Modernization

Pentagon raises AI ambitions

The Defense Department wants to make AI training available to all DOD components by 2021.

People

Don't expect finished defense bill soon, Thornberry says

Rep. Mac Thornberry, the House Armed Services Committee's ranking member, said the November elections could hold up negotiations over key provisions in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

Modernization

Kessel Run works through growing pains

The Air Force's deputy CIO, Lauren Knausenberger, said the military branch's popular software factory has been a "victim of its own success" as it navigates trying to keep the spark as it gets bigger.

Acquisition

DOD refreshes acquisition policies

The Defense Department released a long-awaited update of policies governing its buying practices, with an eye to rapid technology acquisition.

Modernization

CMMC reciprocity guidelines are still a work in progress

The Defense Department is hoping to begin rolling its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program later this year, but questions remain about how reciprocity with FedRAMP will be handled.

Modernization

DOD affirms JEDI award to Microsoft

After a reevaluation of certain aspects of the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure solicitation, the Defense Department is sticking with its guns and giving the contract to Microsoft -- but that doesn't mean a long-running legal battle will just go away.

Acquisition

DISA to deliver web-browsing protection to 1.5M users

The Defense Information Systems Agency is moving into production for its $199 million cloud-based internet security tool, aiming to migrate 1.5 million users in the first year.

Cybersecurity

National Guard plans all-virtual cyber exercise

The National Guard is taking its annual Cyber Shield training exercise virtual due to COVID-19 with a spotlight on information operations.

Acquisition

Air Force looks to bridge 'valley of death' for small tech firms

The service's acquisition chief hopes to change how small businesses interact with the service through its innovative research program and eventually adopting the In-Q-Tel model.

Modernization

What's new in Army cloud

The Army's enterprise cloud office is coming up on its first anniversary. FCW talked with its director, Paul Puckett, about what the office has been up to and how COVID has affected priorities.

Modernization

Air Force seeks proof of concept in latest JADC2 experiment

The Air Force's "internet of things" also known as the Advanced Battle Management System is headed into a massive experiment to iron out the complexities of data-fueled warfare.

Cybersecurity

Cyber Command takes the fight abroad

The head of U.S. Cyber Command defends "persistent engagement" strategy with adversaries, explaining that proactive cyber operations won't lead the U.S. into an "all out war."

Cybersecurity

DARPA's new hardware proves tough to crack

The Defense Department's advanced research arm has early results from its effort to prove that re-engineering hardware makes for fewer cyber vulnerabilities.

Acquisition

DOD's China-tech waiver targets high-volume buys, excludes major weapons systems

Nearly three-fourths of what the Defense Department buys will be temporarily exempt from the government-wide Huawei ban.

Acquisition

Engineering hurdles to clear ahead of tech 're-shoring'

The Trump administration has national security concerns when it comes to foreign dominance in microelectronics, but research and engineering advances are needed as a precursor to new policy, a top official said.

People

How DOD is updating its online education systems

As the pandemic increases the need for online learning, the Defense Department's chief management officer pushes change.

Acquisition

DOD eyes large COVID payments for contractors

Ellen Lord, the Defense Department's chief buyer, said the organization is considering lump-sum payments for COVID-19 claims rather than negotiating contract-by-contract.

Modernization

JAIC to expand ethics team

Jane Pinelis, the JAIC's chief of testing, evaluation, and assessment, said the center is working to expand its ethics team, which is charged with ensuring the Defense Department's AI projects meet ethical standards.

People

Why DOD's diversity problem can't be solved with numbers

Janice Glover-Jones, the Defense Intelligence Agency's chief diversity, equality and inclusion officer, said that diversity has to be more than compliance and "promote inclusive behaviors."

Modernization

DOD agrees to spectrum sharing deal

An expert panel convened by the Defense Department has offered 100 megahertz of mid-band spectrum to share with commercial networks looking to build up U.S. 5G capacity.