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. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC) stands up Systems Delta 81 (SYD 81) at Peterson Space Force Base, Colo. on Sept. 9, 2025. USAF Brig. Gen. Michelle Idle, mobilization assistant to the SSC commander, passes the SYD 81 guidon to USSF Col. Corey Klopstein, SYD 81 Commander. (USAF Photo by Senior Airman William Pugh)

Space Force activates ‘system delta’ unit for modernized test, training infrastructure program

Space

Air Force Senior Airman Tyler Waters assigned to the 109th Air Control Squadron, tests Link 16 capabilities aboard a KC-135R over Utah on February 3, 2024. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Colton Elliott)

Utah Air Guard base to receive 2 new cyber operations squadrons

Cyber

Zero-trust network architecture illustration (iStock/Getty Images)

Pentagon CIO working on new program to break down disparate IT networks

IT

Image from SpaceX livestream of the Tranche 1 transport launch (Credit: SpaceX)

SDA kicks off launch campaign for first operational data transport sats

Space

(Getty Images)

Pentagon to officially implement CMMC requirements in contracts by Nov. 10

Cyber

Defense Threat Reduction Agency test personnel prepare to carefully offload the 30,000-pound massive ordnance penetrator, or MOP, for a static test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. (DTRA photo)

Air Force taps ARA to develop Next Generation Penetrator prototypes

Weapons

Space Development Agency Director Derek Tournear is interviewed by DefenseScoop Managing Editor Jon Harper at DefenseTalks, Sept. 15, 2022.

Derek Tournear departs as Space Development Agency director

Space

U.S. Army Soldiers, assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, and the Artificial Intelligence Integration Center, conduct drone test flights and software troubleshooting during Allied Spirit 24 at the Hohenfels Training Area, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Germany, March 6, 2024. (U.S. Army photo by Micah Wilson)

Software repository gives warfighters access to mission-critical apps on demand

IT

707th Communications Squadron client system technicians update software for computers that will be used on Air Force networks at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes)

New Air Force strategy looks to increase adoption of commercial networking tech

IT