Defense
Senators demand answers from Defense nominee
Lawmakers criticize Bill Lynn's responses to questions on his former lobbying for contractor and his role as Pentagon comptroller under Clinton.
Defense
Report: U.S. needs to balance military force, 'soft' power
Roles and missions review focuses on irregular warfare, cyberspace, airlift and intelligence-gathering with unmanned aircraft.
Defense
IG: Energy fails to track tactical weapons and sensitive equipment adequately
Inventory audit shows some facilities hoard excess weapons while others have shortfalls.
Defense
Pentagon plans refueling tanker contract award in early 2010
Request for proposals in long-delayed program is expected to be completed by early spring of this year.
Defense
From Nextgov.com: Defense Web portal not funded in fiscal 2010 budget
Joint group working on plan to fund Defense Knowledge Online , which provides e-mail, file storage and other services.
Defense
Gates names acquisition reform among Pentagon’s top priorities
Defense secretary vows to combat a culture that hinders effective procurement practices.
Defense
From Nexgov.com: Defense cybersecurity budget request likely a third more than reported
More than $1 billion in fiscal 2009 IT security budget request embedded in general program spending, not linked to networks, research group estimates.
Defense
Key Senate Republicans won't oppose Pentagon nominee
Graham and McCain signal they won’t hold up the nomination of Bill Lynn, though McCain asks for details on which issues the former lobbyist would be recused from handling.
Defense
Survey finds that majority of contractors increased revenue during 2007
Annual questionnaire shows only modest profits, despite greater revenue.
Defense
Air Force to deploy turboprop aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan
Army and Marine Corps have long used such aircraft for intelligence-gathering, raising questions about duplicate efforts.
Defense
Forward Observer: Dear President Obama
Even the Pentagon will need to cut back in the face of the economic crisis.
Defense
Veterans bounced by bank error
GSA contract bank refuses to honor checks issued to 465 veterans, who were subsequently hit with penalties and fees.
Defense
General says Marines can pull out of Iraq within months
Marine Corps Commandant James Conway says equipment can be removed in six to eight months.
Defense
Air Force announces possible locations for nuclear and cyber organizations
Officials plan to make final selections by the end of June, after considering criteria such as resident nuclear expertise and bandwidth capacity.
Defense
Army says larger Afghan mission hinges on support units
Gen. Peter Chiarelli expressed concern over the service's ability to deploy more troops to Afghanistan.
Defense
Senators urge Obama to keep F-22 production lines open
Congressional favorite is nearing the end of its production cycle.
Defense
Obama inherits a much-improved FEMA
Outgoing administrator wasn’t sure the agency could be salvaged when he took over after Hurricane Katrina.
Defense
Defense finalizes changes to NSPS hiring, promotion rules
Rules authorize use of direct-hire authority, temporary appointments and alternative promotion procedures for personnel system.
Defense
New Pentagon rule tightens revolving door
Any official involved in a big acquisition program will need written approval from an ethics officer to take a job with a contractor.
Defense