Tech

Army Materiel Command is Looking to Advanced Manufacturing to Improve Readiness

Army Materiel Command is planning to implement advanced manufacturing techniques from the depots to the battlespace to help produce parts where needed.

Defense

Defense Researchers Lack Consistent Cybersecurity Safeguards, IG Finds

Without an enforceable singular cybersecurity standard, research and academic institutions that develop military technology for the Pentagon could be at increased risk.

Management

The Pentagon Shifts to Maximum Telework as Omicron Surges

The Pentagon is urging personnel to use maximum telework as coronavirus infections spike in the Washington, D.C. region.

Employee Policy

New missions present challenges for DOD cyber workforce

Mieke Eoyang, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy, said one of DOD's main cyber workforce challenges is being able to set expectations around policymakers' calls to step in and defend against cyberattacks.

Employee Policy

DOD could get new tech positions

Heidi Shyu , undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, wants to add new oversight roles for software and sustainment efforts.

Employee Policy

IT spend at DOD expected to rise

Rising IT and cyber budgets may lay ahead, as the Defense Department moves forward with implementing zero trust architecture and begins relying more on artificial intelligence.

Employee Policy

DOD personnel subject to continuous vetting

Defense and military personnel now come under an automated "continuous vetting" program to flag concerning behavior or circumstances, as part of the security clearance process.

Employee Policy

Tough conversations on ransomware ahead

The U.S. government, will have to start regularly having hard conversations "country to country" on state-sponsored cyberattacks, according to a top Defense Department official.

Employee Policy

How the Pentagon copes with funding hiccups

The GAO examines some of the Defense Department's tactics to lessen the effects of inconsistent funding during continuing resolutions.

Employee Policy

Pentagon pushes ahead with COVID vaccine mandate

The Defense Department will mandate Pfizer-produced COVID-19 vaccines following the FDA's approval, and other agencies are expected to follow.

Employee Policy

Watchdog says contractor oversight lacking in Afghanistan

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction's newest report calls out the government's failure to oversee contractors on waste, fraud and abuse.

Employee Policy

Inconsistent coding may undercut DOD cyber workforce efforts

A DOD IG audit found that while the Pentagon has made strides, inconsistent job coding for civilian cyber work roles across a wide range of positions may hinder recruiting and retention.

Employee Policy

DOD could face $4 billion in pandemic reimbursement payments for contractors

According to a GAO report, the Defense Department may have $4 billion in eligible reimbursements for contractors under the CARES Act.

Employee Policy

Pentagon eases COVID restrictions, allows 90% occupancy

The Pentagon is one step closer to returning to normal, as it moved in recent days to allow up to 90% of personnel in the office.

Benefits

DOD's electronic health records rollout hits 30 percent completion

DOD has completed nearly one-third of its rollout of its new electronic health records system, with 42,000 active users in more than a dozen states.

Employee Policy

For DOD, diversity begins with inclusion, culture change

Janice Glover-Jones, the Defense Intelligence Agency's chief diversity, equality and inclusion officer, said that diversity has to be more than compliance and "promote inclusive behaviors."

Employee Policy

DOD watchdog pick gets grilled by Senate Dems

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said Jason Abend's nomination circumvented a vetting process set up by the 2008 Inspector General Reform Act.

Employee Policy

Esper calls Floyd murder a 'wakeup call' to improve diversity, inclusion

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he's heard from service members across the branches, which spurred DOD to stand up three initiatives to fight discrimination.

Benefits

AI commission floats idea of digital service academy

The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence has suggested establishing a national digital service academy to train technical talent.

Benefits

House-passed NDAA expands paid leave benefit to excluded feds, bans TikTok

Title 38 employees working at the Transportation Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs and Federal Aviation Administration were not included in the original bill that established the benefit.