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Former Marine Corps Deputy Commandant James Adams Takes Charge of Defense Intelligence Agency
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Lt. Gen. James Adams. The former USMC deputy commandant is the new director of the DIA.

Lt. Gen. James Adams, former U.S. Marine Corps deputy commandant for programs and resources, officially assumed responsibilities as the 25th director of the Defense Intelligence Agency during a ceremony held on Feb. 20.

What Did DOW’s Bradley Hansell Say About Adams’ New Role?

During the event, Bradley Hansell, under secretary of war for intelligence, commended Adams’ work at the USMC, the only service to pass a clean financial audit.

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“He has brought success to every assignment he’s been in and I expect this one to be no different,” Hansell said. “He led the Marine Corps to yet another historic first … as they became the first service to pass a clean financial audit, setting a standard for accountability within the department. He did so, not once, but three times.”

Adams was President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead DIA. He succeeds Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who served as the agency’s director until August, DefenseScoop reported.

What Are James Adams’ Plans for the DIA?

Speaking at the ceremony, Adams emphasized the need for the DIA to transform to meet the “speed, scale and complexity of modern warfare.”

He explained that while artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and open source data analysis have accelerated the agency’s capability to generate insights, the DIA needs to continue building a skilled workforce equipped with experience and tradecraft to deliver judgment and clarity to decision makers.

“It is my responsibility, our responsibility, to develop and empower our workforce to remove obstacles that detract from mission accomplishment,” Adams said. “[We must] ensure every analyst, operator, technologist and support professional can focus on what matters most: delivering insight, credible warning and operational capability to the combatant commands, the services and policymakers on time and on target.”

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Army Issues RFI for EMSO Capabilities, Potential IDIQ Contract
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ACC seal. ACC-APG has issued a request for information on Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations capabilities.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground, or ACC-APG, in coordination with Project Manager Electronic Warfare & Cyber, has issued a request for information on Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations, or EMSO, capabilities.

Army Issues RFI for EMSO Capabilities, Potential IDIQ Contract

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The RFI is paired with a Characteristics of Needs document developed by the Army Transformation and Training Command to inform market research and refine acquisition planning, the Army said Tuesday.

What Is the Army Seeking?

ACC-APG seeks industry input on developing EMSO technologies to strengthen spectrum control during large-scale combat operations against advanced adversaries. Responses to the RFI will help determine the appropriate procurement approach, including a potential multiple-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.

Why Is EMSO a Priority?

The effort is part of a broader push to strengthen the Army’s electromagnetic warfare capabilities; expanding its ability to attack, defend, manage and support spectrum operations across multiple domains and warfighting functions. The service is also working to close the gap between rapid advances in spectrum technologies and acquisition processes that have struggled to keep pace.

“Our modern approach of sharing upfront, broad problem statements through a CoN, as recently demonstrated in the Next Generation Command and Control effort, will be critical in obtaining meaningful industry feedback to shape procurement approaches for new equipment,” said Joseph Welch, program acquisition executive for command and control/counter C2.

Modernizing Army Procurement

The request for industry input comes as the Army continues broader acquisition reforms aimed at accelerating modernization and shortening procurement timelines. Under the Army Transformation Initiative, leaders have moved to reassess requirements, prioritize mission-critical capabilities and streamline decision-making to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies.

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JIATF 401 Counter-UAS Marketplace Reaches Initial Operational Capability
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Drone swarm. Army-led JIATF 401 achieved initial operational capability for its counter-UAS marketplace.

The U.S. Army-led Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has achieved initial operational capability for its online counter-unmanned aircraft systems marketplace, marking a step forward in efforts to accelerate procurement of drone defense technologies across the Department of War and interagency partners.

The digital platform is hosted on the common hardware systems electronic catalog. It is designed to allow authorized users to identify, compare and purchase validated counter-UAS systems through an established indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract vehicle, the DOW said Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of JIATF 401, previously stated that the marketplace will provide authoritative performance data so customers can select systems suited to specific threats and operational environments. He said requirements vary depending on location and mission, underscoring the need for a range of counter-drone tools.

What Does the JIATF 401 Marketplace Change for Procurement?

By leveraging an existing IDIQ contract structure within the catalog, the marketplace allows qualified users to move directly to ordering without initiating a new contracting action. That structure is intended to shorten acquisition timelines and reduce administrative burden for units seeking counter-drone capabilities. The catalog currently contains more than 1,600 items.

“The JIATF 401 [counter]-UAS marketplace is a critical step forward in our whole-of-government approach to countering the threat of small drones,” Ross said. 

“Our goal is to integrate sensors, effectors and mission command systems into a responsive, interoperable network that protects service members and American citizens alike,” he added.

How Does the JIATF 401 Marketplace Fit Into Broader Counter-UAS Efforts?

The marketplace builds on JIATF 401’s mandate to streamline development, acquisition and fielding of counter-drone capabilities. The task force was established in 2025 to consolidate authorities and replace the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office.

New DOW counter-UAS guidance issued in January enhances interagency data sharing and extends Title 10 authorities, allowing commanders to mitigate drone threats originating outside installation perimeters. JIATF 401 is supporting implementation of that policy through training resources and access to validated technologies.

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NIST Publishes New Guidance to Strengthen AI Benchmark Evaluations
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NIST logo. NIST issued new guidance aimed at strengthening the statistical validity of AI benchmark evaluations.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued new guidance aimed at strengthening the statistical validity of artificial intelligence benchmark evaluations.

NIST Publishes New Guidance to Strengthen AI Benchmark Evaluations

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What Problem Is NIST Addressing?

NIST said Thursday its new publication, Expanding the AI Evaluation Toolbox with Statistical Models, addresses shortcomings in common benchmark evaluation practices. These often rely on implicit assumptions, conflate different measures of system performance or fail to adequately quantify uncertainty. Such gaps can complicate interpretation and hinder decision-making based on reported results.

How Does the New Framework Enhance Evaluation?

The NIST AI 800-3 publication introduces a formal modeling framework to clarify how AI benchmark results are interpreted and how uncertainty is measured. It distinguishes between benchmark accuracy, which measures performance on a fixed set of benchmark questions, and generalized accuracy, which estimates performance across a broader population of similar questions. NIST notes that the two measures may differ and require distinct calculation methods.

The publication highlights the use of generalized linear mixed models, or GLMMs, to estimate AI performance and gain insights into benchmark composition and large language models, or LLMs. While regression-free approaches remain common with evaluators, GLMMs can more precisely quantify uncertainty and provide additional explanatory insights when correctly specified.

NIST Seeks Public Input on Automated LLM Benchmarking

In a similar move, NIST is seeking public feedback on a related draft framework focused on automated benchmarking practices for LLMs. The Center for AI Standards and Innovation released an initial public draft of NIST AI 800-2, Practices for Automated Benchmark Evaluations of Language Models. This aims to provide guidance on how automated benchmarks are designed, implemented and applied to evaluate LLMs.

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GAO Warns of Ongoing Schedule Gaps in NBIS Personnel Vetting Program
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Government Accountability Office's logo. GAO issued a new report on the DOWs development of NBIS

The Government Accountability Office has found that the Department of War still does not have a reliable schedule for the development of the National Background Investigation Services, or NBIS.

In a report published Tuesday, the congressional watchdog warned that, without a reliable schedule, the program may continue to face delays.

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What Deficiencies Has GAO Found in the NBIS Program?

According to GAO, the NBIS program has only partially met the credible and well-constructed characteristics of a reliable schedule.

One issue that the agency raised in the report is the program’s lack of a schedule risk analysis, which would identify problems that may lead to delays. GAO also found that federal agencies are not meeting timeliness goals for nearly all phases of the security clearance process, including for top secret clearances.

What Improvements Has GAO Identified in the NBIS Program?

Despite ongoing schedule concerns, GAO reported improvements in the program’s cost estimating practices.

DOW now projects spending an additional $2.2 billion on NBIS development through FY 2031, in addition to $2.4 billion already spent through FY 2024. GAO said the improved cost estimate should provide better visibility into program expenses and help reduce the risk of unexpected cost overruns.

What Is the National Background Investigation Services?

The NBIS manages the full lifecycle of the background investigation process, beginning with application initiation and continuing through investigation, adjudication and ongoing continuous vetting.

Designed to modernize and secure the federal government’s legacy vetting systems, the NBIS streamlines business processes and integrates data streams into a unified platform. The system is intended to improve user experience, enhance decision-making and provide a scalable and secure environment for handling personnel security information.

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Army Leaders Leonel Garciga, Michael Obadal Discuss IT Modernization Strategy
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Leonel Garciga and Michael Obadal. The Army CIO and under secretary on IT modernization and business systems consolidation.

Army Chief Information Officer Leonel Garciga and Army Under Secretary Michael Obadal discussed the service’s business systems consolidation and IT modernization efforts at the AFCEA NOVA Army IT Day, Federal News Network reported Monday.

Army Leaders Leonel Garciga, Michael Obadal Discuss IT Modernization Strategy

As Army leaders continue advancing system consolidation and enterprise IT modernization efforts, those priorities are expected to remain central to broader defense technology discussions. Save your spot at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 18 and join senior military officials and industry leaders as they explore the Army’s evolving priorities and strategic initiatives.

Garciga, a two-time Wash100 awardee, described legacy business systems as the “Achilles heel” of every enterprise, highlighting the Army’s push to eliminate outdated systems.

What Did Garciga Say About Army Legacy System Consolidation?

Garciga said the Army is accelerating efforts to eliminate outdated platforms. While business system modernization has been a governmentwide objective for more than two decades, he said the service is demonstrating measurable progress.

According to Garciga, the Army has shut down 100 systems over two quarters as part of its consolidation campaign. He acknowledged that some organizations have been affected by the changes but said the effort is necessary as the Army deploys enterprise-level capabilities and identifies platforms to focus on.

How Is the Army Advancing Its Enterprise IT Strategy?

The Army has established a low-code, no-code center of excellence aimed at promoting adaptable development and reducing unnecessary customization. Garciga said the service is encouraging functional leaders to rely on out-of-the-box capabilities rather than replicate customized legacy processes.

Garciga said Google Cloud was recently added to the Enterprise Cloud Management Agency portfolio, giving users access to all major cloud service providers.

The Army has also signed enterprisewide software licensing agreements with Palantir, Salesforce and Appian.

What Did Obadal Say About Army System Consolidation & Modernization Effort?

Obadal, a 2026 Wash100 awardee, said the Army began its modernization effort with approximately 800 individual business systems and has reduced that number to fewer than 300.

“Change is happening across the Army, but we have a long way to go,” Obadal said.

He noted that fragmentation remains across mission areas, with 42 systems supporting training and readiness, 58 human resources management systems and 75 logistics systems.

Obadal said the Army is seeing the impact of consolidation in its Total Army Readiness Review process. Since November, the review has shifted from static presentations built through thousands of man hours to live data reporting. Senior leaders can now access real-time information on every unit and major weapon system, down to individual bumper numbers. Obadal added that commanders can view parts backlogs at the Defense Logistics Agency and vendors, track delivery status and leverage large language models to generate real-time insights from large datasets.

“It’s a massive step forward for the Army to be able to transmit its readiness in real time,” he noted.

In January, Obadal said the Army is updating its software directive and advancing Budget Activity 8 to enable program managers to move beyond a hardware-focused budgeting model and access funding through a software-specific appropriations category.

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FTC, DOJ Launch Public Inquiry on Updated Guidance for Competitor Collaborations
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Partnership. FTC and DOJ are seeking input on potential updated guidance on competitor collaborations.

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division have initiated a joint public inquiry to gather input on potential updated guidance addressing collaborations among competitors.

The agencies said Monday they are seeking public comment on whether new guidance would clarify how antitrust laws apply to business collaborations in today’s economy. The move follows the December 2024 withdrawal of the 2000 Antitrust Guidelines for Collaborations Among Competitors, which previously outlined how regulators evaluated joint ventures and other cooperative arrangements.

Public comments must be submitted through regulations.gov by April 24, and may not exceed 18 pages.

What Is the Purpose of the DOJ-FTC Inquiry?

According to FTC and DOJ, the inquiry is intended to assess whether updated guidance would provide businesses with greater transparency and predictability when forming collaborations with competitors.

The agencies said such direction could help companies pursue growth and innovation while reducing the risk of engaging in conduct that could harm competition, including practices that may lead to higher prices or reduced innovation. Clearer guidance would also support stronger antitrust compliance.

What Are the Key Areas of the FTC-DOJ Inquiry?

The public inquiry requests feedback on specific topics where additional clarity may be warranted, including joint licensing arrangements and conditional dealing involving competitors.

The agencies are also seeking input on emerging technologies and business models that may benefit from additional guidance, such as algorithmic pricing, information and data sharing practices, and labor collaborations.

In addition, the FTC and DOJ are asking commenters to identify economic, legal or technological developments that should inform any revision of the prior guidance. The agencies noted that new types of competitor collaborations and technology-facilitated alliances have prompted increased requests for clarity regarding their treatment under antitrust laws.

What Did FTC & DOJ Leaders Say About the Guidance?

“In an everchanging economy, businesses need transparency and predictability from enforcers more than ever. These times may require the federal government to update its guidelines,” said FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson.

Omeed Assefi, acting assistant attorney general for antitrust, said effective enforcement depends on clearly defined standards. He stated that procompetitive collaborations are permissible and encouraged in a complex and dynamic economy and that replacing the withdrawn guidelines would promote certainty and support lawful business cooperation.

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Energy Department Fixes Identity Verification Flaw in Critical Minerals Portal
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Socure's Jordan Burris. The Energy Department has fixed an identity verification vulnerability in a critical minenral portal.

The Department of Energy has remediated an identity verification vulnerability in a portal supporting its critical minerals programs after a security researcher disclosed the flaw, Nextgov/FCW reported Monday.

Energy Department Fixes Identity Verification Flaw in Critical Minerals Portal

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What Was the ID Verification Vulnerability?

Researcher Ronald Lovelace found the system, particularly the portal connected to the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, allowed external users to register accounts using email addresses that appeared to belong to the Energy Department without verifying ownership. 

How Was It Discovered?

Lovelace said he used subdomain enumeration, a reconnaissance technique that maps digital footprint and accessible web infrastructure, to identify the portal and the vulnerability in the verification process. He demonstrated the issue by creating a test account with an email formatted as an Energy address and notified department IT staff. There is no evidence that the flaw was exploited.

Why Does Identity Verification Matter?

The weakness may have enabled cyber attackers to impersonate department officials on the platform. By exploiting the vulnerability, threat actors might have deceived researchers, contractors or other senior officials who rely on it for official program communications, potentially gaining access to sensitive internal documents or inserting themselves into program discussions. The risk is especially significant because DOE’s critical minerals programs underpin domestic supply chains that support energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

“This should be a wake up call for every government agency. When adversaries can enumerate federal domains, map critical digital infrastructure and impersonate senior officials without ever breaching a network, the attack surface has fundamentally shifted,” said Jordan Burris, head of public sector at Socure.

Broader Cybersecurity Challenges at DOE

The remediation follows continued oversight of DOE’s cybersecurity posture. In a 2025 report, the department’s Office of Inspector General warned that dozens of previously identified cybersecurity weaknesses remain unresolved. The watchdog cautioned that gaps in vulnerability management and security controls could leave departmental systems and data exposed to malicious cyber actors.

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AST SpaceMobile to Demonstrate Commercial Tactical Satcom Capabilities for SDA
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Chris Ivory. The AST SpaceMobile USA CEO said his company's BlueBird satellites will provide connectivity for defense mission

The Space Development Agency has awarded a prototype agreement valued at $30 million to AST SpaceMobile under the Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low Earth Orbit, or HALO, Europa Track 2 program to demonstrate commercial tactical satellite communications capabilities.

Under the firm-fixed price, other transaction agreement, AST SpaceMobile will use its commercial space vehicles for the demonstration, which is expected to be completed by December 2027, the agency said Monday.

AST SpaceMobile operates the BlueBird satellite constellation. The company currently has six BlueBird satellites in orbit, with a seventh one being prepared for launch in the coming days, Breaking Defense reported.

What Is BlueBird Constellation?

AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites are capable of delivering uninterrupted, high-speed cellular broadband connectivity directly to standard smartphones worldwide.

The company said its architecture employs a software-defined bent-pipe structure that facilitates high-bandwidth data transmission directly from low Earth orbit for commercial and government users.

“Selection for SDA’s Europa Track 2 program validates AST SpaceMobile’s ability to rapidly operationalize commercial space capabilities for national security,” Chris Ivory, CEO of AST SpaceMobile USA, stated. “By leveraging our existing low Earth orbit dual-use satellite technology, we support the Government’s defense efforts, delivering immediate connectivity with our BlueBird satellites and scaling quickly to advanced tactical use cases.”

What Is HALO Europa?

The Europa program is part of SDA’s Tranche 2 Demonstration and Experimentation System and aims to test technologies and methodologies that could later be integrated into the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

HALO uses an other transaction authority model structured similarly to an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Members of the HALO pool are eligible to compete for future prototype demonstration orders.

SDA issued a request for proposals for the HALO program in July. The agency said it could expand the HALO pool of performers for future agency programs, including additional architecture tranches. The agency expects to announce more awards under the program in the coming months.

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DLA Director Mark Simerly Describes AI as ‘the New Gunpowder’
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Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly, director of the Defense Logistics Agency. Simerly discussed AI in logistics at a recent event

Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly, director of the Defense Logistics Agency, emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in the future of military logistics, describing the technology as “the new gunpowder” at a National Defense Industrial Association event held on Feb. 17.

During the event, which was also attended by other DLA leaders, Simerly stressed the role that industry partnerships play in integrating AI into sustainment operations.

“The strength of the industrial base is what will allow the U.S. to sustain a protracted fight with a peer adversary, and DLA needs to ensure it can enable a surge as needed,” he stated.

DLA Director Mark Simerly Describes AI as 'the New Gunpowder'

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How Will AI Improve Military Logistics?

Army Brig. Gen. Kevin Cotman, commanding general for DLA Distribution, said he sees AI as a predictive tool that allows the military to respond proactively rather than reactively to surge demands in supplies and equipment.

“The objective is to ensure our teammates have the best tools available to ensure the readiness of our joint force and the capability of the warfighter to protect the homeland,” he added.

Meanwhile, Army Brig. Gen. Sean Kelly, DLA troop support commander, said greater visibility across the nine segments of the agency’s supply chain, in addition to AI, will deliver a greater impact in ensuring that critical materials reach warfighters at the pace of need.

How Is DLA Modernizing Its Supply Chain and Acquisition Strategy?

DLA is in the process of digitizing its global supply chains to accelerate support to the warfighter in contested logistics environments.

At the agency’s Demand Forecast and Industry Association Leadership Meeting in November, DLA leaders highlighted investments in advanced data analytics to strengthen demand forecasting, scenario analysis and risk mitigation.

In January, DLA’s Troop Support pitched AI-enabled concepts such as the Vendor Alert and Liability Oversight Resource, or VALOR, which uses analytics to flag supplier risks early. Other proposals include digital workforce initiatives designed to improve forecasting, inventory visibility and process automation.

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