Mikayla Easley

Mikayla Easley reports on the Pentagon’s acquisition and use of emerging technologies. Prior to joining DefenseScoop, she covered national security and the defense industry for National Defense Magazine. She received a BA in Russian language and literature from the University of Michigan and a MA in journalism from the University of Missouri. You can follow her on Twitter @MikaylaEasley

Articles by Author

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III swears in Defense Innovation Unit Director Douglas Beck in the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 5, 2023. (DoD Photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)

For next phase of DIU, Beck envisions stronger partnerships across Pentagon

Emerging Tech

(iStock/Getty Images)

Spacecom plea to commercial industry: ‘Don’t let the bureaucracy scare you’

Space

(Getty Images)

IC, DOD want to get better at contracting for commercial space-based data and analytic services

Space

(Getty Images)

Space Development Agency awards $1.5B for future tranche of global communications satellites

Space

Artist rendering of astronaut on the moon (NASA image)

New DARPA study to explore infrastructure needs for future lunar economy

Emerging Tech

Rendering of the blended-wing body aircraft (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Air Force taps JetZero to build blended-wing body aircraft prototype

Emerging Tech

Venice Goodwine speaks at the 2020 Zero Trust Security Summit. (FedScoop)

Department of the Air Force names Venice Goodwine CIO

IT

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks briefs media during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 22, 2021. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brittany A. Chase)

Defense Department stands up generative AI task force

AI

A U.S. Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, from 3rd Battalion, 321 Field Artillery Regiment, attached to 41st Field Artillery Brigade, fires a rocket as part of Nordic Strike 22, at Vidsel Test Range, Sweden, Sept. 27, 2022. The Army is putting new emphasis on using technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to speed up the “kill chain” process of locating and firing on targets. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Devin Klecan)

Data integration challenges persist for Army fires, missile defense modernization

Weapons