Cybersecurity

Waging cyber war without a rulebook

As the U.S. looks to go on the offense in the cyber domain, critical questions remain unanswered around who will take the lead and how clearly to draw the rules of engagement.

People

DOD releases new digital engineering strategy

The strategy emphasizes the need for culture shift, formalized development processes and innovation to modernize legacy defense systems.

Acquisition

How to fix the Pentagon's acquisition workforce problems in one week

Section 809 Panel Chair David Drabkin and Commissioner N. Ross Thompson III explained how their latest report on streamlining acquisition could help the DOD with workforce woes.

Modernization

DOD puts JEDI under CIO leadership

In a June 22 memo, Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan ordered DOD’s massive commercial cloud acquisition fall under new CIO Dana Deasy.

Modernization

DOD consolidates cloud under CIO

The Pentagon announced new CIO Dana Deasy was taking control over all of the department's cloud initiatives, but it's not clear what that means for the warfighting cloud acquisition program JEDI.

People

DISA takes the lead in continuous monitoring clearance tech

The Defense Information Systems Agency is spearheading a continuous monitoring solution that it hopes will virtually eliminate the reinvestigation process for security clearance holders and reduce the backlog of more than 700,000 cases.

People

Reorg includes clearance overhaul

The plan would strip the Office of Personnel Management of its authority over background investigations and make the Pentagon the central hub for security clearance authority in the federal government.

Cybersecurity

Data gap in immigration systems could keep families separated

If the just-suspended border separation policy is ever resumed, officials may have to confront the fact that disparate immigration systems are not equipped to handle the reunification of separated families.

Acquisition

Senate bill looks to secure the IT supply chain

A new bipartisan bill looks to build capacity inside the federal government to evaluate supply chain risks with an eye to making sure the government buys secure tech.

Modernization

Senate moves to maintain ZTE sanctions

Congress and the White House could be headed toward a showdown over a provision in the Senate defense bill designed to undo a move by President Trump easing sanctions on the Chinese telecom giant ZTE.

Digital Government

Data analytics will fuel the future of military readiness

As DOD modernizes, make better use of its vast data stores is essential.

Acquisition

First EIS contract awards loom

The Social Security Administration is evaluating contract proposal responses while it waits for GSA to finish testing EIS contractors’ back-office systems.

Acquisition

New federal contracting rule cuts off Kaspersky

The government is seeking to eliminate all traces of cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Labs from federal systems, issuing a new interim rule to extend the governmentwide ban to contractors.

Cybersecurity

What happens when data becomes more important than the mission?

As the prominence of the cyber domain intensifies, the Pentagon increasingly must choose between supporting the mission and protecting its valuable data.

Acquisition

Congress, GAO signal OTA oversight

Lawmakers join the Government Accountability Office in asserting greater oversight and review over "other transaction authority" awards.

Modernization

Why it's getting harder to find sharable federal spectrum

The government is sitting on a goldmine of radio spectrum that could be used to accelerate 5G deployment, but crafting a coordinated policy to get there is complicated.

Cybersecurity

What the Senate wants to see in this year's NDAA

The Senate released its text and report for the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act. Take a look at a few of the biggest cyber provisions that could make it through final passage.

Modernization

In House bill, Pentagon cloud funding comes with strings attached

The House defense appropriations bill includes new reporting requirements on the JEDI project and the Defense Enterprise Office Solutions cloud efforts.

Digital Government

Code for America, civic tech and DOD

Defense Department digital experts were invited to speak at the recent CfA Summit, and some attendees took offense. Steve Kelman argues that civic tech should embrace such debates.

Digital Government

Army secretary wants robot vehicles on the battlefield by 2028

It's not Skynet yet, but Army Secretary Mark Esper says robotics will change the fundamentals of warfare and that getting there first provides a distinct advantage.