Modernization

FCS cancellation confirmed, Army modernization changes course

A memorandum issued June 23 confirms the recommendations made earlier this year by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to replace the single, giant Future Combat System with a number of smaller modernization efforts.

Cybersecurity

DOD creates Cyber Command as U.S. Strategic Command subunit

The director of NSA will lead the U.S. Cyber Command, which will be a subunit of the U.S. Strategic Command and will reach initial operating capacity in October.

Modernization

Pentagon needs to take closer look at social networking, Gates says

The Defense Department wants to be linked in to the world, but must be wary of compromising operational security.

Cybersecurity

DOD: Be wary of social media's 'loose lips'

Two Defense Intelligence Agency experts explain how adversaries can use social-networking tools to gather information on targets.

Cybersecurity

DOD's cyber command takes shape

Defense Department officials are ironing out the details of a new major military command in charge of DOD’s cyber mission. However, they have not made a formal announcement that spells out the new command's scope.

Modernization

Army allows social media — warily

Security risks keep sites under suspicion.

Acquisition

GSA looks to corral former customers

Audit results suggest that bad contracting practices might be a thing of the past. Now GSA's challenge is to get the word out.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity: Legislation, new security controls on same track

New catalog of information and security controls co-developed by NIST, the Pentagon and the intelligence community, along with information security legislation gaining traction in Congress, are expected to significantly improve federal cybersecurity standards.

Cybersecurity

DISA seeks identity management technology

DISA wants to learn more about emerging access control technologies that can simplify management and interoperability.

Cybersecurity

Official: Gates still considering cyber command

A new Defense Department cyber command would not lead to a military takeover of cyberspace, says Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn.

Cybersecurity

The limits of a cyber czar

The cybersecurity coordinator needs support from the White House to to the job effectively.

People

Kundra advocates open source

Federal CIO Vivek Kundra includes open source as one of the key technologies to make government work better and more cheaply, but open-source evangelists still see major roadblocks ahead that will take more than lip service — even if it is from the White House — to overcome.

People

Air Force Cyber leader takes office

When Maj. Gen. Richard Webber takes command of the new organization in charge of the Air Force’s cyber mission, he will quickly face the challenge of making the mission relevant.

Modernization

Joint Forces commander blasts tech planning

Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis is critical of what he calls "wrongheaded thinking" of military planners in recent years who placed too much emphasis on the role of technology in winning wars.

Digital Government

Commission: DOD has acquisition problems in Iraq, Afghanistan

The Defense Department has too few trained acquisition employees to keep up with the increasingly expensive operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, commission states.

Cybersecurity

Gates: Cybersecurity is a high priority for DOD

Cybersecurity threats are a growing problem for the Defense Department, say Defense Secretary Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen.

People

Air Force names leader of cyber unit

Maj. Gen. Richard Webber has been named commander of a new Air Fore unit that will focus on the service's cyber mission.

Cybersecurity

New DOD command planned for cyber warfare

A new cyber warfare command at the Pentagon would engage in offensive and defensive missions, according to media reports.

Modernization

DISA seeks on-demand communications

The Defense Information Systems Agency wants to build an on-demand communications system.

Acquisition

Obama signs law to reform weapons buying

The new law gives Defense Department officials more requirements for overseeing big-ticket weapons acquisitions to keep them on schedule and hold down costs.