Defense Business Briefing -- Feb. 11, 2020

Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.

This week's top story

Amazon Web Services seeks to depose Trump, Mattis, Esper

Amazon Web Services has filed new documents seeking to depose top government officials about the Joint Enterprise Defense Information contract and pursuing new documentation about how DOD handled the program.

News & notes

Pentagon already scoring some contractors on cybersecurity via new assessment center

While the Pentagon's contractor cybersecurity certification requirement is still months away from showing up in contracts, a new Defense Department cyber assessment center has emerged over the past year and is already scoring some companies on their network security practices.

SAIC CEO: 'It is our plan and intention' to retain all Unisys Federal employees

The chief executive of Science Applications International Corp. said the company hopes to keep all of Unisys Federal's employees.

SAIC to buy Unisys Federal

Science Applications International Corp. said it has agreed to acquire Unisys Federal in a $1.2 billion deal.

TransDigm executive says IG investigation isn't taking a toll on defense sales

TransDigm said it has been having positive interactions with the Pentagon and the Defense Logistics Agency, despite an ongoing inspector general investigation.

L3Harris CEO says Leidos divestiture is 'first and largest,' but not last

The chief executive of L3Harris Technologies said the latest divestiture is the largest the company is considering, but that more deals are coming.

After taking corrective action, Army says it is sticking with LOGCAP V contracts

The Army says its corrective action on the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program V is complete and that it wants to uphold the original awards, according to a new filing with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Defense industry claims credit for Pentagon's go-slow approach to cybersecurity certification

Pentagon acquisition officials say a sweeping cybersecurity certification program issued last week will take six years to fully implement, a phased-in schedule that defense industry officials say is the result of pressure by the contracting community about mitigating costs.

New NDIA report gives defense industrial base a 'C' grade

The National Defense Industrial Association today, in the first of what is a planned annual review, gave the defense industrial base a "C" grade, pointing to challenges with cybersecurity and workforce.

Appointments & promotions

Timm tapped to head Collins Aerospace

United Technologies said earlier this month it has named Stephen Timm chief executive of Collins Aerospace, effective immediately.

Northrop Grumman names Keffer CFO

Northrop Grumman said it has named David Keffer chief financial officer, effective Feb. 17.

CACI hires Walsh

CACI International said it has named Daniel Walsh, a former White House deputy chief of staff, a corporate strategic adviser and senior vice president.

What's happening

The week ahead

The Defense Department will send its fiscal year 2021 budget request to Congress this week, while senior Pentagon officials are scheduled to speak around the Washington area.

For Inside Defense subscribers

White House plans flat DOD budgets over five years, but Esper wants more

The White House Office of Management and Budget is projecting essentially flat annual budgets for the Pentagon over the next five years, well below the 3%-5% growth above inflation Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the military will need every year to reorient itself toward China and Russia.