The INSIDER daily digest -- Oct. 20, 2021

By John Liang / October 20, 2021 at 1:39 PM

This Wednesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on cybersecurity, unmanned systems and more.

We start off with some defense cybersecurity news:

Eoyang: DOD's civilian cyber workforce 'certainly not sized' for additional missions

The Defense Department must do more to attract a civilian cyber workforce adequately sized for larger missions, according to a senior cyber policy official.

Bush: Army must continue emphasis on cybersecurity

The Army is well equipped to improve the cybersecurity of its supply chain and weapon systems and is working to do so, Douglas Bush, the nominee to become the service’s acquisition executive, told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

CMMC internal review moves forward with undisclosed recommendations pending before Pentagon leaders

An examination of the Pentagon’s cyber certification program is moving into a new phase with the internal review of the initiative complete, according to sources, who say recommendations are currently under consideration by DOD leadership.

The Navy today revealed lessons learned from last year's fire that essentially gutted one of the service's large amphibious assault ships:

Navy taking steps to improve fire safety after release of Bonhomme Richard fire investigation

The Navy is working to improve its fire safety after the July 2020 fire that destroyed the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6).

The Navy is also looking to launch a bunch of unmanned systems next year:

Small: 2022 to be 'in-water year' for Navy's unmanned systems

Multiple unmanned systems will be launched in fiscal year 2022 and undergo a lot of in-water activity, according to a Navy service official.

More unmanned systems news, this time from the Air Force:

Senators want Air Force to use retired Global Hawks for hypersonic flight-test work

Senate appropriators aren’t looking to stand in the way of the Air Force’s planned divestment of a portion of its Global Hawk fleet, though they’re hoping the service will direct some of the aircraft toward ongoing hypersonic flight-testing efforts.

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing this week to consider the nomination of Nickolas Guertin to be the Pentagon's top tester:

DOT&E nominee sees shortfalls in commercial cloud contracts

Nickolas Guertin, nominated to be the Defense Department’s director of operational test and evaluation, said today there is a “severe limitation” in the Pentagon’s strategy to acquire cloud services from commercial technology companies because vendors to date have not agreed to let DOD perform adequate cybersecurity testing.

Last but by no means least, a story on Senate appropriators' wanting to cut funding to the Space Force’s Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared program:

Senate appropriators recommend $323 million cut to Next-Gen OPIR

The Senate Appropriations Committee is proposing a $323 million cut to the Space Force’s Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared program’s space and ground segments in its version of the fiscal year 2022 defense spending bill.

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