On DoD

  • 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
  • Records show the civilian truck driver who killed a sailor at the world's largest Naval Base was a felon. Jeffrey Tyrone Savage was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and spent time in prison for possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.

    March 28, 2014
  • The Littoral Combat Ship program is struggling to stay afloat financially. But Congress has another concern. The ships themselves might be easy to sink. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus testified before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee on the Navy's budget request yesterday. Subcommittee member Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) asked him to explain how this is possible if the LCS is supposed to be the ship of the future.

    March 26, 2014
  • The hallways of a building at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling echoed with the sounds of gunfire last month as part of a training exercise to help base law enforcement personnel prepare for an active-shooter event.

    March 25, 2014
  • The Army has a wardrobe problem. For years, the service has tried to improve its camouflage uniforms. But the process has been plagued by financial, technical and political problems. While that project stalls, the Army's PEO Soldier Unit is developing armor, helmets and other equipment for warfighters. Col. Robert Mortlock, program manager for the Army's Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment office, spoke with the Federal Drive's Tom Temin and Emily Kopp about the latest efforts on the Army's wardrobe front.

    March 25, 2014
  • The "white hats" can never let up in the drive to stay ahead of cyber mischief makers. The Cyber Security Research Alliance recently announced its teaming up with Drexel and George Mason University to research some of the big cyber and physical security problems in the country. Lee Holcomb, president of the alliance and deputy of Technical Operations at Lockheed Martin's Information Systems and Global Solutions, spoke with Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp, about the work the group is doing. Lockheed Martin is a founding member of CSRA.

    March 25, 2014
  • Over the past 12 years, the Army Corps of Engineers has had a full plate — building new facilities for the last round of base realignments, dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and a lot of overseas construction in Iraq and Afghanistan. But as wars and military budgets draw down, it's time for the agency to reshape itself, says Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, the Corps' commanding general. He spoke with Federal News Radio DoD Reporter Jared Serbu. Hear Jared's full hour-long interview with Bostick, Weds. March 26 at 3p.m. Listen here.

    March 25, 2014
  • Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of Naval Operations, is creating a task force to draw up recommendations for alternatives to the Littoral Combat Ship. That program has driven controversy since its inception from both a cost and operational perspective. Retired Vice Adm. Lou Crenshaw, principal of Crenshaw Consulting Associates, discussed the program on In Depth with Francis Rose.

    March 24, 2014
  • Horace Blackman, a long-time Veterans Affairs IT executive, also leaves for the private sector, joining Lockheed Martin.

    March 24, 2014
  • The Navy takes pointers from Google Glass to create the next generation of military training.

    March 21, 2014
  • The Pentagon will complete the Joint Regional Security Stacks in the European theater by the end of this year, two years earlier than planned. DoD already has begun to construct this regional cyber approach in the U.S. as part of its Joint Information Environment program.

    March 21, 2014