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DOW CIO Issues New Instruction for Commercial WLAN Devices & Security
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DOW logo. The DOW Chief Information Officer has released a new instruction for the use of commercial WLAN devices.

The Office of the Department of War Chief Information Officer has released an instruction, establishing policy, responsibilities and procedures governing the use of commercial wireless local-area network, or WLAN, devices, systems and technologies to handle unclassified and classified information across the department.

Wireless connectivity and 5G will be a central topic at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29, addressed in multiple panel discussions, and DOW FutureG/5G Director Thomas Rondeau is set to keynote! Register before tickets sell out

What Is the DOW Instruction on Commercial WLAN Devices, Systems & Technologies?

This issuance designates WPA3-Enterprise 192-bit mode or the latest Wi-Fi Alliance equivalent as the standard encryption for Department of War WLANs. It sets minimum security requirements for DOW-owned and approved non-DOW mobile devices that use WLANs, clarifies the use of non-DOW WLAN systems and requires all DOW unclassified WLANs to allow authorized DOW personnel access, promoting interoperability and reciprocity.

It also requires unclassified and classified DOW WLANs to be IEEE 802.11 compliant, utilize certified radio frequency and cybersecurity functions, and support spectrum management. Classified WLANs must use encryption approved by the National Security Agency and adhere to the cybersecurity policies of the Committee on National Security Systems. All WLANs must have a wireless intrusion detection system, with an optional wireless intrusion prevention system, if approved.

Furthermore, devices are restricted in sensitive compartmented information facilities, or SCIFs, without a waiver, while unclassified and classified WLANs cannot coexist in the same space without joint under secretary of defense for intelligence and security and DOW CIO approval.

Which DOD Components & WLAN Technologies Are Affected by the New Instruction?

The instruction applies to all DOW components, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense, military departments, joint staff, combatant commands, inspector general, defense agencies and field activities. It covers DOW WLAN devices, systems and technologies that use IEEE 802.11 standards to handle unclassified or classified information and connect, directly or indirectly, to operational DOW networks such as NIPRNET and SIPRNET. It does not apply to other wireless technologies or WLAN-enabled devices that use non-IEEE 802.11 access methods, such as Bluetooth or Zigbee.

DOW CIO Issues New Instruction for Commercial WLAN Devices & Security
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NASA Demonstrates New Simulation Platform for Urban Air Taxi & Drone Operations
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Simulation training. NASA has demonstrated its new Strategic Deconfliction Simulation platform.

NASA has demonstrated its new Strategic Deconfliction Simulation platform, designed to manage electric air taxis and drones operation in congested areas.

How Does NASA’s Strategic Deconfliction Simulation Platform Work?

The agency said Tuesday the demonstration, conducted at the Ames Research Center, showcased the Situational Viewer and Demand-Capacity Balancing Monitor. These tools display real-time air traffic and flight plan adjustments. The simulation tested drone operations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, showing how preplanned flights can reduce congestion and manage airspace demand and capacity.

“Simulating these complex environments supports broader efforts to ensure safe integration of drones and other advanced vehicles into the US airspace,” said Hanbong Lee, engineer at NASA Ames.

The agency intends to run a technical capability level simulation in 2026,  which is expected to help NASA refine services that manage aircraft operating in urban areas.

Which Companies Collaborated With NASA for the Simulation Platform Demonstration?

NASA’s Air Mobility Pathfinders project team collaborated with industry partners to develop the simulation technology, an initiative under the agency’s Airspace Operations and Safety Program. This includes ANRA Technologies, which participated in the demonstration by showcasing its fleet and vertiport management systems to coordinate multiple aircraft and ground operations.

In a similar move, NASA partnered with ResilienX to create tools that enhance preflight planning and reduce safety risks for advanced air mobility aircraft. The tools provide real-time risk assessments in one platform, reportedly helping drone and air taxi operators make safer decisions before takeoff and protecting both passengers and people on the ground.

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Pro-Russia Hacktivists Target Global Critical Infrastructure, Agencies Warn
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Cybersecurity. US and allied agencies warn that pro-Russia hacktivist groups are exploiting weak operational technology.

U.S. cybersecurity officials and international partners have released a joint cybersecurity advisory urging operators of critical infrastructure to take immediate protective measures against a rising wave of opportunistic attacks tied to pro-Russia hacktivist groups. 

The alert, published Tuesday, was jointly released by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, other U.S. agencies and allied cyber authorities.

Titled “Pro-Russia Hacktivists Conduct Opportunistic Attacks Against U.S. and Global Critical Infrastructure,” the advisory stated that the groups have been scanning for and exploiting weakly secured operational technology environments across multiple sectors. Although the attacks rely on basic techniques, agencies said they have disrupted essential services and forced operators into manual procedures.

Pro-Russia Hacktivists Target Global Critical Infrastructure, Agencies Warn

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How Are Hacktivists Gaining Access to OT Systems?

According to the advisory, intrusions have frequently involved exposed remote access tools, including virtual network computing-connected human-machine interface devices protected by default or weak passwords. It noted that in some cases, actors gained access to OT control devices, changed system configurations and caused operational downtime.

Distributed denial-of-service campaigns have also been used to infiltrate supervisory control and data acquisition networks.

The threat groups are amplifying their operations by publicizing successful compromises and making exaggerated claims of damage to gain visibility, the advisory said.

Which Pro-Russia Hacktivist Groups Are Behind the Activity?

The advisory identifies several pro-Russia hacktivists actively involved in the campaign, including the Cyber Army of Russia Reborn, NoName057(16), Z-Pentest and Sector16, noting that these actors have shown intent to cause real-world disruption and are increasing coordination with one another.

“Russian-affiliated cyber actors continue to engage in malicious activity aimed at disrupting U.S. and allied critical infrastructure,” said Madhu Gottumukkala, acting director at CISA.

What Defensive Measures Are Agencies Recommending?

Organizations are being urged to reduce the internet exposure of industrial systems, implement strong authentication, improve asset visibility, enhance segmentation and monitoring, and adhere to secure-by-design principles.

OT device manufacturers are also encouraged to eliminate systemic weaknesses that attackers exploit.

The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community designates Russia as a persistent cyber and critical infrastructure threat due to its advanced capabilities and success in compromising sensitive targets and pre-positioning access on U.S. infrastructure. The report highlights Moscow’s strength in integrating cyberattacks with wartime military action, which could amplify its impact on U.S. targets during a conflict.

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War Department’s Acquisition Chief on New ‘Program Czars’
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Michael Duffey. The Department of War’s under secretary for acquisition and sustainment commented on the new program czars.

Michael Duffey, under secretary of war for acquisition and sustainment, argued that the newly established “program czars” within the Pentagon won’t add to bureaucracy, but will instead help streamline processes and cut red tape, Breaking Defense reported Monday.

“I don’t necessarily see it as layering; I actually think we’re removing layers,” Duffey said of the newly created direct reporting portfolio manager, or DRPM, role during an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Reagan National Defense Forum.

According to the report, these DRPMs overseeing high-profile defense programs report directly to Deputy Defense Secretary Steven Feinberg.

While the move established new offices, Duffey contended that it actually simplifies the process as each DRPM maintains a “direct” line both to Feinberg and to the relevant program executive officer or program manager.

Who Was Tapped as DRPM for Major Weapons Systems?

In November, Lt. Gen. Dale White was nominated to serve as DRPM for critical major weapons systems. If confirmed, he will report directly to Feinberg and oversee the B-21 family of systems, VC-25B presidential airlift, F-47 family of systems, the LGM-35A Sentinel and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile systems.

According to Duffey, the DRPM responsible for the F-47 program will also work with officials leading the program within the U.S. Air Force and the rest of the “governance board” that includes him and the Air Force secretary.

What Are Michael Duffey’s Thoughts on Golden Dome?

The Pentagon’s acquisition chief also shared his thoughts on the Golden Dome missile defense initiative.

“Golden Dome, in and of itself, is just a unique animal in terms of the fact that it’s more of an architecture that’s taking constituent systems that already have program managers in the munitions and the space-based capabilities and integrating things,” Duffey noted.

In July, the Senate confirmed Gen. Michael Guetlein, former vice chief of space operations at the U.S. Space Force and a 2025 Wash100 awardee, as DRPM for the Golden Dome project.

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Agencies Cut 43 Excessive Contracts Worth $3.5B
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Government contracting. DOGE said federal agencies canceled 43 excessive contracts with a ceiling value of $3.5 billion.

The Department of Government Efficiency announced that federal agencies terminated 43 excessive contracts with a total ceiling value of $3.5 billion over the past five days, resulting in approximately $222 million in savings.

What Were the Canceled Government Contracts?

In a post on X Saturday, DOGE said the canceled contracts include a $29 million Department of Commerce consulting contract to provide staff to conduct program management as well as planning, analysis and project management support and a $4.3 million IT contract of the Department of the Treasury to “develop a comprehensive strategic narrative and management approach aimed at the Human Centered Transformation and Enhanced Partnerships.”

In early November, DOGE announced that agencies achieved $103 million in savings after canceling 103 contracts worth approximately $4.4 billion combined.

Which Federal Agencies Account for DOGE’s Most Reported Savings?

As of Oct. 4, DOGE said it has saved approximately $214 billion through contract renegotiations, asset sales and prevention of fraudulent and improper payments, amounting to about $1,329 per American taxpayer.

The top five agencies reporting the most savings are the Department of Health and Human Services, the General Services Administration, the Social Security Administration, the Office of Personnel Management and the Small Business Administration, according to DOGE.

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OMB Unveils President’s Management Agenda
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Office of Management and Budget logo. OMB has issued the President's Management Agenda.

The Office of Management and Budget has released the President’s Management Agenda, outlining the Trump administration’s priority goals to improve the federal government’s performance and management.

“This Agenda articulates key management reform objectives as priority goals, established by the President’s Executive Orders and directives, while meeting the requirements set forth in statute,” OMB Director Russell Vought and Eric Ueland, deputy director for management at OMB, wrote in a memo to agencies Monday.

“The Agenda will advance the President’s America First priorities and instill a discipline in the Government to tirelessly deliver for the American people,” Vought and Ueland noted.

What Are the 3 Priority Goals of the President’s Management Agenda?

The Trump administration’s priorities outlined in the document are: shrink the government and eliminate waste; ensure accountability for Americans; and deliver results, buy American.

To eliminate waste, initiatives include eradicating “woke and weaponized programs” across the government; eliminating jobs in non-essential, non-statutory functions; and shrinking the federal real estate portfolio by offloading unnecessary leases and prioritizing cost-effective sites for agency buildings.

To ensure accountability, the White House wants the government to hire employees based on skills and merit, end censorship and overclassification, and ensure that contracts and grants are awarded to high-performing recipients. 

The document also calls for the federal government to consolidate procurement and eliminate bureaucratic barriers by ensuring digital-first services, defending against cyber adversaries, eliminating data silos and reducing wasteful processes through the use of artificial intelligence.

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Andrew McCarthy Named CISA Chief of Staff
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CISA Chief of Staff Andrew McCarthy. Andrew McCarthy was named CISA chief of staff.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency announced on LinkedIn Thursday that Andrew McCarthy has been appointed its new chief of staff.

What Will Andrew McCarthy Do as CISA Chief of Staff?

According to his official profile on the CISA website, McCarthy will oversee the agency’s daily operations while shaping its strategic direction, with a particular emphasis on policy development and organizational priorities. In this new role, he will draw upon his extensive experience across the intelligence community and the Department of Homeland Security.

What Roles Did McCarthy Hold Before Joining CISA?

Before his appointment, McCarthy served as senior adviser for cyber, infrastructure, risk and resilience at the Department of Homeland Security. He was an all-source intelligence analyst for the U.S. Air Force for more than six years and a member of the National Intelligence Council within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The executive also served as a senior intelligence analyst at the National Reconnaissance Office and a strategic communications officer at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

McCarthy was a program coordinator at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School and a research assistant at the Mercatus Center. Earlier in his career, McCarthy served as regional director at Torchmark.

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DHS to Recompete $100M Background Investigations Services BPA
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The Department of Homeland Security's logo. DHS issued a notice for its Background Investigations Services contract recompete

The Department of Homeland Security, on behalf of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility, intends to recompete its Background Investigations Services blanket purchase agreement valued at $100 million.

According to information on the agency’s Acquisition Planning Forecast System, or APFS, DHS will award firm-fixed-price contracts in the second quarter of 2026. An official request for proposals will be issued in the coming days. 

What Is DHS’ Background Investigations Services BPA?

The contract vehicle is intended to provide pre-employment background investigations and reports of investigation, or ROIs, to the DHS and its components. The agency uses ROIs to assess if an individual is suitable for positions of trust, specifically in work that involves access to classified data or is critical to national security.

Work will be performed at multiple sites across the United States, including territories, until March 2031.

Which Companies Secured DHS’ Previous Background Investigations Services Contracts?

CACI, Peraton, Omniplex World Services, ADC and General Dynamics Information Technology’s background investigation business, which is now operating as part of Xcelerate, are the incumbents on the contract. The companies won five-year contracts that are set to expire in February 2026.

Peraton and CACI are also providing similar services to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency under contracts awarded in 2023.

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Space Force’s Combat Forces Command Accepts Long Range Discrimination Radar for Missile Warning
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The U.S. Space Force's logo. The Space Force announced the LRDR's operational acceptance

The U.S. Space Force’s Combat Forces Command has announced the operational acceptance of the Long Range Discrimination Radar, or LRDR, a system designed to improve interceptor precision and reduce reaction time in support of missile warning, tracking and targeting.

The CFC said Monday that the radar recently completed its operational trial period under the Missile Defense Agency. MDA declared initial fielding of the LRDR in December 2021.

Space Force's Combat Forces Command Accepts Long Range Discrimination Radar for Missile Warning

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The effort supports the Space Force’s Missile Warning, Tracking, and Targeting, also known as MWT&T, mission.

“This operational acceptance signifies a critical milestone in bolstering U.S. national security and missile warning, tracking and targeting capabilities, and I am incredibly honored to be working alongside the talented men and women who will be maintaining and operating this critical radar,” Col. Jared Hoffman, assistant deputy commander for operations, plans, training and force development at the CFC, stated.

What Is the Long Range Discrimination Radar?

LRDR, located at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska, was developed by Lockheed Martin. The radar system is built on solid-state, gallium nitride technology and ballistic missile defense algorithms to provide the Space Force with MWT&T and space domain awareness capabilities.

The open-architecture platform enables future upgrades and integration to address evolving needs and threats.

LRDR, according to the Space Force, can distinguish between lethal and non-lethal objects in congested environments and provide precision tracking data to the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Fire Control System.

What Is Next for LRDR?

The MDA will continue to oversee research, development, testing and upgrades, while CFC will handle operations, maintenance and sustainment. Mission Delta 4’s 13th Space Warning Squadron will maintain the radar at Clear SFS, and the 7th Space Warning Squadron will remotely manage daily operations from Beale Air Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain. 

CFC accepted the missile warning function for operational readiness, while acceptance of the space domain awareness functionality is expected after trials with Command and Control Battle Management and Communications and the National Space Defense Center.

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DCMA Adopts “Wartime” Strategic Plan to Accelerate Acquisition Oversight
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DCMA logo. DCMA released a new five-year wartime strategy.

The Defense Contract Management Agency has rolled out a new five-year strategy designed to overhaul DCMA’s operations and align its goals with those of the Department of War and presidential directives. DCMA published the plan on Friday, with Acting Director Sonya Ebright emphasizing the necessity of the strategic shift, noting that the agency is now on a “wartime footing” where “speed matters.” 

The plan, covering fiscal years 2026 to 2030, is structured around four primary lines of effort that focus heavily on leveraging advanced data and technology to enhance warfighter lethality, transparency and value.

How Will DCMA Speed Acquisition Decisions?

The four priority lines of effort are:

1. Strengthening the Defense Industrial Base Through Artificial Intelligence

DCMA aims to enhance resilience across the industrial base by expanding the adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning. The agency intends to shift from traditional product checks to predictive, risk-based monitoring of contractor performance, safety and cybersecurity across the supply chain.

Key objective: Apply performance and cyber risk assessments across 100 percent of the suppliers DCMA oversees and shift 20 percent of product evaluations to risk-based contractor process reviews.

2. Delivering Agile Acquisition Life Cycle Processes

To improve stakeholder outcomes, DCMA will work to drive efficiency and acceleration by prioritizing the use of automation and modern tools. This effort is focused on adapting to the transformative changes driven by increased digitalization and the implementation of the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul.

Key objective: Reduce acquisition life cycle services processing time by 20 percent.

3. Driving Enhanced Value and Affordability

This pillar operationalizes a risk-based strategy to maximize the War Department’s purchasing power and taxpayer value.

Key objective: Streamline workflows and standardize processes impacting 70 percent of cost and pricing capabilities to strengthen organizational agility, and embed transformative technology in 50 percent of cost and pricing capabilities to enhance operational capacity.

4. Developing Talent and Aligning Technology

This line of effort focuses on internal capacity, modernizing DCMA’s infrastructure and workforce to meet future demands. This includes aggressive technology goals to transition from legacy systems and improve data security.

Key objective: Transition 95 percent from legacy systems, achieve zero trust compliance and configure its Blue List as an integrated, automated marketplace. DCMA also aims to improve workforce capability by reducing the skills gap by 5 percent and maintaining a 50 percent fill rate of agency-approved critical positions.

The strategy will be accompanied by an annual performance plan that sets measurable milestones and tracks progress.

“More than just a compass, the plan is also our clock,” Ebright said. “Our nation is facing an increasingly complex future, rife with challenges and threats, requiring a rededication of our national defense efforts.”

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