Op-Ed Archives

Airmen from the 67th Cyberspace Wing review daily tasks at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland’s Medina annex, Sept. 5, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Jason W. Edwards)

The case for an independent U.S. Cyber Force

An independent U.S. Cyber Force is not just a strategic necessity but an inevitable progression in the evolution of military operations, Daniel Van Wagenen and Kim Irving…

Aug 16, 2024 By Daniel Van Wagenen Kim Irving

Michael Bloomberg, Defense Innovation Board chair walks to meetings for the DIB in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Oct. 17, 2022. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)

Tech and talent are the keys to defense modernization

"In many cases, the capabilities that the department needs already exist. The difficulty lies in adopting and scaling them," Michael Bloomberg, chair of the Pentagon's Defense Innovation…

Jul 25, 2024 By Michael Bloomberg

Inside U.S. Cyber Command at Fort Meade, Maryland. (Josef Cole / DOD / U.S. Cyber Command)

An argument against establishing a U.S. Cyber Force

"Some academics, military leaders and politicians believe that establishing a U.S. Cyber Force will address challenges faced by the DOD cyberspace operations community. We disagree," Alan Brian Long…

Jul 11, 2024 By Alan Brian Long Jr. Maj. Alex Pytlar

Different makes us stronger: American diversity is a national security asset

Divisive domestic policies which counter efforts to leverage diversity are further entrenching the vulnerabilities that make these communities, and American society as a whole, susceptible to foreign…

Jul 3, 2024 By Jaret Riddick

Members of the 106th Rescue Wing Communication Flight stand in formation at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, New York National Guard, during their unit’s redesignation ceremony to become the 106th Communications Squadron, February 4, 2024. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Donaldson)

Now is not the time for a new cyber service

In this exclusive Op-Ed, Lt. Gen. Charlie “Tuna” Moore (Ret.), former deputy commander of Cyber Command, weighs in on options to address digital threats.

Jun 17, 2024 By Lt. Gen. Charlie "Tuna" Moore (Ret.)

A Soldier with 18th Space Company, 1st Space Brigade, operates a miniaturized tactical space system in a small tactical vehicle guarded by a British Army Special Operations Brigade soldier during Project Convergence Capstone 4 experimentation at White Sands Missile Range, Feb. 28, 2024. (U.S. Army photo by Brooke Nevins)

Achieving digital integration across allies: Lessons learned from Project Convergence

The success of Capstone yielded three major takeaways on government-industry partnerships.

Jun 12, 2024 By Nick Woodruff Chris Compton

U.S. Army Soldiers, assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, assault the objective during a Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX), Warrior Strike 2024, at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea, Jan. 6, 2024. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Alexander Kelly)

Leading the charge: Transforming US Army systems through digital engineering

Enabling technologies such as AI and multi-cloud environments can enhance a digital engineering approach.

Apr 2, 2024 By Josh Jackson

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 3, 2023) A global advanced reconnaissance craft is deployed in the Pacific Ocean during the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.1. IBP 23.1 is a U.S. Pacific Fleet experiment, executed by U.S. 3rd Fleet, operationalizing multi-domain employment of unmanned systems to create fleet warfighting advantages. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Derek Kelley)

CJADC2 needs a hedge to succeed

Using short-range uncrewed systems in each domain, a hedge force for Taiwan would act essentially as a mobile minefield, damaging transport vessels and warships in narrow “kill…

Mar 14, 2024 By Bryan Clark Dan Patt

Members of the 56th Air and Space Communications Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam operate cyber systems using a Enhanced communications flyaway kit during the Global Information Dominance Experiment 3 and Architect Demonstration Evaluation 5 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Alpena, Michigan, July, 12, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy Picard)

Data and AI: How CDAO is accelerating DOD’s mission

It’s important for the Department of Defense to double-down on visibility and security of its data while mulling over considerations for upcoming guidance.

Oct 13, 2023 By Rob Carey

Common Mission Control Center at Beale Air Force Base, California, March 2021. (U.S. Air Force photographer)

Establish integration metrics to prioritize ‘glue’ for all-domain operations

The Pentagon’s way of building and buying new gear was not designed for a military that gains an edge by recomposing its pieces like Lego blocks or…

Jul 6, 2023 By Bryan Clark Dan Patt