Cybersecurity

37 Defense Industrial Base Companies Affected by SolarWinds Intrusion

A defense official told lawmakers the department’s CMMC program likely wouldn’t have guaranteed successful prevention of the SolarWinds breach.

Artificial Intelligence

Bill to Address Chip Shortage Is Only the Beginning, Senator Says

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said more legislation is necessary to keep pace with adversaries.

Modernization

If the Pentagon Drops JEDI, Then What?

Defense Department officials say the contract’s enterprisewide capabilities are still needed, but how to fill that need may be different given the department’s changing cloud landscape.

Digital Government

DOD Lifts Mask Mandate for Fully Vaccinated Personnel

Fully vaccinated DOD personnel are no longer required to wear a mask at Defense Department facilities.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers Call for Pentagon to Prioritize Cyber Investments

Rep. Jim Langevin suggested in a hearing the Defense Department has not elevated its focus on the cyber domain enough. 

Cybersecurity

Army’s Cybersecurity ‘Greatly Concerns’ Wormuth After Pipeline Attack

Biden’s Army Secretary nominee told the Senate she’d fight deep troop cuts and support long-range fires and new measures against sexual crimes and extremism, if confirmed.

Cybersecurity

DISA Releases Initial Zero Trust Reference Architecture

The architecture will help the military “maintain information superiority on the digital battlefield,” according to the press release. 

Emerging Tech

DOD Not Prioritizing Development of GPS Alternatives, GAO Says

Despite known vulnerabilities with GPS tech, the department treats developing other position, navigation and timing technologies as an “afterthought,” officials said. 

Cybersecurity

Here's Why National Cyber Defense Is a ‘Wicked’ Problem

Vulnerable supply chains, sloppy security, and a talent shortage made events like the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack and the SolarWinds hack all but inevitable.

Digital Government

Pentagon Publishes Five Data Decrees

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks also mandated assessments of certain data efforts in a May 5 memo.

Artificial Intelligence

DARPA Researchers Develop Sarcasm Detection Capability (Yeah, Right)

The artificial intelligence-enabled deep learning model achieved a “nearly perfect sarcasm detection core” on a major Twitter dataset.

Modernization

Justice Official Recommends Supreme Court Reject Oracle’s JEDI Petition  

Oracle has not won at any level of court despite numerous bid protests against the Pentagon’s Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract.

Emerging Tech

Army to Equip First Unit With Augmented Reality Headsets By Fall

Top Army officials told Congress the first unit will be equipped with the Integrated Visual Augmentation System headsets by the first quarter of fiscal year 2022.

Digital Government

Pentagon Watchdog to Examine How the U.S. Military Handles UFOs

The inspector general launched an evaluation into “actions regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” just before a similar report is due to Congress.