Author Archive
Lauren C. Williams
Senior Editor

Lauren C. Williams is senior editor for Defense One. She previously covered defense technology and cybersecurity for FCW and Defense Systems. Before then, Williams has reported on several issues, including internet culture, national security, health care, politics and crime for various publications. She has a master's in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park and a bachelor's in dietetics from the University of Delaware. She can be contacted at lwilliams@govexec.com or follow her on Twitter @lalaurenista.
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Emerging Tech
Only 3D printing can get the Navy’s submarine plan back on track, admiral says
U.S. cannot build and support the subs it needs “without going to additive manufacturing.”
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
How the war in Ukraine is reshaping US Army modernization
The rapid evolution of electronic warfare and drone tactics have the service tweaking its acquisition plans.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Artificial Intelligence
The CIA’s data-challenged AI imperative
Mastering the technology is key to being able to “disrupt those entities that do not,” said an agency cyber policy official.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
Connect everything? Leaders need to get specific first
Hazy visions of data flowing seamlessly around the battlefield won’t get the job done, says the Air Force general for C2 systems.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
Cyber on the battlefield is about more than IT
The Army successfully tested zero trust in a classified environment during a multinational military exercise.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
Space Force needs more cyber operators for weapons systems, chief says
Protecting weapons platforms is a primary concern for Space Operations Command, says its vice commander.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
Pentagon CIO prepares to take over 5G network portfolio
The plan is to build on existing test programs, like smart warehouses, while exploring new territory.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Artificial Intelligence
NSA ‘recently completed’ AI strategic study, director says
Outgoing chief Gen. Paul Nakasone looks back, forward, and pushes for Sec. 702 authority.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
The Pentagon’s innovation arm has a new chief and a new strategy
‘DIU 3.0,’ now under SecDef review, aims to embed teams in the combatant commands.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
Job 1 for makers of anti-drone defenses: write good software
Pentagon buyers are looking for control systems that are reliable, easy to use, and simple to update.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
Doing business with the Navy shouldn’t be ‘artificially hard,’ research chief says
Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus said making contracting easier is a top priority.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Featured eBooks
Cybersecurity
Pentagon lays out plan to boost its cyber workforce
The four-year implementation plan stresses development, recruitment, and retention to fill needed cyber positions.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
How the US is using open-source intel to track Russia's war in Ukraine
Analysts are moving beyond who-what-when-where to "really focusing on the why,” a senior defense intelligence official said.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Data
Get serious about data, US intelligence leaders tell agencies
ODNI’s new three-year plan aims to turn data-gathering from afterthought to key asset.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Cybersecurity
Navy gets new cyber categories
The move will make it so cryptologists and IT professionals no longer have additional duties in cyberspace operations.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Emerging Tech
Satellite data could boost border security, disaster response
Homeland Security relies on satellite imagery for its missions—and it wants more.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
Pentagon outlines upcoming contractor cybersecurity plan
Expect the congressionally mandated strategy by year’s end, DOD CISO says.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Digital Government
A Classified Cloud Is Headed to the Indo-Pacific
It’s part of DISA’s effort to bring continental-U.S.-level computing resources to U.S. military forces around the world.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Emerging Tech
The Pentagon Wants to Peer Inside Its Cloud Providers’ Infrastructure
Recent leaks have the CIO’s office contemplating red teams and more IP scanning.
- By Lauren C. Williams
Defense
Pentagon network chiefs are putting automation to work
Tireless cyber tools can patrol parts of DOD’s networks, tools, and applications where hackers like to hide.
- By Lauren C. Williams