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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

Rendering of Northrop Grumman’s GAS-T design that will leverage an ESPAStar-D satellite platform to add fuel and extend the life of in-orbit assets. (Northrop Grumman image)

Space Force still weighing cost, operational advantages of satellite refueling tech

Space

Troy Meink appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his nomination to be secretary of the Air Force in Washington, D.C., March 27, 2025. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)

Senate confirms Troy Meink as 27th secretary of the Air Force

Emerging Tech

(Getty Images)

With pilot planned for 2026, DIU brings additional vendors into ‘hybrid’ space satellite network project

Space

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. David Whalen, assigned to the Marine Innovation Unit (MIU), Marine Forces Reserve, works on developing a “Flight Mode” software feature at the Marine Corps Software Factory (MCSWF) in Austin, Texas, 17 – 29 March, 2025. (U.S.Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Orion Stpierre)

Pentagon sets out two-year plan to scale enterprise cloud offerings, software factories

Emerging Tech

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st Space Brigade on Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colo., conduct a training exercise sweep of their assigned area on May 25, 2021. The training revolved around timely assembly of space related assets in unknown locations and the teams coordination, communication and combat training throughout the process.

Army stands up new career field for enlisted soldiers focused on space operations

Space

(Getty Images)

Space Force taps 12 vendors to host future emerging tech experiments on orbit

Space

Anduril’s CCA prototype known as the YQF-44A Fury. (Credit: Anduril)

Air Force kicks off ground testing for CCA drones while preparing for first flight

Emerging Tech

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

New Pentagon program to speed up software acquisition set to launch May 1

IT

A medium range ballistic missile target is launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, as part of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1a (FTM-31 E1a), held on March 30, 2023 in cooperation with the U.S. Navy. (MDA photo)

Lawmakers propose $25B to fund Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense shield

Space