Acquisition
Personnel at Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command work in the cyber operations center at Lasswell Hall on Fort Meade, Maryland, Feb. 5, 2020. Photo: Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jacob Osborne
DISA’s push for acquisition accelerators buoyed by FAR update
Jason Miller, Federal News Network
By March, contracting officers at Defense Information Systems Agency’s (DISA) will be required to utilize at least one "acquisition accelerator" - such as oral presentations or confidence ratings - at 40% of all task or delivery orders. This agency-level push is supported by the overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which includes numerous changes designed to cut through red tape, reduce the burden on industry partners, and speed up th acquisition process.
Related: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Crowdsourcing Campaign
FAR 2.0 Update: Part 33 Protests, Disputes, and Appeals
Shane McCall, Small Government Contracting
Updates to FAR Part 33 aim to resolve legal challenges at the lowest level possible by incentivizing the use of agency-level protests over more formal external litigation.
- Transparent Debriefings: To discourage speculative protests, agencies are now encouraged to share redacted evaluation documents and include immediate explanations in award notices, providing vendors with clearer insight into selection decisions.
- Independent Review Rights: Contractors seeking a review above the Contracting Officer level are now granted a redacted copy of the source selection decision, allowing them a new opportunity to submit a supplemental statement to the review official.
Related: Practitioner Album: FAR Part 33 - Protests, Disputes, and Appeals
Innovation
Credit: US Army
The Innovator’s Burden: Why the Military Must Find, Protect, and Unleash Its True Visionaries
Bill Murray, Small Wars Journal
The military currently engages in "innovation theater," creating a superficial appearance of progress while maintaining a systemic resistance to disruptive thinkers. By examining historical figures like Billy Mitchell and B.H. Liddell Hart, the author illustrates a recurring pattern where the institution punishes visionaries whose ideas challenge established hierarchies and sacred cows.
- Hating the Innovator: Hierarchical organizations often love the concept of innovation but punish the disruptors who generate it, viewing their ideas as indictments of senior leaders’ expertise rather than helpful suggestions.
- Pathologies of Failure: Innovative ideas often die due to careerism, where the promotion system favors process conformity over risky ingenuity, and sacred cows are protected with religious fervor.
- Mandating Dissent: To avoid strategic irrelevance, the military must restructure career paths for contrarians, streamline bureaucratic processes, and make hearing dissenting opinions a mandatory part of senior decision-making.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY HORIZONS: Tracking Research Pipeline Key to U.S. Tech Primacy
Logan Whitehair, National Defense
The Department of Defense must shift its focus from merely tracking acquisition milestones to mapping the “innovation supply chain,” where foundational university research serves as the invisible backbone for modern military capabilities. By analyzing patent citations and scientific lineage, the U.S. can better forecast technological breakthroughs and optimize the transition of academic discoveries into fielded defense systems.
- The Invisible Pipeline: While the Pentagon tracks manufacturing supply chains and budgets, it lacks a formal mechanism to monitor the scientific lineage of technologies like AI-enabled sensors.
- The Innovation Lag: Current systems are often built upon university discoveries made five to ten years prior. For instance, deep learning breakthroughs enabling today's AI applications largely stem from foundational papers published between 2014 and 2017.
- University-Driven Breakthroughs: Approximately 29 percent of patents from the top 25 defense contractors cite scientific literature, demonstrating that innovation consistently traces back to university laboratories.
- Strategic Predictive Advantage: Mapping knowledge flows allows the defense community to measure the “invisible” innovation chain, enabling smarter investments by anticipating future breakthroughs. This data-driven approach helps secure the role of U.S. universities as the primary source of global technological innovation while maintaining national security.
Defense & Strategy
Lockheed Martin employees work on the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter production line in Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 24, 2012. Photo credit: Defense Contract Management Agency
The Arsenal of Democracy: Keeping China Deterred in an Age of Hard Choices
Eyck Freymann, Texas National Security Review
The United States faces a narrowing margin of deterrence against China, requiring an urgent transition from a focus on technological "exquisiteness" to a whole-of-system industrial surge. Success depends on making hard choices to prioritize mass, speed, and resilience in scouting, logistics, and munitions to ensure the military can field and sustain cutting-edge capabilities under constant pressure.
- Critical "First Look": Dominating the scouting fight is paramount in naval warfare, as the side that strikes effectively first gains a structural advantage that may lead the opponent to quickly capitulate. To survive China's layered counter-ISR, the U.S. must scale up attritable, networked sensors and drones that commanders can afford to lose by the thousands.
- The Missile Gap: A real "missile gap" exists because the U.S. lacks the deep stockpiles and surge capacity needed for high-intensity conflict, with some interceptors being used ten times faster than they can be produced. Reversing this requires multi-year contracts and co-production with allies like Japan to provide the stable demand signals necessary for industry to invest in bottleneck components.
- Brittle Supply Chains: Logistics is the weakest link in the deterrence system, characterized by an aging sealift fleet and fragmented command structures that create dangerous seams in planning. Reforms should include giving INDOPACOM full responsibility for theater logistics and aggressively forward-positioning supplies in dispersed, hardened facilities.
The Case for Caution: Why the U.S. Military Shouldn’t Organize Around AI… Yet
Morgan Plummer, War on the Rocks
The U.S. military should resist a premature "revolutionary" reorganization around artificial intelligence, instead opting for a deliberate, evolutionary approach that prioritizes foundational infrastructure and operational reliability over speculative hype. While AI offers significant potential for administrative and logistical efficiency, history warns that redesigning force structures around unproven technology often leads to costly failures that degrade overall combat readiness.
Drones Win Battles, Components Win Wars
Mirko Niederkofler, RUSI
NATO must transition from a platform-centric procurement model to one that prioritizes component-level mastery and rapid integration to ensure technological sovereignty and keep pace with modern battlefield evolution. By treating drones as evolving architectures rather than finished products, the alliance can overcome strategic dependencies and institutional inertia.
- Critical Fast-Cycles: Battlefield relevance now depends on dominating "Zones A and C"—the fast-cycle civilian and military components like sensors, batteries, and EW software—where traditional, risk-averse procurement is currently weakest.
- Subsystem Sovereignty: Achieving true technological sovereignty requires "stack mastery" over integrated subsystems, enabling domestic manufacturers to rapidly iterate, modify, and secure systems against embedded malware or backdoor risks.
- Lost Innovation Value: Beyond military risk, outsourcing key components forfeits the economic growth and industrial leadership associated with developing next-generation domestic suppliers for critical technologies like inertial sensors and high-density batteries.
Industry
Foundry artisans fill a mold to manufacture cast parts at Stainless Foundry and Engineering in Wisconsin, March 31, 1011. Photo: Nutan Chada, Defense Logistics Agency
Strengthening America's Defense Industrial Base Through Supply Chain Diversification and International Partnerships
Debra Zides, Danielle Miller, Jeff Kwastel, and Dan Ward, MITRE
To strengthen the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) against over-consolidation and fragility, the U.S. must adopt a strategic "domestic-first" approach that integrates allied partnerships through the selling, buying, and co-development of military technology.
- Triple-Thread Strategy: The U.S. should operationalize a three-pronged approach: selling technology to allies, purchasing from allied suppliers, and co-developing systems with trusted partners. This multifaceted engagement builds an adaptive defense ecosystem while ensuring the U.S. and its partners maintain a decisive strategic advantage.
- Mitigating Systemic Risk: Diversifying the supply base across allied nations prevents "geographic concentration" vulnerabilities in critical areas like rare earth elements and specialized materials.
- Leveraging Specialized Strengths: Strategic partnerships allow the U.S. to tap into specific national expertise, such as Australia’s advanced radar, South Korea’s shipbuilding, and Estonia’s cybersecurity leadership.
- Streamlined Regulatory Frameworks: Addressing "friction points" in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) is essential to improve speed and accountability.
AI is stepping into the fight for supply chain resilience and battlefield readiness
Terry Gerton, Federal News Network
DOD is leveraging AI-powered "world models" to transform fragile supply chains into resilient, data-driven networks capable of predicting disruptions and optimizing maintenance at the tactical edge.
- Structured World Models: Unlike general large language models that may hallucinate, "world models" provide a logical framework to reason over complex systems, such as the relationship between material expiration downrange and upstream manufacturing schedules.
- Ending Industrial Whiplash: By providing manufacturers with visibility into how equipment is used at the "tip of the spear," AI bridges the gap between long-term demand and current production, allowing for better pricing negotiations and more stable surge capacity.
An Industry Guide to the FY2026 NDAA
Madeline Field, War on the Rocks
The Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) implements incremental but significant reforms designed to transition the Department of Defense toward a portfolio-centric acquisition model and a commercial-first contracting approach. While several ambitious proposals were scaled back during negotiations, the bill prioritizes supply chain de-risking and expanded industrial authorities to enhance warfighter readiness.
Government Reports
Photo by Carlos de Souza on Unsplash
Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China
Department of Defense
Navy Constellation (FFG-62) and FF(X) Class Frigate Programs: Background and Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service
Audit of the DoD’s Oversight of Contractor Performance for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Sustainment Contracts
DOD Office of the Inspector General
Coast Guard: Approaches to Autonomous Ship Regulation
Government Accountability Office
Defense Primer: Strategic Nuclear Forces
Congressional Research Service
Research
Marine Corps aircraft conduct a homecoming flyover before landing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., June 6, 2023. Photo: Marine Corps Sgt. Joshua Brittenham
Scaling the Swarm: DoD and Army Strategies to Enable Rapid and Sustained sUAS Procurement
Haydn G. Giannoni, Genevieve Prevete, & Christopher J. Long, Naval Postgraduate School
The rapid rise of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) has transformed warfare. In harnessing this new technology, the U.S. faces critical gaps: limited domestic production capacity, fragile supply chains, and slow acquisition processes. This thesis analyzes how the Department of Defense can overcome these barriers to ensure affordable and adaptable sUAS are available at scale. Findings show that innovative contracting mechanisms such as Other Transaction Authority and Commercial Solutions Openings, combined with dual-use and modular open system designs, can stimulate private investment, reduce costs, and strengthen domestic supply chains. The research recommends immediate bulk procurement of commercial drones to signal demand, paired with a long-term Program of Record supported by sustained appropriations. Ultimately, U.S. military success in future conflicts will depend not only on advanced technology but also on the ability to rapidly field vast numbers of sUAS.
Innovation intermediation in total defence: the case of Combitech in Sweden
Wayne Stephen Coetzee & Aaron Ladestam, Defense & Security Analysis
This research explores how private companies like Combitech function as innovation intermediaries within Sweden's national security framework, moving far beyond their roles as simple contractors. By acting as strategic bridge-builders, these commercial entities translate complex technical knowledge across military and civil sectors while actively orchestrating collaboration among diverse stakeholders. The authors argue that these firms hold significant directive power, as they shape the standards, agendas, and digital architectures that underpin modern resilience. Ultimately, the study highlights a shift toward hybrid security governance, raising vital questions about how much authority and accountability should reside within private hands when designing a nation's "total defence."
Supply Chain Uncertainty and Responses: The Case of Ship Bromination Systems
Bradley Martin, Stephen M. Worman, et al, RAND
The U.S. Navy relies on a critically fragile supply chain for bromination systems used in water purification, which is currently sustained through government over-purchasing from a single-source provider. This dependency creates significant operational risks, necessitating improved monitoring and the development of long-term technological or strategic alternatives.
Events
2026 Naval Nuclear Submarine and Aircraft Carrier Suppliers Conference
NDIA Delaware Valley
21-22 January 2026
Philadelphia, PA
Beyond the Spark: The Holistic Business Case for Robotic Welding in Naval Shipbuilding
NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute
22 January 2026
Webinar
CMMC Academy
NDIA Great Lakes Chapter
28 January 2026
Pewaukee, WI
What is Digital Transformation for Acquisition (DxA) and Why is it the Answer to Speed?
NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute
28 January 2026
Webinar
36th Annual NDIA Special Operations Symposium
NDIA
17-18 February 2026
Washington, DC
40th Annual National Logistics Forum
NDIA
17-19 February 2026
Tampa, FL
Creative Disruptors in the Desert
Creative Defense Foundation
20-21 February 2025
La Quinta, CA
Generative And Agentic Artificial Intelligence Workshop
US Marine Corps
9-12 March 2026
Quantico, VA
2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit
Potomac Officers Club
19 March 2026
Accelerating Warfighting Capabilities
NPS 23rd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
6-7 May 2026
Monterey, CA
One more thing...
U.S. Navy Adm. James Kilby, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, shakes hands with U.S. Navy Capt. Eric Skalski, Dean of Students at Naval Postgraduate School. Photo Credit: NPS Public Affairs
Navy “Old Salt” meets SEAL “Bull Frog!”
NPS Public Affairs
The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) welcomed U.S. Navy Adm. James Kilby, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, to campus ahead of his role as guest of honor and commencement speaker for the Fall Quarter Graduation ceremony on Friday, Dec. 19. Joining NPS President retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau was the school’s Dean of Students, U.S. Navy Capt. Eric Skalski … And what unfolded was a moment of naval tradition and serendipity.
Kilby, an NPS alumnus, holds the title of “Old Salt,” an honor reserved for the longest-serving surface warfare officer on active duty. This distinction recognizes the officer with the earliest date of qualification as a surface warfare officer, symbolizing decades of experience and leadership at sea.
In an extraordinary coincidence, NPS is also home to the Navy’s “Bull Frog,” a title bestowed upon the longest continuously serving active-duty Navy SEAL. That honor belongs to Skalski.
The convergence of these two storied titles — the Old Salt and the Bull Frog — at NPS underscores the institution’s unique role in shaping leaders across the maritime domain, and celebrates our 250 years of U.S. naval heritage with today's enduring commitment to our nation and of those who serve.
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