming Soon, Says Pentagon's No. 2

Kathleen Hicks said the department is assessing just how it will buy large-scale cloud services.

Policy

DoD Outlines Tenets of Responsible Artificial Intelligence

A memo from the deputy defense secretary also orders the JAIC director to build a strategy around those tenets.

Policy

If the Pentagon Drops JEDI, Then What?

DOD says the contract’s enterprise capabilities are still needed. But there are new cloud technologies that could fill the bill.

Threats

Innovation, Software Highlighted as Priorities by Pentagon's No. 2 Civilian

Kathleen Hicks also suggested DOD still needs the cloud capabilities JEDI is supposed to provide.

Policy

JADC2 Strategy Nearing Completion, Official Says

Lt. Gen. Dennis Crall said the strategy has been briefed to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the deputy secretary of defense.

Policy

DOD Workers Want to Keep Teleworking, Despite Early Hiccups, Survey Finds

The DoD Inspector General surveyed more than 56,000 employees about telework during the pandemic.

Threats

DoD to Spend a Quarter-Billion Dollars Reorganizing Its Data for AI

JAIC leaders have called the lack of "data readiness" the biggest impediment to fielding artificial-intelligence tools.

Science & Tech

DARPA Aims to Boost US Manufacturing of Certain Chips

Better processes for converting general-purpose chips to specialized ones would pay big dividends, agency says.

Science & Tech

DARPA Seeks Chips that Can Crunch Data Without Decrypting It

Current methods of doing "fully homomorphic encryption" require too much computing power to be used widely.

Science & Tech

DARPA to Hire Biz Execs to Help Its Researchers Take Tech to Market

In a cooperative effort with In-Q-Tel, 150 research teams will get funds to help develop go-to-market strategies.

Threats

Defense Innovation Unit Launched 23 Projects Last Year, Up One-Third

The group also sent 11 capabilities to Defense Department partners, according to its annual report.

Policy

US Unprepared for AI Competition with China, Commission Finds

Retaining the current dwindling edge will take White House leadership and a substantial investment, according to the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

Policy

Should the Pentagon Reform Its Bid-Protest Rules?

Microsoft's president told senators yes, but bid protests hit a 10-year low last year.

Threats

Defense Sector's Health Gets a 'C' From Industry Group

An NDIA-Govini report says increases in cyber vulnerabilities hurt the industry in 2020.

Policy

Trump Restricted Drone Imports In Final White House Days

The executive order encourages federal agencies to divest from unmanned aerial systems manufactured by China, Russia and Iran.