Author Archive
Brandi Vincent
Defense Technology Correspondent
Brandi Vincent reports on national security technologies and policies, and produces the Critical Update podcast. Before joining Nextgov, she produced a long-form documentary and helped create news content at Snapchat and NBC Network. Brandi was named a 2021 Paul Miller Washington Fellow by the National Press Foundation and was awarded SIIA’s 2020 Jesse H. Neal Award for Best News Coverage. She grew up in south Louisiana and received a master’s in journalism from the University of Maryland.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Delays Department-wide Cloud, Again
Officials say they didn't expect to need so much time to choose among four bids for a $9 billion cloud contract.
- Brandi Vincent and Lauren C. Williams
Policy
If Russia Hacks a US Satellite, Is It an Act of War?
After a Russian official issued dire warnings against tampering with satellites, U.S. officials declined to follow suit.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
Despite U.S.-Russia Tensions, the First All-Commercial Flight to ISS is Still On
An initial launch is set for late March, officials confirmed.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
AI Could Match 'Fingerprints' of Texts To Their Authors, Under New Intelligence Program
The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity takes aim at a capability that might one day help fight disinformation and human trafficking.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
New Operating System Aims to Speed AI to the Battlefield
The project is part of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center’s 8-month-old AI and Data Accelerator.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
Air Force Commits Millions to Experiment with ‘Space Internet’
Arctic coverage and airborne communications are two areas highlighted for exploration.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
Pentagon Previews New Tech Strategy, Updates Priorities List
The National Defense Science and Technology Strategy won't be out for a while, but Undersecretary Shyu's "Technology Vision for an Era of Competition" offers an early look.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
DOD Debuts Office to Help It 'Move Faster' on Artificial Intelligence
Two memos clarify the goals of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, which was created to coordinate AI efforts across DOD.
- Brandi Vincent
Threats
China May Steal Encrypted Data Now to Decrypt In Years to Come, Report Warns
Quantum computers promise to render today's encryption largely obsolete. A Booz Allen report says it's time to start managing the risks.
- Brandi Vincent
Business
Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle to Bid on Pentagon’s Next Multibillion-Dollar Cloud Contract
The department expanded the pool of bidders for its much-anticipated JEDI replacement.
- Brandi Vincent
Policy
Lawmakers Push DOD to Share its Data to Help U.S. Make AI Gains
New legislation to pilot easy-access data libraries could be included in the fiscal 2022 NDAA.
- Brandi Vincent
Threats
DISA Enlists AI to Fight Cyber Threats
The agency is also creating a Chief Data Officer.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
Army Gets Strategic About Going Digital
Policy reforms and technology boosts are in the pipeline, military leaders confirmed.
- Brandi Vincent
Policy
NSA Cyber Chief Spells Out Near-Term Priorities
Ransomware is a top concern, but the agency is also looking ahead to defending networked weapons and post-quantum encryption.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
America’s First Exascale Supercomputer Is ‘On Track’ for 2021 Deployment
Next-gen systems like Oak Ridge's latest are expected to drive unprecedented innovation.
- Brandi Vincent
Threats
The Marines Are Copying the Air Force's Efforts to Counter Online Disinformation
Meanwhile, the Army is trying to get inside perpetrators' OODA loops.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
USAF Wants Wearables to Spot Outbreaks Faster
Top officials are also looking into data integration and digital traceability tools to help keep staff healthy.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
US Air Force’s First Software Chief Steps Down
Nicolas Chaillan, who led a Pentagon-wide DevSecOps effort, said he was leaving in part because of a lack of support from senior leaders.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
Floating Robot Gas Station To Get Pentagon Trial
The aim is a kit to convert barges into self-propelled, expeditionary replenishment platforms for rotary wing aircraft, surface vessels, and shore stations.
- Brandi Vincent
Science & Tech
Army’s New Facility Aims to Speed Up Fielding Tech
Work there will support DOD’s new soldier goggles — formally known as the Integrated Visual Augmentation System.
- Brandi Vincent