Ideas
Get to Know the Middle Tier of Awesome…Er, Acquisition
Speeding good ideas into reality through rapid prototyping and fielding is awesome. Don’t let disbelievers muck it up.
Defense Systems
The Pentagon’s Plan to Buy Weapons Software Faster
The DOD’s dedicated software acquisition pathway is nearly two years old, and is already being used by a few dozen programs.
Ideas
HIMARS’ Hidden Superpower and Other Acquisition Lessons from Ukraine
With no U.S. troops on the ground, acquisition professionals are the operators making the difference.
Defense Systems
Faster Attacks Have Cyber Command Looking to Add All-Too-Scarce Experts
“I think the only way that I'm going to be able to do that in the near term is to grow the workforce myself,” command official says.
Ideas
Pass the CHIPS Act
Two former senior defense and intelligence leaders lay out the case for Congressional action to help the U.S. semiconductor industry.
Ideas
The Pentagon Gets the Better Part of a Trillion Dollars a Year. Why Isn’t That Enough?
The budgeting process has calcified, with huge sums going to the priorities of yesteryear.
Business
At UK Airshow, Defense Execs Warn of Inflation, Supply Chains, and Worker Shortages
The Biden administration needs to invest in apprentice schools, CEO of top aerospace and defense firm says.
Threats
Major Pentagon IT Projects Lack Plans to Secure Networks, Supply Chains: GAO
Watchdog also noted cost increases among most of the Defense Department's top 25 IT efforts.
Science & Tech
More Reality Checks Could Help Keep DOD Programs on Time and Budget, GAO Says
The Pentagon has long espoused “knowledge-based acquisition,” but doesn’t insist on it.
Business
How the Pentagon Plans to Manage Inflation in Contracts
Contracting officers are told to "be mindful" of rising costs but to "limit the scope" of adjustment clauses.
Threats
Pentagon Seeks to Update U.S. Weapons Stocks Depleted by Ukraine Donations
Defense Department's top acquisitions exec says Ukraine war is changing the way the U.S. thinks about stockpiles.
Ideas
Don’t Overinflate the Pentagon Budget
There are plenty of perennial problems draining the military’s coffers that need attention.
Exclusive
Policy
Biden’s No. 2 Defense Industry Policy Official Leaves Post
It’s unclear why Jesse Salazar has left, the latest in a string of recent Pentagon departures.
Threats
US Needs More Arms Factories, Says Chief Weapons-Buyer Nominee
Bill LaPlante also said he wants to speed up deliveries of weapons and equipment to Ukraine.
Ideas
The Defense Department Is a Bad Customer. Let’s Change That.
Two active duty officers spent time at tech firms. Here’s what they learned.
Policy
Project Maven Shows Need for Better Acquisition Policies, DOD Watchdog Finds
The Air Force's AI project moved fast. One of its lessons is the need for better acquisition policies and documentation.
Policy
Former Air Force Weapons Chief Tapped as Pentagon’s Lead Arms Buyer
Bill LaPlante has spent the past six years working on military-related tech.
Policy
Air Force’s Kendall Creates Space Acquisition Office, Accelerates Absorption of Space Development Agency
And the new service secretary is asking Congress to allow him to move faster yet.
Policy
Biden Nominee for Pentagon’s Top Weapons Buyer Withdraws
Michael Brown to remain at DIU for now, Pentagon says.
Exclusive
Business