Defense Operations Blog

Marines Aim for Partner Interoperability

October 21, 2021

By Robert K. Ackerman

The Marine Corps will interoperate more closely with other services and allies, but it needs mobile capabilities that can operate in a denied environment.

Data Fabric Weaves Modernized Fires Mission Thread

October 15, 2021

By George I. Seffers

Soldiers assigned to the 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment train with howitzers in Grafenwoehr, Germany. Enhancing the ability to harness myriad data streams is instrumental to modernizing the Army’s fires mission thread for future battlefield operations. Photo by Army Spc. Josselyn Fuentes

Three data-related modernization projects are designed to enhance the Army's sensor-to-shooter capability on the future battlefield.

Gen. Raymond Odierno, Army Innovator, Passes Away

October 13, 2021

By Kimberly Underwood

Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, USA (Ret.) (c) , and his wife, Linda (l), speak in 2013 with David Thorne, former U.S. ambassador to Italy, during a ceremony at the Italian army headquarters in Rome, when Gen. Odierno received the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. The general passed away last weekend at age 67. Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Teddy Wade

Leader was key in how the Army coordinated warfighting in the Middle East and in creating the Army’s first cyber branch.

The Call for Nimble IT

October 8, 2021

By Kimberly Underwood

Master Sgt. Michael Lesterick, USMC, carries an Afghan evacuee’s luggage as they board a plane at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, September 1, 2021. The Department of Defense, including its combatant commands, such as the U.S. Transportation Command, is still supporting the evacuation of American citizens, special immigrant visa applicants and other at-risk individuals from Afghanistan. Credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kyle Jia

As TRANSCOM supports the next wave of evacuation out of Europe of Afghan people, leader initially sees need for more complex IT solutions.

Air Force Adds FirstNet to 15 Bases

October 5, 2021

Posted by Kimberly Underwood

The U.S. Air Force is adding first responder network capability to 15 of its bases, which will help public safety personnel communicate during operations or emergencies, such as weather-related disasters, like Tyndall faced in 2018 with Hurricane Michael. Credit: Staff Sgt. Alexander Henniger

The service selects the public safety network for base emergency communications.

DISA’s JADC2 Role Bigger Than Meets the Eye

September 28, 2021

By George I. Seffers

DISA supports JADC2 in more ways than many people might realize, according to Brian Hermann, the agency's program executive officer for services development. Credit: Titima Ongkantong/Shutterstock

“I think there’s more to DISA’s role in JADC2 than is obvious,” says Brian Hermann, program executive officer for services development at DISA.

U.S. Army Prepares Armored On-The-Move Pilot Program

September 24, 2021

By Kimberly Underwood

Army leaders and officials visit General Dynamics Mission Systems manufacturing facility in Taunton, Massachusetts, on September 21 to preview the new pilot program the service is pursuing to equip armored vehicles with effective communications technologies in 2025. Credit: PEO C3T

Effort will discern from over 20 vendors what kinds of communications technologies are needed for armored units.

Pacific Air Forces Seeks Advanced Software Tools to Support ACE

September 21, 2021

By Kimberly Underwood

An airman from deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, examines an F-15E Strike Eagle during preflight inspections at Tinian International Airport, Tinian during Pacific Iron 21 in August. To conduct such agile, more lethal movement of forces and airpower in the region, more software solutions are needed. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Sutton

A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules is on the flightline at Tinian International Airport, Tinian, in July 2021 during the Pacific Iron exercise testing the Pacific Air Forces’ ability to conduct dynamic force employment operations. To conduct such agile, more lethal movement of forces and airpower in the region, more software solutions are needed. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Demond Mcghee

The dynamic projection of air power and forces across the Indo-Pacific region requires the use of emerging software capabilities, leader reports.

The Arduous, Costly War in Afghanistan Ends

August 31, 2021

By Kimberly Underwood

The last U.S. military member to leave Afghanistan, Maj. Gen. Chris Donahue, USA, commander of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, boards a C-17 cargo plane at Hamid Karzai International Airport August 30, closing out two decades of U.S. military involvement in the country. Credit: U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Alex Burnett

The U.S. military completes withdrawal under fire.

Shift from War on Terror to Great Power Competition Moves Biometric Goals, Too

August 25, 2021

By Shaun Waterman

A soldier dons the Capability Set 3 (CS 3) militarized form factor prototype of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) during a Soldier Touchpoint 3 live fire test event at Fort Pickett, Virginia, in October 2020. U.S. Army photo by Courtney Bacon

On the battlefield of the future, biometric data and the identity intelligence it provides offers new advantages.

Army Officials Teach Information Advantage 101

August 19, 2021

By George I. Seffers

The U.S. Army needs to conduct five essential tasks to achieve the kind of information advantage that will allow commanders to make faster, more effective decisions than their adversaries.