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Senate OKs $901B FY 2026 Defense Authorization Bill
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Capitol building. The Senate on Wednesday voted 77-20 to pass the $901 billion fiscal year 2026 NDAA.

The Senate on Wednesday voted 77-20 to pass a $900.6 billion defense policy bill for fiscal year 2026.

The upper chamber’s vote came days after the House approved the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which is now headed to the White House for President Trump’s signature.

What Acquisition Reforms Are Proposed in FY 2026 NDAA?

In a statement published Wednesday, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the NDAA seeks to improve the Department of War’s acquisition process.

“The acquisition reforms will help speed the development and fielding of new systems and technology to our forces on the front lines. And it authorizes critical investments in technology and advanced weapons systems; strengthens our cyber capabilities and defenses; and bolsters innovative research and development efforts,” Reed noted.

Pentagon acquisition chief Michael Duffey will speak at Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. The under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment will be the opening keynote speaker, followed by DOW Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael. Register now!

Breaking Defense reported that the defense policy bill would direct DOW to adopt a “portfolio acquisition executive model” for program management and streamline the process for new entrants and commercial firms seeking to do business with the Pentagon.

According to the report, the bill would eliminate compliance requirements for small firms and establish the Bridging Operational Objectives & Support for Transition, or BOOST, program within the Defense Innovation Unit to help companies with operationally viable platforms transition to the production phase.

SASC Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said the legislation includes the most sweeping changes to the Pentagon’s business practices in six decades.

“The bill sets us on a path to modernize our defense capabilities and augment our drone manufacturing, shipbuilding efforts, and the development of innovative low-cost weapons,” Wicker added.

What Are the Other Provisions of the FY26 Defense Policy Bill?

The defense policy measure would give service members a 3.8 percent pay raise; establish formal programs for uncrewed maritime systems; and authorize $26 billion for shipbuilding, $38 billion for aircraft, $25 billion for munitions and $4 billion for ground vehicles.

The legislation would extend the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, authorize full funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to strengthen alliances in Asia and boost activities related to the country’s security partnership with the U.K. and Australia.

While the NDAA outlines annual defense policy, it does not appropriate funds.

Senate OKs $901B FY 2026 Defense Authorization Bill
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DLA Publishes Paper on ‘Just Enough’ Logistics Approach to Strengthen Military Readiness
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Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly, director of DLA. Simmerly published a paper on the "just enough" logistics model

Defense Logistics Agency officials have introduced the “just enough” approach to military logistics to enhance readiness and operational agility, DLA said Wednesday.

In the paper titled Just Enough Logistics: Shifting the Logistics Paradigm, DLA Director Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly and Lt. Col. Daniel Marvin of the DLA Director’s Strategic Initiatives Group present an alternative to the current process of stockpiling resources.

DLA Publishes Paper on 'Just Enough' Logistics Approach to Strengthen Military Readiness

Modernizing logistics is one of the key topics that industry leaders and military officials will discuss at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. Click here to get your tickets for this highly anticipated GovCon event.

What Is the ‘Just Enough’ Logistics Model?

A key approach to the proposed model involves the use of data and artificial intelligence for demand forecasting. The study also calls for the adoption of decentralized and interoperable systems for real-time visibility, predictive analytics for maintenance, and strengthened cybersecurity to protect global logistics networks.

Additionally, the approach emphasizes the importance of partnerships across the defense industrial base to maintain supply chain health.

“This approach offers a more resilient, efficient and adaptable logistics solution, enabling forces to operate effectively in complex and unpredictable environments,” wrote Simerly and Marvin in the paper. “The approach revolves around smart preparedness, focusing resources where they are needed most and leveraging technology to enhance visibility and responsiveness”

Why Does DLA Need to Change Its Approach to Military Logistics?

Simerly has previously spoken about the need to shift from the current “just-in-time” and “just-in-case” approach to a “just enough” mentality to address evolving challenges in the battlefield, such as contested logistics in operational theaters and global supply chain disruptions.

He added that the approach ensures that warfighters can carry out their missions effectively in unpredictable conditions.

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SWFT Industry Feedback Highlight Challenges, Opportunities in Pentagon’s Software Security Initiative
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Katie Arrington, acting CIO of DOW. Arrington published a new document on the DOW's SWFT initiative

Katie Arrington, who is performing the duties of chief information officer for the Department of War and is a Wash100 Award recipient, has published a document summarizing responses to three previously issued requests for information on advancing software security as part of the Pentagon’s Software Fast Track, or SWFT, initiative.

Arrington said in the document’s foreword that industry submitted over 400 responses to the RFIs. She added that insights from collected from the effort will inform how the department can transform software security and ensure that the U.S. can maintain battlefield superiority well into the future.

SWFT Industry Feedback Highlight Challenges, Opportunities in Pentagon's Software Security Initiative

Global adversaries are after government data. Learn more about threats to the U.S. in the cyber domain, which has become the principal battlefield in global conflict, at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21. You can save your spot for this critical summit as early as today. Register here.

What Did DOW Find Through the SWFT RFIs?

Responses to the first RFI, which focused on SWFT tools, revealed concerns over inconsistent attestation requirements. According to the summary, while organizations reported alignment with established security frameworks, many complained that the lack of universally accepted guidelines for documentation for compliance, which create additional challenges in integrating security standards into regular workflows.

For the RFI on SWFT external assessment methodologies, respondents said they rely on internal and external audits to evaluate software security. Companies called for clear guardrails for external assessment functions.

Industry sees potential to enhance the efficiency of risk assessment and address novel challenges based on responses to the third RFI, which centered on automation and artificial intelligence in SWFT. Responses to the RFI highlighted the capability of automation and AI to reduce manual and repetitive tasks, including data analysis and impact assessment. Respondents also raised challenges related to AI, such as explainability and reliability, data security, and model performance.

What Is the SWFT Initiative?

The Pentagon launched the SWFT initiative in May to transform the way it acquires, tests, authorizes and fields software.

Under SWFT, the DOW intends to provide clear specific cybersecurity and supply chain risk management requirements, software security verification processes, information-sharing mechanisms, and government-led risk determinations.

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NASA, Partners Test Commercial Satellite Relay Services for Near-Earth Missions
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Satellite communications. NASA and its partners have demonstrated commercial satellite relay services.

NASA and its commercial partners are conducting demonstrations of advanced satellite relay capabilities supporting near-Earth science missions as part of the Communications Services Project.

What Is NASA’s Communications Services Project?

The project, managed by NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation Program, aims to modernize its communications, including how the agency tracks, commands and receives data from science missions in near-Earth orbit, the agency said Wednesday. The demonstrations mark progress toward retiring the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system and adopting commercial services under the project.

Which Companies Are Working With NASA on the Project?

Amazon and SpaceX are both working to advance optical communications. Amazon’s Leo for Government program is preparing high‑rate optical data exchange tests across its low-Earth orbit satellites, while SpaceX has already showcased similar capabilities through Starlink during the Polaris Dawn and Fram2 missions.

SES Space & Defense and Telesat are driving multi‑orbit relay innovations. SES evaluated real‑time data relay capabilities across LEO, medium Earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit with Planet Labs, while Telesat is testing its Lightspeed network with optical inter‑satellite links to build a global mesh by 2027.

Viasat is demonstrating launch telemetry, spacecraft command and Ka‑band data relay through its geostationary orbit networks, including tracking Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch, with more tests planned for 2026.

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Gen. John Lamontagne Nominated as Air Force Vice Chief of Staff
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Gen. John Lamontagne. The head of Air Mobility Command has been nominated to serve as the next Air Force vice chief of staff.

President Donald Trump has nominated Gen. John Lamontagne, commander of Air Mobility Command, to serve as the next vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force.

According to a congressional notice, the Senate received Lamontagne’s nomination from the president on Monday.

Breaking Defense reported that if confirmed, Lamontagne would fill the post previously held by Gen. James Slife, who was relieved in February amid a purge of senior military officers.

Lamontagne’s nomination came nearly two months after the Senate confirmed Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach as the 24th chief of staff of the Air Force.

Save your spot now for Potomac Officers Club’s highly anticipated 2026 Air and Space Summit, coming July 2026!

Who Is Gen. John Lamontagne?

Lamontagne has been serving as head of Air Mobility Command since September 2024. In this capacity, he leads over 40,000 active-duty personnel, nearly 8,000 civilians and 551 aircraft, executing air mobility missions in support of the joint force, allies and partners.

Before assuming the AMC commander role, he served as deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa.

The general previously served as chief of staff of U.S. European Command; deputy director, J-5, Joint Staff; and commander of the 618th Air Operations Center at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

The U.S. Air Force Academy astronautical engineering graduate has logged more than 4,000 flight hours as a command pilot of C-12, KC-135R and C-17A aircraft.

Gen. John Lamontagne Nominated as Air Force Vice Chief of Staff
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Marines Complete Training, Live-Fire Exercise on MADIS Air Defense System
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U.S. Marine Corps logo. USMC completed New Equipment Training and live-fire exercise for MADIS.

The U.S. Marine Corps completed new equipment training, or NET, and live-fire exercise for the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, or MADIS, marking a significant step in operational readiness for expeditionary air defense, DVIDS reported Monday.

Marines Complete Training, Live-Fire Exercise on MADIS Air Defense System

Attend the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit to hear directly from senior Navy leaders and industry experts on emerging technologies, policy priorities and strategies shaping the future of naval readiness. Sign up now to secure your seat.

According to the report, USMC launched the first full-rate production version of MADIS in September.

During the NET, Marines participated in classroom instruction and hands-on exercises covering the system’s architecture, sensors, radar, weapons platforms and tactical employment at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. The training concluded with a live-fire event, allowing Marines to perform simulated engagements against aerial targets.

“I would tell other Marines training on this system to be open and be creative,” said 1st Lt. Michael Rushane. “This is the future of the Marine Corps and the future of GBAD as a whole. The ideas you come up with for how to employ this system, whether you’re a PFC or a General, will pay dividends in the success of this system moving forward.”

What Is USMC MADIS?

MADIS is a mobile, short-range air defense system mounted on a pair of joint light tactical vehicles that form a ground-based air defense weapon system. It is designed to counter and defeat manned and unmanned aerial systems and low-altitude air attacks.

The system features advanced sensors, mobility capabilities, targeting algorithms and a modular design that allows for future upgrades.

Earlier in the development process, the USMC Program Executive Officer Land Systems tested a low-rate initial production model of MADIS during a live-fire exercise in December 2023 at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. That test demonstrated the system’s capability against unmanned aerial threats.

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NIST Releases Draft AI Cybersecurity Framework for Public Comment
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology's logo. NIST issued draft guidance for AI-related cybersecurity

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has published a preliminary draft of its Cybersecurity Framework Profile for Artificial Intelligence, which provides guidance on the secure adoption of AI.

The draft will be open for review and comments until Jan. 30, the agency said Tuesday.

NIST Releases Draft AI Cybersecurity Framework for Public Comment

Learn about the increasing role of cyber in global conflict and get updates on where defense and federal civilian agencies are in their zero trust journeys at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21. Secure your spot at this critical GovCon networking event today.

What Is in NIST’s Cybersecurity Framework Profile for Artificial Intelligence?

The Cybersecurity Framework Profile for Artificial Intelligence is intended to address the cybersecurity risks associated with the rapid advancement of AI.

The document centers on three focus areas that every organization will have to address, according to Barbara Cuthill, deputy program manager for the agency’s cybersecurity for Internet of Things program and one of the authors of the framework.

The focus areas are:

  • AI security
  • AI-enabled cyber defense
  • Countering AI-enabled cyberattacks

NIST developed the preliminary draft through feedback from the initial concept paper the agency published in February, a workshop it hosted in April and a series of community of interest meetings held through mid-2025.

The agency plans to publish the framework’s initial public draft in 2026.

“The Cyber AI Profile is all about enabling organizations to gain confidence on their AI journey,” Cuthill stated. “We hope it will help them feel equipped to have conversations about how their cybersecurity environment will change with AI and to augment what they are already doing with their cybersecurity programs.”

What Is Cybersecurity Framework 2.0?

The Cybersecurity Framework Profile for Artificial Intelligence supports the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, or CSF, 2.0, which provides resources on how to manage cybersecurity risks.

NIST also recently published its second public draft of the CSF 2.0 Quick-Start Guide on planning workforce actions based on real risk conditions. Comments on the draft are due on Jan. 7.

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Atlantic Council Forms Task Force to Revitalize US Shipbuilding Capacity
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Shipbuilding. The Atlantic Council formed the Revitalizing US Shipbuilding Task Force

The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory have launched the Revitalizing US Shipbuilding Task Force to provide recommendations on modernizing and addressing the gaps in the nation’s maritime industrial base.

Wash100 winners Christine Fox, former acting deputy secretary of defense, and Mark Esper, former secretary of defense, will serve as co-chairs of the task force together with Kenneth Braithwaite, 77th secretary of the Navy, the Atlantic Council said Tuesday.

“It is vital that the United States regains its ability to rapidly repair and produce ships today, while simultaneously preparing to take advantage of modern technology,” Fox stated. “Only with the adoption of new technology and processes will it be able to produce new, more capable ships, rapidly and affordably.”

Who Are the Members of the Task Force?

The task force brings together defense industry experts, including former military and Pentagon leaders.

Wash100 awardees Nickolas Guertin, former assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition; Ellen Lord, former under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment; and retired Navy Adm. John Richardson, former chief of naval operations, are some of the task force members from government.

Officials from Hanwha Defense USA, C3 AI, PTC, General Dynamics, Colonna’s Shipyard and other companies represent industry in the task force.

What Are the First Activities of the Revitalizing US Shipbuilding Task Force?

Over the next 12 months, the group will convene to explore various topics related to shipbuilding, such as introducing advanced manufacturing capabilities, creating workforce incentives and assessing if ally-headquartered firms can increase U.S. shipbuilding capacity.

The Atlantic Council provides a forum for global leaders to discuss and navigate economic and political changes. The organization publishes papers to help shape public policies and strategies.

In October, the Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force published a report warning about China’s and Russia’s efforts to build hundreds of hypersonic weapons. The task force, led by Ryan McCarthy, former Army secretary and a Wash100 Award recipient, and former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, provided 10 recommendations for Congress and the Department of War to rapidly develop and field U.S. hypersonic capabilities. 

Atlantic Council also recently launched the ReForge Commission for nationwide defense industrial mobilization and revitalization of the U.S. defense industrial base.

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ACC-RSA Issues Notice for JHU APL ASSESSS Contract
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ACC seal. ACC-RSA has issued a notice for JHU APL ASSESSS contract.

The Army Contracting Command–Redstone, Space, Missile Defense and Special Programs Directorate has issued a combined sources-sought and intent-to-sole-source notice on behalf of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command to conduct market research for advanced technology testing and research and development capabilities to support the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Applied Science, Systems Engineering and Space Science Support, or ASSESSS.

ACC-RSA Issues Notice for JHU APL ASSESSS Contract

Register today for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 18 to hear top Army leaders and industry discuss modernization efforts shaping the Army’s 2030 objectives. 

What Are the Details of the Planned ASSESSS Contract?

According to the notice published Monday on SAM.gov, the ACC-RSA plans to issue a five-year effort as a sole-source single-award indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-reimbursable task orders for an estimated contract value of $91 million to Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The work focuses on advanced research, systems engineering, prototyping, testing and analysis across space, missile defense and combat systems.

The contract will support fundamental technology research, technology insertion, risk mitigation in defense systems and the design and testing of hardware and software. Contractor activities will include research, prototyping, testing, data analysis, and program management, including cost, schedule, and performance oversight.

What Are Johns Hopkins’ Core Competencies?

ACC-RSA SMD/SP plans to award this sole-source contract to JHU APL under University Affiliated Research Center authority. Responding contractors must demonstrate capabilities aligned with JHU APL’s eight core competencies, including strategic systems test and evaluation, submarine security, space science and engineering, combat systems and guided missiles, air defense, IT, modeling and simulations, and mission-related research.

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NNSA Completes Last W88 Alt 370 Warhead Production Unit for Sea-Based Deterrent
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NNSA logo. The National Nuclear Security Administration has completed the last production unit of the W88 Alt 370 program.

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration has announced the completion of the last production unit of the W88 Alteration 370 program, marking the conclusion of a multi-year modernization effort for the W88 nuclear warhead on Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. 

The completion represents the final phase of one of seven active warhead modernization initiatives, NNSA said Tuesday.

What Is the W88 Alteration Program?

The program addressed aging concerns of the W88 nuclear arsenal discovered during routine inspections. It is intended to sustain the reliability of the sea-based leg of the strategic deterrent.

The effort involved replacing the warhead’s arming, fuzing and firing assembly, installing a lightning arrestor connector, refurbishing the conventional high explosives and replacing limited-life components at the same time.

NNSA completed delivery of the final W88 Alt 370 warhead four years after the first production unit was achieved in July 2021. The program involved Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, the Pantex Plant, Y‑12 National Security Complex and the Kansas City National Security Campus for design, development, testing and component production.

“Completing the W88 Alt 370 is the latest instance of NNSA delivering modernized nuclear weapons to the Department of War at the pace and scale needed to fulfill our deterrence requirements. Achieving two LPUs for the B61-12 and W88 and the FPU for the B61-13 all within a single year demonstrates our ability to execute NNSA’s fundamental production mission,” said NNSA Administrator Brandon Williams.

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