Defense News

  • In a budget environment in which cost overruns are very likely to lead to canceled programs, the Air Force says it's pressing it prime vendors to remove any costs they possibly can from their subcontracted supplier base.

    April 17, 2014
  • The Air Force is making a new push to lower the prices of its acquisition programs by asking contractors to scrub their supply chains for unnecessary costs. Federal News Radio's Jared Serbu reports the service thinks it's made some progress, but that it's still paying more than it should.

    April 16, 2014
  • The Navy and Marine Corps provided hands-on demonstrations of some of the innovative machines they use to help them do their jobs.

    April 11, 2014
  • A group of functional domain experts are reaching out to the military services and agencies to look at service contracting spending across 12 areas. The Defense Department's goal is to use strategic sourcing to improve how it buys in these categories. The Army created a governance board to bring together all stakeholders during specific points of the acquisition process to find opportunities to collaborate.

    April 11, 2014
  • The Naval Air Systems Command's acquisition practices are laden with so much unnecessary costs that its commander worries about its ability to meet its mission to the fleet a few years from now. NAVAIR's commander said it's time to rethink the way it engages the acquisition system and with industry.

    April 10, 2014
  • The Defense Department's overall budget will shrink by a combined $900 billion by fiscal year 2021, according to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno. He tells the Senate Armed Services Committee how the Army will absorb more than $260 billion in cuts during that span. On Pentagon Solutions, Odierno says the Pentagon is creating a Total Army Solution for the looming budget cuts.

    April 09, 2014
  • The Navy has a unique way it approaches the health and wellness of its sailors. All food aboard ships is developed and approved by a triad of people. The special group consists of an executive chef, a dietitian, and a subject matter expert. Danny King, commander of the Supply Corps for the Navy and director of the Navy Food Service, spoke with Federal Drive Host Emily Kopp at the Sea Air Space Exposition. View photos and listen to more of our interviews from the expo.

    April 07, 2014
  • The Navy continues to change the way it thinks about energy consumption. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus recently outlined several energy goals for the next six years. They include reducing petroleum used afloat and increasing alternative energy use ashore. Much of the responsibility for that plan falls to Vice Admiral Philip Hart Cullom, the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics. He spoke with Federal Drive Host Emily Kopp at the Sea Air Space Exposition. View photos and listen to more of our interviews from the expo.

    April 07, 2014
  • On any given day, the Department of the Navy is the size of the largest two or three companies in the United States. With hundreds of thousands of people and a network of installations and other assets worldwide, it's a real challenge to manage. Right now, that job falls to Adm. Jonathan Greenert, the chief of Naval Operations. He spoke with Federal Drive co-host Emily Kopp at the Sea Air Space Exposition. View photos and listen to more of our interviews from the expo.

    April 07, 2014
  • After dealing with a bid protest, meeting the timeline will require the Navy and its prime vendor to move quickly. The new schedule accelerates the original transition schedule by several months.

    April 07, 2014
  • A tight budget is forcing the Army to cut its ranks by at least 70,000 people over the next five years. The Army also has to let go of some weapons programs to keep its spending levels down. Those plans could come at the cost of military readiness.

    April 01, 2014
  • The Littoral Combat Ship program is in turmoil as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sets up a task force to look at alternatives to the LCS. That task force's recommendations could include a modified LCS system, an alternative system or continuing with the LCS as-is. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, chairman of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, heard from leaders across the Navy and Marine Corps. In our Congressional Spotlight, he explains his concerns about the LCS.

    March 31, 2014
  • The Army is the first service to begin an analysis of its excess real estate after a Congressional prohibition against even studying the subject expired. Early results show up to a quarter of its stateside infrastructure isn't being used right now, and the Army will need even less as it shrinks in size.

    March 31, 2014
  • Lt. Gen Thomas Bostick, the Army Corps of Engineers' commanding general, talks about changes coming to the Corps as a result of the military and budget draw downs.

    March 28, 2014

On DoD

On DoD

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Each week, Defense Reporter Jared Serbu speaks with the managers of the federal government's largest department. Subscribe on PodcastOne or Apple Podcasts.