Acquisition

HASC chairman: DOD doesn't need more stimulus money

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the House Armed Services Committee chairman, said the Defense Department doesn't need any more money from a future coronavirus stimulus bill.

People

Pentagon plans to test all troops for COVID-19

Gen. John Hyten, vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said testing the entire force, including National Guard and Reserves, would take until summertime.

Modernization

Navy CIO: Future networks hinge on flexible acquisitions now

Navy CIO Aaron Weis wants to rebuild the service's network architecture to look and function more like industry, but acquisition culture and structure slow progress.

Modernization

Marines to divest legacy weapons for tech-oriented future

The Marine Corps is willing to swap out tanks and cannons for a better, more agile, cloud based network available in the most remote environments.

Cybersecurity

Essye Miller to retire as DOD principal deputy CIO

The intelligence community’s CIO, John Sherman, will step in to the post of Defense Department’s principal deputy CIO in June.

People

AFGE denounces budget targets in GOP defense bill

The American Federation of Government Employees issued a letter April 16 to Congress opposing parts of the proposed Expanding Acquisition Reform Act, which seeks to formalize DOD's zero-based budgeting process.

Cybersecurity

COVID-19 outbreak may delay audits for DOD's cyber certification

The first audits for the Defense Department's unified cybersecurity standard for vendors may be delayed up to a month.

Acquisition

Navy speeds acquisition amid COVID-19 outbreak

Navy Acquisition Chief James Geurts said acquisition activities have sped up in response to the coronavirus crisis and helped the service pinpoint weak spots in the supply chain.

People

DOD's telework surge could be permanent

A new emphasis on telework at the Defense Department in response to the COVID-19 pandemic could change work culture at the Pentagon, officials said.

Acquisition

DOD pulls the trigger on the DPA

DOD to issue $133 million in production contracts for N95 masks under the Defense Production Act.

Acquisition

DOD cuts red tape to support fast prototyping

Ellen Lord, DOD's acquisition head, issued new guidance for prototype contracts issued through other transaction authorities.

Cybersecurity

Navy CIO: Don't worry about shakeups at the top

The Navy CIO updated the workforce on telework practices, COVID-19 disclosures and what the change in service leadership means for the tech mission.

People

Army accelerates virtualization of training, recruitment

Army training and recruiting leaders said the service has been gradually digitizing recruiting and training, but has now shifted online amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

People

Acting Navy secretary resigns

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly resigned after audio surfaced of him calling the now-ex commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt “stupid” in front of crew members.

Modernization

How will DOD’s workforce shift post-COVID-19?

What will working in DOD look like on the other side of the COVID-19 curve?

People

Lawmakers look to shield defense contractors from COVID-19 fallout

Virginia Democrat Sen. Mark Warner and Texas Republican Rep. Mac Thornberry hope to protect national security by bolstering the industrial base.

People

DOD issues permission slips for workers in national capital region

The Defense Department issued memos and permission letters for personnel working in the Washington, D.C. region as local and state governments' stay-at-home orders go into effect.

Digital Government

Congress questions Navy's plan to build large drone ships before full testing

The Navy wants to increase production of unmanned surface vessels, but Congress remains wary of long-term success.

People

Esper says he didn't seek the authority to gut DOD unions

Defense Secretary Mark Esper told lawmakers he was waiting for a staff analysis of a recent presidential memo before deciding whether to leverage new authority.

Cybersecurity

TRANSCOM head says contractors struggle with advanced persistent threats

The lead general for TRANSCOM threw support behind the Defense Department's impending unified cybersecurity standard for contractors, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, as contractors struggle with advanced persistent threats.