Author Archive
Lauren C. Williams is senior editor for FCW and Defense Systems, covering defense and cybersecurity.
Prior to joining FCW, Williams was the tech reporter for ThinkProgress, where she covered everything from internet culture to national security issues. In past positions, Williams covered health care, politics and crime for various publications, including The Seattle Times.
Williams graduated with a master's in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park and a bachelor's in dietetics from the University of Delaware. She can be contacted at lwilliams@fcw.com, or follow her on Twitter @lalaurenista.
Click here for previous articles by Wiliams.
Cyber
CMMC assessments could resume in January
The governing body responsible for implementing the Defense Department’s unified cybersecurity program for contractors expects security procedures for authorized third party assessors to start back up in early 2022. But DOD has the final say on the timeline.
IT Infrastructure
How the Army is embracing telework-friendly tech
The Army is expanding its use of bring-your-own devices through a pilot program that’s expected to initially focus on National Guard and Reserve components as it rolls out Microsoft 365.
Cyber
Senate passes 2022 defense authorization bill
The Senate passed the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, 88-11, authorizing $740 billion for Defense Department spending, and $28 billion for other national security programs.
Cloud
JWCC is not a cloud 'competition'
The Pentagon's latest multi-cloud effort, the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability program, could change how the department buys enterprise services, according to a top defense IT official.
Cyber
How cyber gray zone conflict can shape conventional war
As gray zone conflict becomes the norm, the intelligence community may have to make some changes to adapt.
Cyber
Spectrum, cyber concerns surface in Grady's nomination hearing
Adm. Christopher Grady told senators that Defense Department moves to free up swaths of spectrum would have consequences when it comes to operations, training, and readiness.
AI & Analytics
Pentagon adds new role to lead, coordinate AI efforts
The Pentagon is creating a new position to lead its artificial intelligence efforts across the enterprise.
IT Infrastructure
Accounting for software in weapons systems
The Defense Department is still trying to figure out the best way to buy software and track that spending. But could the answer be in separating out those costs from the hardware required in major acquisitions?
IT Infrastructure
House passes a compromise on the 2022 NDAA bill
The bill, which supports $778 billion for national security spending, was filed in lieu of a traditional conference report and combines the text passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee in July and the House bill passed in September.
Cyber
A quick look at cyber in the 2022 defense bill
As has been the case for the past few years, cyber governance provisions were featured in this year's must-pass defense policy bill moving through Congress, but a bipartisan breach notification measure was dropped from the bill -- to the chagrin of its supporters.
Cyber
What’s next for CMMC
After the Defense Department revamped cybersecurity standards for contractors, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program’s accreditation body is making adjustments.
Connected Warrior
Could faster buying undermine electronic warfare prep?
Some measures that protect weapons systems against electronic vulnerabilities can be “pushed aside” during rapid acquisitions, according to David Tremper, the electronic warfare director for the Defense Department.
IT Infrastructure
Biden taps former Air Force weapons buyer to lead DOD acquisition
The White House has nominated former Air Force acquisition chief William LaPlante to be the Pentagon’s top buyer.
IT Infrastructure
Stopgap funding delays military SATCOM transfer to Space Force
The U.S. Space Force’s plans to absorb all of the military’s satellite communications, including nearly 700 uniformed personnel from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, is delayed along with the rest of the military’s appropriation as Congress preps for a second continuing resolution in fiscal year 2022.
Cyber
Checking in with the Army and Navy principal cyber advisors
Congress established service level principal cyber advisors in the 2020 defense policy bill. FCW sat down with the Army and Navy PCAs to get a sense of what their priorities have been in the past year.
Cyber
Top cyber lawmaker previews 2022 legislation goals
Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) is looking to create a statutory framework for threat information sharing and mitigation between a small number of critical infrastructure firms and the federal government.
Why DOD is so bad at buying software
The Defense Department wants to acquire emerging technology faster and more efficiently. But will its latest attempts to streamline its processes be enough?
IT Infrastructure
DOD still struggles with IT controls, audit finds
The Defense Department failed to get a clean opinion in its fourth annual financial audit, highlighting ongoing struggles to accurately account for IT systems.
IT Infrastructure
Coast Guard completes on-shore MHS Genesis deployment
The U.S. Coast Guard has completed its rollout of the military's new commercial electronic health record system to on-shore facilities, following a long journey that was paused during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
IT Infrastructure