The INSIDER daily digest -- Jan. 10, 2024

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from this week's Surface Navy Association annual symposium plus coverage of the Missile Defense Agency needing a deputy director and more.

We start off with coverage from this week's SNA symposium:

Navy developing 'Global Maritime Response Plan' in preparation for high-end conflict

The Navy is developing a new "Global Maritime Response Plan" that will enable naval forces to rapidly transition from peacetime to wartime operations if a high-end conflict begins, according to Adm. Daryl Caudle, the head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Delay on CVN-82 could have negative effects, Newport News executive warns

A delay in awarding a contract for future aircraft carrier CVN-82 would have negative effects on the supply chain and production of other infrastructure like submarines, a Newport News shipbuilding executive told reporters Monday.

(Read our full SNA symposium coverage.)

The Missile Defense Agency has been mandated by Congress to reinstate a deputy director:

MDA required to reinstate deputy director position, must be two-star uniformed officer

The Missile Defense Agency, which limped along last year without a Senate-confirmed three-star director for an extended period during which some of its top projects were nominated for budget cuts, is reinstating a post eliminated as part of a 2020 organizational overhaul: a deputy director who must be a two-star general or flag officer.

Michael Horowitz, the deputy defense assistant secretary for force development and emerging capabilities, said at a CSIS event this week that Replicator is a great demonstration of how the department is launching initiatives to tackle challenges:

DOD policy official details Replicator update and international AI agreement opportunities

The Defense Department's Replicator initiative appears to be on track to achieve its goals with a defense official expressing optimism at a Center for Strategic and International Studies webcast today that an international political declaration about artificial intelligence responsibility will gain more signatures.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity have ongoing coverage of the Pentagon's recently released Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program rule:

Pentagon details process to submit CMMC assessment results as part of information collection request

The Defense Department is asking for input on the process to report assessment results under its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program and proposed parameters to address potential gaps.

Powered by Microsoft's HoLoLens headsets, the Integrated, Immersive, Intelligent Environment is an "augmented reality space simulation" that will enable Space Force users to interact in a space-like environment with orbital objects on display in real-time:

SSC renews Microsoft contract to build I3E prototype for Guardians' readiness

Space Systems Command has renewed its contract with Microsoft to develop a new immersive simulated environment to increase Guardians' readiness for current and future space situations, according to a Jan. 5 announcement.