Inside the Pentagon highlights

Some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Pentagon:

1. At the behest of President Trump, the Pentagon has begun taking immediate steps to establish a sixth branch of the U.S. military -- a Space Force -- by 2020, though its creation requires congressional authorization, according to a new report provided to Congress.

Full story: Pentagon moves to create Space Force as a new branch of the military

2. The Pentagon is considering a series of recommendations for how it can fix vulnerabilities in its supply chain and convince contractors to take security as seriously as cost, schedule and performance.

Full story:  New report offers DOD ideas on delivering capabilities 'uncompromised'

3. The new director of the Strategic Capabilities Office says several technology demonstrations are planned for the coming weeks, as he looks to maintain the "optempo" the office has set in developing novel ways of using existing conventional capabilities to deter China and Russia.

Full story: New SCO director aims to maintain 'optempo,' with tech demos forthcoming

4. The Pentagon is asking Congress to approve a $648 million funding shift to accelerate a developmental Army heads-up display program championed by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' close combat lethality task force, according to a document obtained by Inside Defense.

Full story: DOD seeks $648M funding shift to accelerate Army's heads-up display tech