Quick Hits

*** Defense Secretary Mark Esper teed up coming changes to defense acquisition policy and practices at a Dec. 13 appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations. In response to a question about the pace of technological change and how it relates to procurement, Esper discussed efforts he helped launch in the Army to accelerate adoption of hypersonics, robotics, artificial intelligence, unmanned vehicles and weapons and more.

"We're very risk adverse in terms of how we design, build and procure equipment. We've got to clean up all those processes. And, in fact, we're going to have a major rewrite of our DOD regulations coming out here pretty soon on that piece," Esper said.

*** The Defense Digital Service is looking to improve the way it recruits and hires term employees for stints in the Defense Department's internal geek squad. DDS is looking to industry for a hiring platform that helps "create a candidate experience that reflects the dynamic, technical, and innovative environment in which we work."

*** The General Services Administration is looking to its user base for advice on how to make FedRAMP instructions more clear and usable.