The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 9, 2019

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Navy's ongoing force structure assessment, the JEDI cloud contract battle, plus coverage from this weekend's Reagan Forum in California.

The Navy's top civilian plans to "become involved" in the service's force structure assessment, which has been ongoing for more than a year, and will require regular briefings:

Modly sets Jan. 15 as deadline to publish new Navy force structure assessment

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly recently outlined his priorities as the service's interim top civilian and for the first time set a deadline, Jan. 15, 2020, to unveil the results of the latest force structure assessment that could affect the Navy's stated goal of 355 ships, according to a new memo obtained by Inside Defense.

Document: Modly 'vector' memo on Navy force structure assessments

Amazon contends the Pentagon's decision to award the potential 10-year, $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract to Microsoft in October included "egregious errors":

Amazon alleges DOD moved JEDI cloud goalposts to accommodate Trump's feud with Bezos

Amazon Web Services is arguing Defense Department officials "took numerous actions to systematically remove" the company's edge in the race to win a massive cloud contract after President Trump publicly criticized Amazon and its chief executive Jeff Bezos.

Amazon's CEO also spoke at this weekend's Reagan Forum in California:

Bezos calls on U.S. 'big tech' to not turn its back on the Defense Department

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, called on leaders of U.S. big technology firms to not "turn their backs" on the Defense Department, even if some employees have misgivings about developing new technology for the U.S. military.

Here's more of our coverage from the Reagan Forum:

Service chiefs outline challenges of great power competition

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- The U.S. military service chiefs said today China and Russia's rise as great military powers pose significant and varied challenges to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

Esper calls for 'tough choices' as DOD develops latest budget request

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- Defense Secretary Mark Esper called on Defense Department leaders to make "tough choices" in cutting legacy systems and investing in new technologies as DOD eyes the end-game in building its fiscal year 2021 budget request.

Smith, Rogers confirm Space Force deal, decline to offer details

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- House lawmakers confirmed Saturday the conference committee has reached an agreement on language to authorize a new military service for space, but declined to offer details on the proposed language.

(Related: USAF identifies forces, budget allocation to launch Space Force in FY-21)

Barrett: SPACECOM basing process may 'take a little more time'

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- The Air Force is working to assure it recommends a U.S. Space Command headquarters location that is defensible and its site selection process is not vulnerable to legal challenges, according to Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett.

A group of approximately 35 investors, referred to as the "defense investor network," is following promising commercial technologies with potential military applications:

Network of U.S. defense investors eyeing dual-use technologies

An informal group of U.S. investors tracking dual-use technologies of interest to the Pentagon has emerged over the past year.