The United States has stepped up aerial intelligence gathering around North Korea, including using a newly modified RC-135V Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft. This comes amid threats from the regime in Pyongyang to send the US government a "Christmas gift," very likely in the form of a long-range ballistic missile test.
Despite a rising chorus of US defense officials crying foul at European Union efforts to take a larger role in security, NATO’s top officer said that he had a close working relationship with the bloc and his forces have access to projects to improve defense infrastructure on the continent.
The head of the Pentagon’s Protecting Critical Technology Task Force wants to tighten security controls. That may conflict with the push to streamline acquisition.
The Air Force is preparing to invest in what it’s calling Digital U, an online schoolhouse similar to Udemy or Codecademy that will let airmen learn basic cyber skills or challenge themselves to learn coding languages.
United States Forces Korea ended the USFK-wide curfew for service members effective Dec. 17. The original 90-day curfew suspension, and subsequent 90-day curfew suspension extension assessments, imposed from June 17-Dec. 17, focused on service member behavior, morale, readiness factors, and the capability for USFK service members to maintain good order and discipline, at all times and under all conditions.
An additional 4,000 Afghan interpreters who helped US troops in Afghanistan could receive Special Immigrant Visas, thanks to a provision included in the National Defense Authorization Act. The legislation means a total of 22,500 visas through the Special Immigrant Visa program could be issued to former Afghan interpreters—up from the 18,500 limit previously in place.
Much like previous researchers, Wayne State’s Aaron Rury also seeks to answer questions about using sunlight to power our world through fundamental scientific discoveries. In September 2018, Rury received an award from USAF’s Office of Scientific Research to look for ways to move away from traditional synthetic methods used to form the chemical fuels we use every day.