The core of ISIS operating in Iraq and Syria is “really opsec heavy,” using encryption and learning from past mistakes to try to keep their movements and motives secret, said Richard Ledgett, the deputy director of the National Security Agency. ISIS grew out of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back to the surge during the Iraq War, so the core of the group is “very communications savvy” in command and control, said Ledgett at the Defense One Tech Summit on Friday. The group’s leadership understands how to look for the effects of military actions taken against them, attempts to secure vulnerabilities, and often changes the way they communicate, Ledgett said. This has shown to fray recently, with the group this week executing dozens of its own to try to track down any spies who gave up information that led to the death of one of its top leaders, CNN reported. The group also is adept at using different communication tools, Ledgett said seemingly hinting for more support from tech leaders who say their apps are not being used for nefarious purposes. “[There are] not too many people who could say bad guys aren’t using their stuff,” he said.
NASA Boss: Race to Moon Has National Security Stakes
Sept. 15, 2026
NASA is pushing hard to get astronauts back to the moon by 2028—and the urgency is driven in no small part by the national security implications of doing so before China does, Administrator Jared Isaacman said Sept. 15.
