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

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and an F-22 Raptor assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron participate in exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3 with 32nd Air Refueling Squadron air crews over the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 9, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Monica Roybal)

Air Force, Space Force announce acquisition changes amid Hegseth’s reform push

Emerging Tech

An XQ-58A Valkyrie flies next to an F-35. (Marine Corps photo)

Marine Corps picks Northrop Grumman, Kratos team to build CCA drones

Emerging Tech

Zero-trust network architecture illustration (iStock/Getty Images)

Pentagon looks to use AI, automation for zero trust assessments

IT

An AC-130J Ghostrider gunship assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command flies near Hurlburt Field, Florida, June 6, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Tori Haudenschild)

AFSOC looks to add Starlink terminals to Ghostrider gunships

Space

U.S. Air Force Airmen and members of the Royal Air Force participate in the Shadow Operations Center-Nellis Capstone (ShOC-N) experiment event at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Nov. 17-21, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Nesbitt) (Documents blurred for security purposes.)

Latest Air Force capstone tests AI, joint integration for battle management

AI

Northrop Grumman’s TRKT3 will build on the Tracking Layer capabilities of Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 with targeted technology enhancements, expanded coverage and increased integration including precision fire-control sensing. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

SDA awards $3.5B across 4 contracts for next phase of missile tracking satellites

Space

AFRL NIPRGPT creator Collen Roller is pictured working on the AI platform workspace. (Photo by Albert P Santacroce)

Air Force sunsetting NIPRGPT generative AI platform by Dec. 31

AI

The Pentagon, as viewed from the air after takeoff from Reagan Airport (Getty Images/Aaron Seltzer)

ISACA takes responsibility of training, credentialing CMMC assessors

IT

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Raun Howell, 6th ARW command chief, second from left, shakes hands with Gen. Johnny Lamontagne, Air Mobility Command commander, at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, June 9, 2025. Lamontagne arrived to attend CORONA South 2025, a conference held bi-annually that allows Air Force leaders to discuss strategy and policy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Derrick Bole)

Trump nominates Gen. Lamontagne for Air Force vice chief

Tech