Business

Carter Taps Former Aide as Military Adviser

The US defense secretary, who fired his previous aide, has asked Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Eric Smith to step in.

Business

Measure Twice, Cut Once: Pentagon Launches Personnel-System Overhaul

A first tranche of reforms omits some highly anticipated fixes, but seeks to lay the groundwork for more.

Business

Army, Air Force Acquisition Chiefs to Step Down

The departures of William LaPlante and Heidi Shyu will likely leave the Air Force and Army without permanent procurement leaders until 2017.

Business

The Pentagon's Afghan 'Slush Fund' Will Now Have to Answer to Angry Lawmakers

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee has given the DOD 48 hours to turn over its files on a controversial task force that may have misspent millions in Afghanistan.

Threats

Carter: Gulf Allies Need Better Special Operators, Ground Forces More Than 'Fancy' Jets

In an interview, the U.S. defense secretary says America’s Arab allies need fewer high-end fighter jets and more training of ground forces and special-operations troops.

Business

Can the US Military Win Wars If It Keeps Losing Talented Officers?

The Pentagon worries its rigid personnel system is driving away the leaders it will need for the conflicts of the 21st century.

Policy

Can the US Military Help the White House and Israel Move Beyond Iran?

The Iran-inspired breakdown in relations between Obama and Bibi has meant that Defense Secretary Ash Carter is now point man on maintaining the relationship.

Business

Troops' Privacy at Center of $43M Gas Station Tussle Between Pentagon, Watchdog

No one so far knows where some $42 million went for a $500k gas station in Afghanistan. But a fight between the Pentagon and its auditor is keeping the records out of the public eye.

Science & Tech

The Pentagon's Massive IT Overhaul Is 'Redefining' Intelligence Collection

It isn’t uncommon for U.S. intelligence analysts to ping several hundred or more databases separately to collect information. That may soon change.

Ideas

Maintaining the Edge in the Age of Everything

Ash Carter's message to the Defense One Summit: a new commitment to military, academic, business and scientific partnerships.

Policy

Pentagon Transfers Detainee to Mauritania, Leaving 113 At Guantanamo

The Obama administration continues to whittle the military detention center’s population.

Policy

Dunford: US Will Rethink Its Iraq Presence If Russia Goes In

Russia’s actions in the Middle East have U.S. lawmakers launching heated questions at top Pentagon officials. The answers so far have been less than reassuring.

Ideas

Why It Matters That Carter Says Iraq Raid Isn't Combat, Then Says It Is

We may not be a nation at war, but U.S. special operators are fighting. And their raids against ISIS most certainly are combat.

Business

‘I Don’t Know What The Debate Is,’ Army's Top Officer Says of Women

As Defense Secretary Carter orders senior military leaders to quiet down about women in combat decision deadline, Gen. Mark Milley had one more thing to say.

Business

US Army’s New Chief Sets Three Goals

Readiness, modernizing the force, and taking care of soldiers — and that means more time practicing complex scenarios.

Threats

Top Pentagon Weapon Buyers Say Budget Gridlock Threatens Hundreds of Projects

Pentagon officials say hundreds of acquisitions projects would be halted or cut in half this fiscal year if Congress doesn’t pass a proper budget.

Policy

U.S. Commander in Afghanistan: Now Is Not the Time to Leave

Gen. Campbell tells lawmakers he has sent the White House various options for keeping troops beyond 2016.

Policy

Lawmakers' Defense Spending Agreement Ignores Obama on War Fund, Guantanamo

House and Senate members agreed to military personnel and acquisition reforms, yet set up a showdown over the offshore prison and wartime supplemental funding.

Threats

Pentagon Warns 2 Million Troops, Workers May Have to Work Without Pay Next Week

The looming government shutdown threatens paychecks for roughly 2 million troops and civilians, but some shrug as this happened before — just two years ago.