Christopher J. Castelli

Archived Articles
Daily News | December 18, 2013

The Defense Department has proposed major changes to an emerging federal cybersecurity framework to strengthen risk management and stress the resiliency needed for continued operations amid incidents that degrade network performance.

The Insider | December 18, 2013

The White House has announced plans to nominate Eric Rosenbach, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy, to be assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense. In his new role as the Pentagon's top homeland defense official, Rosenbach would bring years of experience with cybersecurity and counterterrorism policy matters and oversee a new incarnation of the homeland defense office, which was recently reorganized by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in an overhaul of the Pentagon's policy shop.

The Insider | December 13, 2013

Capitol Hill's proposed two-year budget deal would “mitigate” the Air Force's near-term readiness problems, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told reporters today at the Pentagon. “It's at the top of our payback list,” he said.

Daily News | December 13, 2013

The Pentagon is developing a new approach to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance that will reduce redundancy among the disparate armed services' unmanned aircraft systems, the Air Force's top officer said today.

Daily News | December 13, 2013

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh today defended the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program's work on software, widely considered the biggest risk in the aircraft's development, but did not rule out the prospect of more delays.

The Insider | December 12, 2013

Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, who this week watched a demonstration of the Marine Corps' F-35B Joint Strike Fighter in Arizona, reiterated today that is his country is "seriously considering" acquiring F-35s to replace its F-16s, but no decision is imminent.

Daily News | December 11, 2013

A new study urges the Navy to create an office to guard against unexpected threats, perhaps the toughest and biggest challenge facing the Pentagon, but fiscal pressures could present a hurdle to standing up any new organization.

Daily News | December 11, 2013

The Pentagon will face fewer fiscal pressures over the next two years if the House and Senate approve a newly announced congressional budget deal, according to lawmakers and analysts.

Daily News | December 4, 2013

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today he will overhaul and trim his office's bureaucracy while improving oversight of key policy matters like cyberwarfare, weapons of mass destruction and homeland defense.

The Insider | December 3, 2013

The Pentagon's inspector general has launched a review of the Defense Department's use of unmanned aerial systems to support civil authorities.

Daily News | December 3, 2013

The White House will tap former Pentagon cost-assessor Christine Fox to temporarily replace outgoing Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, the Pentagon announced today.

The Insider | November 27, 2013

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera this morning to discuss the security situation in the East China Sea, Assistant Press Secretary Carl Woog said in a statement.

Daily News | November 26, 2013

Pentagon leaders will soon brief President Obama on the Quadrennial Defense Review and seek his approval of key elements, InsideDefense.com has learned.

Daily News | November 22, 2013

Future U.S. military operations may require a new kind of senior commander for cyberwar and intelligence who can operate alongside leaders of land, maritime, air and elite forces, defense officials concluded in a war game on the Pentagon's Air-Sea Battle concept for countering emerging threats.

Daily News | November 20, 2013

Following the Army's failed push to establish a joint landpower office, a task force of soldiers, Marines and special-operations personnel is focusing on developing a landpower concept paper with the ultimate goal of influencing joint doctrine, according to the group's chief of staff.

Daily News | November 15, 2013

The Defense Department is delaying production of a new smart bomb designed for its premier fighters, bombers and drones because testing has uncovered problems that must be investigated and fixed, according to program officials.

Daily News | November 12, 2013

Japan's ambassador to the United States, Kenichiro Sasae, took an unannounced flight on a V-22 Osprey at the Pentagon today, InsideDefense.com has confirmed.

Daily News | November 8, 2013

An admiral who has urged Congress to provide $60 billion in supplemental funding to buy 12 new nuclear ballistic missile submarines without gutting other shipbuilding programs says Navy and Pentagon leaders have not formally endorsed the proposal, but he predicts they will agree some supplemental funding is needed.

Daily News | November 7, 2013

Budget cuts mandated by Congress threaten to "hollow" the military in the next few years by cutting needed training, modernization and investments, the Pentagon's top weapons buyer said today, adding he is already deferring some acquisition work due to fiscal uncertainty.

The Insider | November 6, 2013

The Defense Department's highly classified special access programs (SAPs) will regularly remain under wraps for at least four decades, according to new Pentagon guidance spotlighted by Secrecy News.

Not a subscriber? Sign up for 30 days free access to exclusive, behind-the-scenes reporting on defense policy and procurement.