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

U.S. President Joe Biden announces his intent to nominate Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. to serve as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during an event in the Rose Garden of the White House May 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. Brown is currently serving as the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. If confirmed by the Senate, Brown would be the second African-American man, after Colin Powell, to hold the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the most senior military adviser to the president. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Gen. Brown, evangelist for a more digital military, officially tapped to be next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Tech

Members of the 56th Air and Space Communications Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam operate cyber systems using a Enhanced communications flyaway kit during the Global Information Dominance Experiment 3 and Architect Demonstration Evaluation 5 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Alpena, Michigan, July, 12, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Amy Picard)

Space Force to shift all cyber guardians to defending mission systems and performing ‘core’ tasks

Space

Pentagon CISO Dave McKeown delivers a keynote at the UiPath Together Public Sector summit. (DefenseScoop_

Pentagon’s CISO warns that zero trust will ‘fail’ without automation

AI

Lockheed Martin rendering of the Next-Generation Air Dominance platform

Air Force plans to award sixth-gen fighter contract in 2024

Weapons

U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, U.S. Space Command commander, speaks to members of the Joint Task Force-Space Defense during a town hall at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, Jan. 17, 2023. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tiana Williams)

Spacecom commander urges the services to ‘keep up’ with new space-based technologies

Space

(Getty Images)

US moves to open more spectrum for 5G while safeguarding military assets

Tech

DOD’s Dr. Tom Rondeau speaks on a panel about 5G at DefenseTalks 2023. (DefenseScoop)

Pentagon to transfer 5G efforts to CIO, establish O-RAN pilots

Emerging Tech

Two members of the 216th Space Control Squadron (SPCS) set up antennas as part of a ‘Honey Badger System’ during BLACK SKIES 22 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Sept. 20, 2022. The 216 SPCS specializes in electromagnetic warfare and is participating in the Space Training and Readiness Command’s (STARCOM) BLACK SKIES 22, along with numerous other units spanning from California to Colorado. The first of its kind, BLACK SKIES 22 is a live simulation exercise designed to rehearse the command and control of multiple joint electronic warfare fires. (U.S. Space Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Luke Kitterman)

Future Space Force training should include more live elements, STARCOM commander says

Space

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)

New DIU director wants to make the Pentagon’s demand signal clear for commercial companies

Emerging Tech