The Defense Information Systems Agency has introduced cyber evaluation program meant to help combatant commands and federal agencies examine operational risks of missions based on a network’s current state of cybersecurity.

DISA said Wednesday the Command Cyber Operational Readiness Inspection program will assess organizations’ compliance with Defense Department directives and security orders as well as evaluate networks’ physical and traditional security posture along with potential vulnerabilities.

CCORI, an updated model of the Command Cyber Readiness Inspection process, also supports the DoD Cybersecurity Culture and Compliance Initiative.

Jimaye Sones, director of the DOD Information Networks readiness and security inspections directorate, said that site commanders of selected facilities under CCORI will receive input on their networks’ security.

“They will understand what impact the vulnerabilities found in a traditional CCRI have, in terms of the threat to their mission, if an adversary takes advantage of the vulnerabilities,” Sones added.

DISA noted it will continue to plan traditional CCRIs along with cybersecurity service provider and public key infrastructure audits at multiple DODIN sites in addition to the CCORIs.

The U.S. Navy has launched an effort to pursue laser weapons integration as part of the service branch’s Rapid Prototyping, Experimentation and Demonstration project, USNI News reported Wednesday.

Rear Adm. Mike Manazir, deputy chief of naval operations for warfare systems, said at the 2017 Directed Energy Summit that the Surface Navy Laser Weapons System program seeks to increase laser weapons’ power, beam quality and capacity to modularize, Megan Eckstein wrote.

Eckstein reported the program also explores ways to integrate available laser weapons into the Aegis Combat System.

“What we’d like to do is be able to integrate [laser weapons] so that when you have an effect in competition, in war, in a maritime environment, you know how to put those together with the kinetic systems we already have in the field,” Manazir told audience at the summit.

He added the Navy seeks to deploy new technologies in the field, mitigate risks and manage costs through the RPED initiative.

Rear Adm. Jon Hill, deputy director of the Missile Defense Agency, said MDA can work with the Navy on prototyping efforts for emerging technologies such as directed.

Hill told USNI News that MDA and the Navy are currently conducting technical exchanges to identify ways to collaborate.

Navy Rear Adm. Mathias Winter, deputy program executive officer for the Defense Department‘s F-35 joint program office, has been nominated to serve as the next leader of F-35 JPO.

President Donald Trump also recommended Winter for promotion to the rank of vice admiral, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Defense News reported Winter, if confirmed by the Senate, will succeed Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan when the latter retires this summer.

Lockheed Martin-built F-35 aircraft variants for the U.S. Marine Corps and the Air Force achieved initial operating capability status during Bogdan’s tenure at the program office, according to the report by Valerie Insinna and Aaron Mehta.

Winter previously served as chief of naval research; director of innovation technology requirements, test and evaluation; program executive officer for unmanned aviation and strike weapons; and assistant commander for test and evaluation at the Naval Air Systems Command.

He also held the roles of executive assistant to the F-35 program director and chief engineer for JSF integrated flight and propulsion control.

His assignments have included service aboard aircraft carriers USS Saratoga, USS America, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS George Washington.

Brig. Gen. Duke Richardson, program executive officer for tankers at the U.S. Air Force, has been promoted to the rank of major general and has been appointed PEO to oversee the Air Force One replacement program, Aviation Week reported Tuesday.

Lara Seligman writes Richardson’s appointment came months after President Donald Trump raised concerns about the cost of the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program and called for the cancellation of the contract with Boeing to build two new 747-8 planes through a Twitter post.

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg soon met with Trump and said that the company will work to build the next pair of presidential aircraft for less than $4 billion.

Ann Stefanek, a spokesman for the Air Force, said Richardson will continue to serve as PEO for tankers until June when Col. Donna Shipton succeeds him in the role.

As PEO for tankers, Richardson oversees planning and implementation of lifecycle activities for the service branch’s fleet of Boeing-built KC-46 Pegasus, KC-135 and KC-10 tanker aircraft.

The 34-year Air Force veteran previously served as director of logistics and sustainment at the Air Force Materiel Command and vice commander of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

Richardson was tapped in 2009 to serve as PEO for fixed wing under the U.S. Special Operations Command and became PEO for fighters and bombers in 2011.

His appointment comes nearly a year after the service branch issued Boeing a potential $127.3 million contract modification to continue to provide risk reduction support for the PAR program.