Several years ago, the Navy selected Hondo (James) Geurts as their new Acquisition Chief.  His previous experience buying for Special Operations Command taught him some unique ways to incentivize innovation and improve speed-to-capability.  While some programs (ships, submarines, etc.) benefit from the full scrutiny of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, most IT systems do not.  The Navy is tired of delivering great technologies that are several years out of date by the time the Sailors see them.  In the past three years, the Navy has greatly improved the way they look at these cutting-edge technologies.  This includes new contract types (Other Transactional Authorities (OTA’s) are now commonplace for IT solutions).  The Navy can communicate their pain points quickly and directly with Industry via white papers, and commercial demonstrations or pilots are able to move rapidly from concept to contract without further competition.

Greece and Turkey, both NATO members but historical enemies, are currently involved in a Navy standoff in the Eastern Mediterranean after months of escalating tensions. This could potentially lead to a military confrontation that could wreak havoc on the whole region. Vessels from both countries displayed a show of force

The Navy is considering equipping personnel with wearable devices that track movements and proximity to others in an attempt to investigate the effectiveness of social distancing measures as well as to ensure that Navy employees maintain a safe distance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The process would determine the efficacy of

France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has been hit with a COVID-19 outbreak, as a third of the sailors aboard the ship contracted the virus. Of the 2,000 sailors, 668 have been infected. The navy stated that an escorting frigate and carrier pilots are also in quarantine, however, nearly all

Can you trust NSA tools? This and more as OODA Network Expert Michael Tanji provides insightful analysis of the most recent and significant cyber news.

One week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the country’s navy may take action against Iranian oil “smuggling” efforts that violate US sanctions, the Iranian government stated that the country was ready to “firmly respond” to Israeli naval action against Iranian shipping lines. Iran’s ability to export oil

Security researchers with FireEye believe that state-backed Chinese hackers are behind a cyber-espionage campaign that primarily targets US maritime organizations focusing on defense, engineering and transportation, although companies in various other countries have been attacked as well. FireEye says with “high confidence” that the group is supported by a nation

“Greece’s defense minister is appealing to his austerity-battered countryfolk for a crowdfunding effort to raise money for new warships, promising to donate part of his own salary. Panos Kammenos says he will open a bank account on Jan. 1 where members of the public can make donations ‘for new frigates

“Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has ordered the Air Force and Navy to get mission capable rates for four key tactical aircraft up above 80 percent by the end of next September, a daunting challenge given the current readiness rates of America’s fighter fleets. In a memo issued Sept. 17

Chinese hackers breached a US Navy contractor in January and February, stealing information on naval technologies, weapons, and plans. While government officials have said all compromised data was unclassified, the breach underscores ongoing difficulties with contractors and agencies concerning the protection of sensitive data. The most significant breach in recent