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

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., May 20, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Trujillo)

Space Force reworking test, validation requirements to meet acquisition reform goals

Space

Heven AeroTech’s Z1 drone (Credit: Heven AeroTech)

DIU approves hydrogen-powered drone for Blue UAS list

Emerging Tech

An F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 87 lands on the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), after an in-flight change of command in which Cmdr. Brandon Rogers relieved Cmdr. John Schnepper, Nov. 5, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tajh Payne)

Navy awards deal for holistic cyber supply chain monitoring of airborne systems

Cyber

Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate in Rome, N.Y. are advancing quantum technologies from the individual quantum bit or qubit, level to the system level, where different qubit types must interface for future capabilities for the US Air Force. (Photo by Albert Santacroce)

Pentagon pares down list of critical emerging technology areas

Emerging Tech

Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy A. George join “Fox and Friends” to discuss the new Department of Defense memorandum on Army transformation and acquisition reform, at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 1, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza)

Army introduces sweeping reform of its acquisition structure

Emerging Tech

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit and the 310th Fighter Squadron participate in the annual weapons load competition, Feb. 7, 2025, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The load competition featured the loading of an AIM-120 AMRAAM, an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, and a GBU-12 with a time standard of 20 minutes. Exercises like the weapons load competition advance training by producing command focused Airmen able to meet warfighting requirements. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)

Air Force puts out call to industry for new counter-air missiles

Weapons

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

Pentagon begins enforcing CMMC compliance, but readiness gaps remain

Cyber

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, left, swears in Gen. Ken Wilsbach as the new Chief of Staff of the Air Force at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 3, 2025. Mrs. Cindy Wilsbach joined her husband during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Stuart Bright)

Gen. Wilsbach sworn in as Air Force chief, pledges to advance modernization and readiness

Emerging Tech

Satellite rendering (Millennium Space Systems)

Report: Space Force must accelerate work to field capabilities for dynamic space ops

Space