Mikayla Easley

Mikayla Easley reports on the Pentagon’s acquisition and use of emerging technologies. Prior to joining DefenseScoop, she covered national security and the defense industry for National Defense Magazine. She received a BA in Russian language and literature from the University of Michigan and a MA in journalism from the University of Missouri. You can follow her on Twitter @MikaylaEasley

Articles by Author

Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) stand watch in the ship’s Combat Information Center during an operation in the Red Sea to defeat a combination of Houthi missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, Oct. 19, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Lau)

Navy program turns ships into continuous data pipelines for AI development

AI

U.S. Space Force Guardians assigned to Space Delta 5 monitor computer workstations Dec. 18, 2025, at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. (Photo by David Dozoretz)

Space Force drives additional acquisition reforms with new portfolios

Space

Space Force General Michael Guetlein, speaks alongside Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump announced his plans for the “Golden Dome,” a national ballistic and cruise missile defense system. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Golden Dome budget plan gets $10B plus-up to accelerate space capabilities

Space

(GAO photo)

Watchdog urges DOD to address external factors affecting CMMC implementation

Cyber

The MEO Epoch 2 mission will provide resilient, space-based missile warning and tracking of ballistic missiles and advanced threats, such as hypersonic glide vehicles. (BAE Systems photo)

Space Force wraps up preliminary design review for Epoch 2 MEO missile-warning sats

Space

An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Wright)

Pentagon names former DOGE employee Gavin Kliger as new chief data officer

AI

(Screenshot from PrSM launch video posted by U.S. Central Command)

Precision Strike Missile, made possible by Trump’s treaty withdrawal, has combat debut against Iran

Weapons

The Hypersonix DART AE vehicle aboard Rocket Lab’s HASTE launch vehicle at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. (Photo credit: Hypersonix)

DIU notches first launch of commercial hypersonic test platform

Emerging Tech

(Photo by Brandi Vincent)

Owen West takes helm of DIU, vows to ‘narrow’ investment priorities

Emerging Tech