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OUSD R&E Publishes New Guidance for Assured Access to Trusted Microelectronics
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OUSD R&E details new trusted microelectronics policies, responsibilities and procedures

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, or OUSD R&E, has issued a new document to address risks associated with microelectronics and ensure that the military and defense agencies maintain access to trusted chips.

The Department of Defense Instruction 5200.50, or Assured Access to Trusted Microelectronics, was published Friday to provide policies and procedures and assign responsibilities to secure microelectronics supply chains and defense systems and technologies.

DOD Trusted Microelectronics Policies, Responsibilities and Procedures

The 11-page document is divided into three sections: policies, responsibilities and procedures.

Under policies, the OUSD R&E wants the DOD to take five actions:

  • Drive innovation in the microelectronics ecosystem
  • Expand its supplier base for trusted chips
  • Ensure microelectronics technology sustainment 
  • Adopt a risk-based assessments for decisions related to microelectronics
  • Anticipate future microelectronics needs across the department

Meanwhile, the second section assigns the Pentagon’s technology leaders to support assured access to trusted microelectronics by carrying out tasks. OUSD R&E, for instance, will be in charge of providing training and education to advance microelectronics-related capabilities across the DOD. Meanwhile, the heads of various DOD components are asked to share their expertise to support assured access to trusted microelectronics whenever needed.

Section three promotes evidence-based assurance that considers factors such as security features, test results, best practices, suppliers and intellectual property strategies to make informed decisions on microelectronics used in defense systems and technologies.

According to OUSD R&E, the DOD’s microelectronics supply chain faces “constantly changing and evolving security risks” that threaten not just the performance of defense equipment but, more broadly, national security.

The document is in line with DOD’s Trusted & Assured Microelectronics program, which aims to mitigate threats throughout the microelectronics supply chain and modernize defense systems by opening access to advanced microelectronics that utilize commercially driven capabilities.

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How US-Iran Tensions Are Shaping Missile Defense Strategies
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Hear missile defense insights from MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins during his keynote at the 2025 Air and Space Summit.

Geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran have significant implications for missile defense strategies, given the evolving threat landscape, advancements in military technology and U.S. policy in the Middle East. The U.S. bombing of key Iranian nuclear sites during Operation Midnight Hammer marked a pivotal moment, triggering new challenges and issues for missile defense GovCons to address.

Fortunately, the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Summit on July 31 will host the Department of Defense’s top missile defense official. Don’t miss this phenomenal opportunity to hear a keynote address from Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, Missile Defense Agency director and 2024 Wash100 Award winner, and get his insights on missile defense in the Middle East and the agency’s FY 2026 budget priorities. Sign up today and learn of new missile defense business opportunities before your competitors.

Let’s explore the key drivers of missile defense advancements and their strategic implications in the wake of these escalating tensions.

Operation Midnight Hammer: Lessons Learned

The June strike, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, showcased U.S. use of advanced military coordination and technology. This multi-faceted operation targeted critical Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and involved a mix of stealth bombers, fighter aircraft, naval assets and cyber support.

Following the raid, Iran retaliated with over a dozen missile launches aimed at U.S. assets, such as the al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. U.S. missile defense systems intercepted 13 of 14 missiles, highlighting the effectiveness of integrated missile defense infrastructure.

The aftermath of the strike underscored two critical lessons:

  • The role of space-based systems: U.S. space-based missile warning and tracking systems proved integral in intercepting Iranian missiles with high accuracy
  • Counterspace threats: During the operation, U.S. forces detected potential electronic warfare attempts by Iran, targeting satellite communications and Global Positioning System infrastructure. The risks posed by counterspace attacks emphasize the growing vulnerability of space-reliant systems.

U.S. Missile Defense in the Middle East

Lt. Gen. Collins in May during testimony to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee previewed how U.S. missile defense systems would perform during a crisis in the Middle East. Iran in 2024 conducted two large-scale aerial and missile attacks on Israel.

Lt. Gen. Collins said the U.S. missile defense system demonstrated interoperability by detecting, tracking and engaging what he called the most complex, dense and stressing ballistic missile attacks in history, saving countless Israeli and American lives. These same U.S. assets, he said, successfully defended Israel against dozens of missiles launched from Yemen by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran.

Working together with Israeli missile defense systems, Lt. Gen. Collins said Aegis ballistic missile defense and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, performed exceptionally well. Aegis BMD demonstrated operational capability outside its design requirements while Standard Missile-3, or SM-3, Block IA and Block IB missiles demonstrated high reliability. Lt. Gen. Collins said SM-6 missiles fired in sea-based terminal mode demonstrated high trustworthiness and effectiveness.

The Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications, or C2BMC, system performed as expected. Lt. Gen. Collins said it enabled remote engagements by both Aegis and Israeli systems, correlated and combined overhead and terrestrial sensor data and extended engagement ranges far beyond internal weapon system radars, resulting in improved system level performance.

Missile Defense Challenges Posed by Iran

Iran’s missile program is the largest in the Middle East and remains central to its ability to project power and deter adversaries. As outlined in the 2022 Missile Defense Review, Iran leverages weapons systems such as short-range ballistic missiles, or SRBMs; medium-range ballistic missiles, aka MRBMs and uncrewed aerial systems to threaten U.S. forces and allies.

Key challenges include:

  • Improvised tactics: Iran uses offensive missiles to intimidate neighbors and engage in gray-zone activities, often through proxy groups.
  • Volume and saturation attacks: The sheer number of missiles deployed in retaliation to Operation Midnight Hammer demonstrates Iran’s capability to stage saturation attacks designed to overwhelm defenses.
  • Growing precision: Recent advancements in guidance systems have enhanced the targeting accuracy of Iranian missiles, making vital infrastructure and military bases increasingly vulnerable.

 

How US-Iran Tensions Are Shaping Missile Defense Strategies
Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, MDA director (right), testified to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee in May as to how U.S. missile defense systems would perform during a crisis in the Middle East. Image: U.S. Army

Evolving Missile Defense Solutions

To keep pace with emerging threats from Iran and other adversaries, the U.S. is investing in technologies spanning land, sea and space. Below are some key developments shaping future missile defense strategies:

1. Space-Based Systems and Sensors

The Missile Defense Agency has made space sensors, such as the Discriminating Space Sensor and the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, or HBTSS, critical assets. These systems improve:

  • Threat detection and tracking
  • Discrimination between real threats and decoys
  • Battle damage assessments after major operations

The upcoming Discriminating Space Sensor, which Defense News has reported is set to launch by 2029, signals a shift toward a more persistent and responsive space-based missile-tracking network.

2. Layered Missile Defense

A layered approach combining multiple technologies is key for countering complex threats like those from Iran:

  • Ground-Based Midcourse Defense, or GMD, to intercept long-range ballistic missiles
  • THAAD for SRBMs and MRBMs during their terminal flight phase
  • Aegis BMD leveraging sea-based interceptors for regional protection
  • Patriot Systems offering close-range protection for ground forces and critical assets

Layered defenses provide redundancy, reducing the chance of a single point of failure during high-stakes attacks.

3. Integrated Networks With Allies

The U.S. relies heavily on regional partnerships for missile defense. These partnerships foster collective resilience, enabling strategic responses to Iranian aggression. Collaboration with allies such as Israel, the United Arab Emirates and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council enhances:

  • Shared early warnings
  • Interoperability between defense systems like Israel’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow programs.
  • Integrated air and missile defense networks across the Middle East.

The U.S.-Iran tensions, exemplified by Operation Midnight Hammer, illustrate the growing complexity of modern missile defense. The Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Summit on July 31 is the can’-miss GovCon conference of the year. Attend an illuminating panel on the proposed Golden Dome homeland missile defense system. Brush up on remote sensing requirements at a keynote by National Reconnaissance Office Deputy Director Maj. Gen. Christopher Povak. All in a supportive and collaborative environment. Register now for the industry’s top GovCon event for air and space professionals!

How US-Iran Tensions Are Shaping Missile Defense Strategies
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DHS Unveils New Homeland Security Advisory Council Members
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The Trump administration named 22 new members to the Homeland Security Advisory Council

President Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and a 2025 Wash100 awardee, have appointed 22 new members to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, or HSAC.

DHS said Tuesday the HSAC will conduct its first meeting on July 2 at the department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The department noted that the America First HSAC is composed of homeland security experts with deep public and private sector experience and who are committed to meeting the president’s agenda.

Henry McMaster, governor of South Carolina, will chair the council and Joseph Gruters, senator for the state of Florida, will serve as vice chair.

What Does the Homeland Security Advisory Council Do?

Established on March 19, 2002, HSAC is composed of leaders from state and local government, first responder communities, academia and the private sector. It offers independent advice and recommendations to the DHS secretary on matters related to homeland security.

The council conducts research and provides policy analysis and recommendations on various security issues and evaluates the impact of security related to private and public policies as part of efforts to develop prospective security policies.

Other Homeland Security Advisory Council Members 

  • Alexei Woltornist, co-founder and president, ATHOS; former DHS assistant secretary for public affairs
  • Christopher “Chris” Cox, founder, Bikers for Trump
  • Corey Lewandowski, chief adviser to the DHS secretary
  • David Chesnoff, attorney, Chesnoff and Schonfeld
  • Edward McMullen, senior policy adviser, Adams and Reese; former ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein
  • George Lund, CEO and chairman, Torch Hill Investment Partners
  • Georgette Mosbacher, co-chair, Three Seas Programming, Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, former ambassador to Poland
  • Harvey C. Jewett IV, retired president of Super 8 Motels; retired president and chief operating officer, Rivett Group; president, Great Plains Education Foundation
  • James “Jim” Pallotta, managing partner and founder, The Raptor Group
  • Marc Andreessen, co-founder and general partner, Andreessen Horowitz
  • Mark Dannels, Cochise County Sheriff, Arizona
  • Mark Levin, broadcast news analyst, The Mark Levin Show
  • Matthew Flynn, attorney, Steptoe; former deputy assistant to the president; former deputy assistant to the secretary of defense
  • Nicholas Luna, assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for strategic implementation, White House
  • Omar Qudrat, CEO, Maden; founder, Muslim Coalition for America; major, U.S. Army Reserve
  • Richard “Bo” Dietl, CEO and founder, Beau Dietl & Associates
  • Robert “Bob” Smith, former U.S. senator, New Hampshire
  • Rudolph Giuliani, former mayor, New York City
  • Stephen Sloan, global head of private market secondaries, Portfolio Advisors; co-founder, Cogent Partners
  • Steve Kirby, founding partner, Bluestem Capital Company
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Timothey Hodgin Appointed Air Force Research Laboratory Command Chief
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Chief Master Sgt. Timothey Hodgin has been appointed command chief of the Air Force Research Laboratory

Chief Master Sgt. Timothey Hodgin has been appointed as the new command chief of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

The AFRL said Thursday Hodgin was officially assigned to his new role during a change of responsibility ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, on June 18. He succeeds Chief Master Sgt. Carlos Labrador, who was named command chief in July 2023.

As the command chief, Hodgin will serve as the senior enlisted leader and principal adviser working closely with the AFRL commander in overseeing the laboratory’s science, technology and innovation initiatives, including a $3 billion external research and development program. He will advise on the readiness, training, professional development and employment of the AFRL’s 6,500 military and civilian personnel.

Timothey Hodgin’s Career History

Hodgin most recently served as command chief of the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. In this capacity, he advised the commander on health, welfare, morale, training and professional development of over 8,000 personnel.

He was also the command chief of the 62d Airlift Wing at McChord Field in Washington, where he oversaw 7,000 personnel tasked with operating and maintaining 40 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. He was a senior enlisted leader for the 373d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group and NSA Alaska.

Earlier in his career, Hodgin held command team positions at the squadron level. He was assigned to bases outside the U.S., particularly in Korea and Hawaii, and deployed in missions supporting Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Enduring Freedom, Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector.

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Janet Petro Eyes New ‘Top-Level’ Structure for NASA
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Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro expects to decide on a new top-level structure for the agency within weeks

Janet Petro, acting administrator of NASA, said she is working to finalize a reorganization that would be at the top level of the space agency, SpaceNews reported Thursday.

“I expect to finalize the top-level structure for this agency within weeks,” Petro said Wednesday during a town hall for NASA employees. “Right now, we’re weighing several approaches, and we’ve been working on this since early March.”

Approaches to Proposed NASA Reorganization

For the new top-level structure, the interim NASA chief said she is considering an approach that would organize the agency through mission directorates.

According to Petro, the second approach would be “center-centric,” revolving around the agency’s field centers. The third approach would be a “product line model.”

“After we’ve selected this high-level structure, then we will begin to define those details of the organization at the lower level, and then we’ll make sure our operating procedures and our governance reflect what is needed for each part of the agency to succeed,” Petro said.

“We’re considering moving most functions currently being performed in D.C. out to where the work is being executed, and refocusing the work done in D.C. to setting strategic direction and engaging with our external partners,” she added.

NASA Budget Request for FY 2026

NASA’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 would cut the agency’s overall budget by nearly 25 percent and reduce the civil servant workforce by about 6,000 jobs.

During the town hall, Petro touched on the proposed science funding. NASA’s proposed FY 2026 budget would reduce spending on science initiatives by 47 percent to $3.9 billion.

“You know, there’s still $4 billion. There’s a lot of science that can still be done with $4 billion,” said the director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. 

“NASA is a member of the executive branch of government, and so it’s not our job to advocate, but let’s try to look at this in a positive way. We’ve still got a lot of money. Let’s see how much mission we can do,” she added.

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Coast Guard Headquarters to Undergo Major Overhaul
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The US Coast Guard's headquarters will undergo reorganization as part of Force Design 2028.

The U.S. Coast Guard is implementing a reorganization at its headquarters.

Effective July 1, a chief of staff position will be established to improve coordination across the headquarters, streamline decision-making, foster a culture of accountability and agility, and ensure the headquarters focuses on big-picture strategy rather than individual operational decisions, the USCG said Wednesday. The assistant commandant for resources, the director of governmental and public affairs and the Force Design 28 implementation team will report to the CoS.

USCG Headquarters Overhaul — Biggest Since World War II

The military service is also splitting its mission support unit into two new directorates: a deputy commandant for personnel and a deputy commandant for systems.

The DCP will oversee all aspects of personnel management, including recruitment, training and military family services. A new workforce and family services center will be established under the DCP to provide support for anti-hate and harassment, wellness, support services, and other programs focused on workforce well-being and family life.

The DCS, meanwhile, will focus on ensuring the Coast Guard’s equipment and technology are ready for critical, global operations. Several program executive offices will support the DCS by managing assets, including surface vessels; command, control, communications, computers, and information technology systems; and robotics and autonomous systems.

The USCG headquarters overhaul, the biggest since World War II, is part of Force Design 2028, which aims to ensure the Coast Guard continues its legacy as the country’s finest military service.

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Space Force Mulling Future of Transport Layer
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Space Force's Gen. Chance Saltzman spoke about the future of the Transport Layer at a Senate hearing

The U.S. Space Force may be reassessing its plan to build the Transport Layer, a data relay satellite network meant to rapidly deliver targeting data from sensors to shooters. 

At a Senate Appropriation Committee’s defense subcommittee hearing, Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations and a 2025 Wash100 Award winner, said that the Space Force is exploring alternatives. 

“Now we have to look at what are the other avenues to deliver, potentially, a commercial, proliferated, low Earth orbit constellation,” he stated. “And so we are simply looking at alternatives as we look to the future as to what’s the best way to scale this [the Transport Layer] up to the larger requirements for data transport.”

The Space Development Agency plans to launch about 450 Transport Layer satellites into low Earth orbit. The agency already has 27 Tranche 0 demonstration satellites in space and plans to begin launching 126 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites into orbit in the coming months. 

Tranche 2 of the Transport Layer is expected to have 182 satellites and begin delivering data globally by September 2026.

Space Force Mulling Future of Transport Layer

Experts from across government and industry will discuss the critical importance of air and space capabilities amid the great power competition at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Summit on July 31. Register for the in-person event here.

Could MILNET Replace SDA’s Transport Layer?

Multiple sources from government and industry spoke to Breaking Defense about the future of the Transport Layer. According to people with knowledge of the program, Space Force may terminate the Transport Layer once the satellites it currently has on contract have been delivered. 

The unnamed sources also shared that data transport will be relegated to SpaceX under the MILNET program.

Sen. Chris Coons, D.-Del., seems to have confirmed the transition when he voiced his concern over MILNET. 

“And that [SDA] work, which has been going on for several years and had robust competition and open standards, has been replaced by something called MILNET, which is being sole-sourced to SpaceX,” he stated at the hearing. “No competition, no open architecture, no leveraging a dynamic space ecosystem.”

The Space Force’s fiscal 2026 budget request also allocates $277 million for MILNET and eliminates funding for the Tranche 3 Transport Layer.

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DLA R&D Roundup Identifies 16 Enterprise Problem Statements
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Bradd Bunn, vice director of the DLA, delivered the opening remarks at the agency's recent Roundup meeting

The Defense Logistics Agency’s research and development arm recently hosted its annual Roundup Meeting, where leaders from across the agency reviewed 16 enterprise problem statements.

At the event, Adarryl Roberts, chief information officer at DLA, said the agency’s R&D team must “apply a problem-first approach to these enterprise problem statements instead of leading with shiny solutions.”

The Roundup is the culmination of visits that R&D leaders conduct across the agency’s subordinate commands and directorates. The visits enable the leaders to identify enterprise problem statements, which they rank according to agency priorities.

“DLA is becoming a digital-first organization,” stated Brad Bunn, the agency’s vice director. “Nothing is off the table as to where we will apply R&D’s capabilities to tackle the agency’s major problems and find solutions that have a clear, measurable benefit to the warfighter.”

DLA’s Ongoing Enterprise Challenges

The enterprise problem statements identified at the recent Roundup ranged from enterprise IT planning to scalable data and package sharing.

According to David Koch, R&D director at DLA, current agency projects aim to address enterprise problem statements mentioned at the event, including Department of Defense interoperability, reclamation of critical materials and manual acquisition processes.

R&D leaders also looked at the return on investment and the potential impact of the problems from an enterprise-wide perspective.

Senior leaders who attended the Roundup agreed to track project funding through fiscal 2026 to improve the transparency and agility of R&D investment and then apply outyear planning between 2027 to 2030.

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AIA to Serve as Navy Talent Pipeline Program National Facilitator
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The Aerospace Industries Association will serve as the National Facilitator for the U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Program

The Aerospace Industries Association has announced that it will serve as the National Facilitator for the U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Program, or TPP.

AIA, an organization representing the aerospace and defense industry, said Thursday the collaboration aims to support the TPP’s mission of boosting the skills of small and medium suppliers within the defense industrial base to enhance their talent acquisition and retention systems, resulting in a more efficient business operation and an increase in industrial capacity.

What Is the Navy Talent Pipeline Program?

The TPP, launched and initially funded by the Navy, provides employers with the tools to address workforce issues. Now accessible to all companies within the DIB, the program supports businesses in implementing effective practices for recruiting, hiring, onboarding and retaining employees. The program provides training, coaching and recognition without the participants incurring any expenses. The program fosters a culture of collaboration, encouraging partners to share insights and knowledge while delivering data on hiring and retention to showcase measurable progress and sustained enhancements.

“Building and sustaining world-class talent pipelines is at the core of our mission — ensuring our industry stays at the forefront of innovation, while leading in recruitment, development and retention,” said AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning, a previous Wash100 Award winner. “This initiative offers a smart, scalable solution to one of our industry’s most pressing challenges — building a sustainable, skilled workforce. By helping our members access proven team performance improvement strategies and resources, we’re not just supporting individual companies—we’re strengthening the entire defense industrial base,” Fanning continued.

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DOD CIO Seeks Input on Risk Management Framework Modernization Effort
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The Office of the DOD CIO is seeking industry input on innovative approaches to modernizing the Risk Management Framework

The Office of the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer has begun soliciting input from cybersecurity experts, innovators and industry stakeholders to help update the Risk Management Framework as part of efforts to improve cyber resilience, accelerate the deployment of secure technologies and enhance risk assessment across DOD.

According to a request for information published Tuesday, responses are due July 24.

Risk Management Framework Revamp RFI

According to the RFI, the Office of the DOD CIO aims to identify emerging technologies, operational methodologies and best practices to address redundant compliance efforts, streamline cybersecurity risk assessment and improve reciprocity across the department’s components.

Key areas of interest include AI-driven cybersecurity tools, continuous monitoring platforms, proactive cyber defense mechanisms, security control inheritance, artifact reuse, security testing frameworks and risk assessment models that support the rapid integration of automation, monitoring and active threat mitigation within cybersecurity programs.

The government expects industry responses to inform policy adjustments, improve the department’s cybersecurity posture and optimize risk management strategies to ensure the delivery of mission-critical capabilities to warfighters.

Requested Information to Support RMF Overhaul

The DOD CIO is asking interested stakeholders to provide a detailed overview of the tools and methodologies used by their organizations for continuous monitoring, system testing, penetration testing and vulnerability remediation.

Respondents can also explain how cybersecurity assessment and mitigation tools integrate automation technologies to improve threat mitigation, risk identification and cybersecurity resilience.

The office also wants information on risk assessment algorithms that could perform near-real-time risk calculations on large data sets.

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