Radar Sweep
Snapshot: DOD and COVID-19
Here's a look at how the Defense Department is being impacted by and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nuclear Weapons Agency Breached Amid Massive Cyber Onslaught
Hackers accessed systems at the National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
Opinion: Buy America Doesn’t Work; We Need Allies: Rep. Thornberry
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought even greater scrutiny to the security and reliability of the defense industrial base. Digging deeper to understand the source of components and subcomponents reveals the fragility of our access to the products and services needed to defend the country. That examination also highlights how few suppliers exist for certain things and how the lack of stable and reliable defense funding from Congress has put many of them in jeopardy,” writes Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, in a Dec. 16 op-ed.
Podcast: Balance of Power: U.S. Space Force 1 Year Anniversary
The U.S. Space Force is celebrating its one year anniversary on Dec. 20. Bloomberg's David Westin spoke to its first commander, Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond to find out what they have accomplished this year and what lies ahead.
Free 3-Year Memberships!
The Air Force Association is your voice to elected officials to ensure you receive the pay and benefits you deserve. Airmen and Space Professional—Active, Guard, Reserve and civilian: Join AFA today for free and receive a 3-year membership!
Senator Urges Delay in Collecting Troops’ Deferred Taxes
Defense officials should delay collecting deferred payroll taxes from military members until October, wrote Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) in a Dec. 17 letter to acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller. Service members and their families “may be about to face further financial strains” because of the collection of these deferred taxes, which starts in January, she wrote, noting that the pandemic has already presented many challenges for military families across the country.
Congress Passes Sweeping End-of-Year Bill Impacting 'Every Corner' of the Veteran Community
Congress approved a bill on Dec. 16 that increases resources for homeless veterans, creates a Department of Veterans Affairs advisory committee for Native American veterans, and mandates that every VA hospital hire a dedicated women's health provider, among dozens of other measures.
Air Force Plans A ’21st Century IT Store’
“It should be more like an Apple Store experience," said Lauren Knausenberger, Deputy CIO for the Air Force.
Video: Nuclear and Missile Defense Forum
Retired Lt. Gen. Richard P. Formica, former commander of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense, and retired Brig. Gen. Kenneth E. Todorov, former deputy director of the Missile Defense Agency, discuss the state of the U.S. missile defense enterprise following last year’s Missile Defense Review as well as projected U.S. missile defense capabilities in space, cyber, and systems technologies during a Dec. 16 Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies virtual event.
2 Die in Small Civilian Airplane Crash at Barksdale Air Force Base
A small plane crash occurred early this morning on the East Reservation of Barksdale Air Force Base. Two people died at the scene. Next-of-kin notifications had not been completed as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Barksdale authorities, so no further details on the victims have been released.
Air Force to Host Advanced Manufacturing and Sustainment Technologies Virtual Collider Event
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate will hold a special Collider Event on Jan. 12, that seeks innovative advanced manufacturing and sustainment technologies and processes to rapidly develop, produce, and sustain weapon systems as well as significantly reduce overall costs and/or increase availability while ensuring system safety.
Army Black Knights-Air Force Falcons Football to be Played at Neutral Site in Texas Next Year
Army and Air Force will play at a neutral site for the first time in more than a half-century when the rivalry game moves next year to the Texas Rangers baseball stadium that hosted the last World Series.
Video: Happy Birthday, U.S. Space Force!
Sunday, Dec. 20 marks one year since the Space Force was officially formed. Congratulations to Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond and the entire U.S. Space Force family.