Ideas

How to Adapt Military Risk to an Era of Hypercompetition

DOD needs to change how the defense enterprise describes, identifies, and assesses risk in an age of persistent disruption.

Ideas

Military Omnipresence: A Unifying Concept for America’s 21st-Century Fighting Edge

The Pentagon should converge its technological and doctrinal efforts towards a perpetual, networked presence that enables operations and awareness anywhere in the world.

Ideas

Is America Getting Sucked Into More War in Syria?

The Trump administration has quietly escalated against Assad and his allies—and risks sparking regional chaos.

Science & Tech

Veterans Affairs to Adopt DoD’s Electronic Health-Records System

VA will sign onto MHS Genesis platform being developed by Cerner and Leidos under a $4 billion contract.

Ideas

The Civil Service’s Preference for Hiring Military Vets Comes at a Hidden Cost

The U.S. government has long shown a hiring preference for veterans. But because of the demographics of the U.S. military, this has limited the federal workforce's diversity.

Science & Tech

Pentagon Mapmakers Want To Tap Mobile Ad Technology. Here's Why.

NGA is scoping private-sector technology at incubators in Boston, Austin and New York.

Policy

White House Vows to Audit the Pentagon, Which Would Be a First

The goal is audacious enough, but promises of a record spending increase makes it even more complicated.

Science & Tech

The US Military Has a New Technology to Finally Solve the Concussion Crisis

The Army is testing sensors that can detect the impact of explosions on the brain.

Ideas

How Should We Treat Our Military Robots?

Increasingly human-like automated weapons demand an honest accounting of our emotional responses to them.

Threats

ISIS-in-Afghanistan Is Losing Recruits to Other Groups, US Officials Say

SecDef Mattis says he’s made no decision on adding troops, but warns of a confrontation if Russia continues to arm the Taliban.

Business

Special Counsel Goes to Bat for Two Defense Whistleblowers

Friend of the court briefs try to overturn rulings against retaliation claims.

Science & Tech

Great-Power Rivalry May Turn Space War Real

A rising drumbeat of remarks from Pentagon officials suggest they’re worried about, and preparing for, warfare in orbit.

Ideas

The Marine Photo Scandal and the Cost of Indifference

Americans may finally be ready to confront the dehumanizing horrors facing women service members.

Policy

'Winning' or Not, Trump Doesn't Seem to Be Listening To His Generals

Based on what he says, Trump already is defying his generals. The real test is what he actually does.

Policy

3 Urgent Tasks for Trump’s National-Security Team

The administration needs a single line on various policies — but even more urgently, it must fill about 100 top federal jobs, says James Stavridis.