Category: Policy & Planning

Jul 02 2026

Leadership Insight: Deferred Consequences: Sustainment Risk in Experimentation and Prototyping

By Aliyah Harrison Behind The Frontlines, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning

The Army is operating in an era defined by strategic competition with China, technological disruption and software-defined warfare. In response to acquisition timelines that often take decades, the Army has shifted toward rapid prototyping, experimentation and accelerated pathways, leveraging Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) authorities, rapid capability offices and iterative software models to compress delivery timelines and maintain strategic advantage. Read how accelerated pathways allow the Army to integrate user feedback earlier, adapt to evolving threats and deliver capabilities at speed.

Jun 25 2026

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Catalytic Contracting: Bridging the Foxhole-to-Factory Divide Through Life Cycle Business Leadership

By Aliyah Harrison Behind The Frontlines, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning

For the U.S. Army to maintain its decisive edge, the procurement apparatus must operate on a wartime footing that no longer treats acquisition as a slow, linear relay race. To unlock the full potential, the Army is undergoing a historic structural realignment, centering modernization efforts on the portfolio acquisition executive (PAE) model. Read how the U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) is implementing a unified, “360-degree” framework called wrap-around contracting—an unbroken business architecture that binds the Soldier in the foxhole directly to the manufacturing line on the factory floor.

Jun 25 2026

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Army Signs Streamlined MRP, Aligning Authority with PAEs to Accelerate Capability Delivery

By Aliyah Harrison Behind The Frontlines, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning

The Army has signed a new policy that fundamentally transforms the materiel release process, replacing decades of administrative friction with a risk-informed, enabling framework that delivers capabilities to Soldiers faster. The streamlined Materiel Release Policy reassigns materiel release decision authority to the Army’s newly established Portfolio Acquisition Executives, aligning the authority to release capability with the leaders accountable for delivering it.

May 08 2026

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On the algorithmic battlefield, the Army’s success hinges on sustaining forces over vast distances and in austere conditions. Operational contract support enables the sustainment of the modern warfighter—embodying the principle that the Army is a team sport.

Contract To Combat: OCS Is The Strategic Fulcrum On The Algorithmic Battlefield

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning

On today’s algorithmic battlefield, the U.S. Army’s success hinges on its capability to sustain forces over vast distances and in austere conditions.

Apr 03 2026

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The Hon. Brent G. Ingraham, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, engages with foreign nation allies during the Coffee Series, an event hosted by AUSA at their headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, on March 12, 2026.

From The AAE: Transforming Army Acquisition Through The Pathway For Innovation And Technology

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, Policy & Planning, Science & Technology, Workforce

The future of warfare is defined by speed—speed in decision-making, rapid adaptation, and most critically, delivering capability to Soldiers when they need it.

Mar 13 2026

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U.S. Army Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division Artillery receive a fire mission at the brigade tactical operation center as part of their experimentation to integrate NGC2 systems at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Feb. 24, 2026.

From Reform To Results: Early Momentum From Army Acquisition Transformation

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning

The Army’s acquisition reform is beginning to show tangible results, as early actions taken under the new portfolio acquisition executive (PAE) construct translate strategic intent into measurable progress.

Jan 15 2026

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Pfc. Ian Alvarado, 725th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, watches as a Boeing CH-47 Chinook leaves the flightline after delivering gear, vehicles, and heavy equipment in support of Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center 25-02, Jan. 23, 2025, at Allen Army Airfield, Fort Greely, Alaska. The soldiers of the 11th Airborne Division are engaged in rigorous training at JPMRC 25-02 to enhance their lethality and readiness for large-scale combat operations in an Arctic environment. Our ability to dominate in this challenging terrain is critical to our mission success.

Overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and its Impact to Army Acquisition

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, Policy & Planning

This order aims to improve how government agencies purchase products and services by mandating an overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

Dec 19 2025

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Members of the Albanian Armed Forces receive military equipment from the New Jersey National Guard in Tirana, Republic of Albania, September 14, 2025.

Byte-Sized Problems, Billion-Dollar Consequences: Fixing The Foreign Military Sales Data Dilemma

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning

Foreign military sales, or FMS, is a cornerstone of U.S. security cooperation, enabling partner nations to acquire American military equipment and services.

Jan 23 2026

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Army air defenders with 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, examine a captured drone during Project Flytrap 4.5, on November 19, 2025—part of a future where acquisition reform speeds delivery of advanced counter-drone capabilities to the force.

The Army’s 2025 Acquisition Reforms Revolutionize Processes To Expedite Cutting-Edge Capabilities

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning

The Army launched its most ambitious procurement overhaul in decades—designed to slash bureaucracy, fast-track innovation and sharpen organizational agility.

Dec 18 2025

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An overwhelming turnout at the AUSA Contemporary Military Forum: Accelerating Transformation with Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2), where Army leaders and defense experts discussed how the U.S. Army is advancing its C2 capabilities for the future fight on October 14, 2025, in Washington.

Accelerating Transformation: AUSA Forum Focuses on the Army’s Path To Next Generation Command and Control

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, Policy & Planning, Science & Technology

Army leaders and defense experts met in Washington at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Contemporary Military Forum to discuss how the U.S. Army is advancing its command-and-control (C2) capabilities for the future fight.

Dec 18 2025

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Peter Baker’s reskilling and upskilling temporary assignment led to a permanent position where he has expanded his expertise.

CECOM SEC Uses Talent Management

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, Policy & Planning, Science & Technology

The CECOM SEC has developed a robust talent management program targeting software professionals, applying continuous innovation and employee development.

Nov 13 2025

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A robot arm loads hot metal cases into the Erie 1 Press at Scranton AAP in Pennsylvania. This is one of the steps in the production chain that can be simulated using the digital twin of the Scranton AAP. (Photo courtesy of PL JS)

Leveraging Digital Engineering to Modernize Munition Production

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning, Science & Technology

Digital engineering and modeling and simulation (M&S) are transformative approaches that enable precision, efficiency and innovation in munitions production and warfighter capabilities.

Dec 15 2025

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The deployable defensive cyber operations systems kits help soldiers protect their systems from online attacks. They work by automating security tasks, making it easier to set up defenses, and giving experts tools to quickly understand and respond to threats.

PM Defensive Cyber Operations Aligns with Continuous Transformation

By Stefanie Pidgeon Behind The Frontlines, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning

The U.S. Army prioritizes a shift to faster, more agile software development and acquisitions to deliver defensive cyber operations.

Dec 30 2025

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Integrated Logistics Support Center IT Radio Logistics Assistance Representatives and SEC Software Support Representatives participate in a motor pool terrain walk hosted by 210 Field Artillery Brigade at Camp Casey, Korea. CECOM team members provide on-the-spot guidance in support of the Brigade’s Joint Battle Command – Platform Mounted Mission Command – Software readiness event. (Photo by Gaby Waters, CECOM SEC)

ADAPTIVE EDGE

By Aliyah Harrison Army ALT Magazine, From the Frontlines, Policy & Planning

FIELD ENGAGEMENT CECOM Integrated Logistics Support Center IT Radio Logistics Assistance Representatives and SEC Software Support Representatives participate in a motor pool terrain walk hosted by 210 Field Artillery Brigade...

Jul 22 2025

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THE RIGHT BALANCE

By Aliyah Harrison Army ALT Magazine, Policy & Planning

INSIDE INFORMATION CMOSS cards are embedded with networked capabilities like positioning, navigation and timing, mission command applications or radio waveforms, which can be inserted into a common ruggedized chassis inside...

Jul 24 2025

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THE DIVERSIFICATION OF ARMY INNOVATION

By Stefanie Pidgeon Army ALT Magazine, Policy & Planning, Science & Technology

EYE ON THE PRIZE Delaney Smith, Deep Breathe manager of data science and research, and Rob Arntfield, M.D., Deep Breathe founder and CEO, show off the Canadian company’s first-place award...

Jul 22 2025

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BALANCING ACQUISITION RISK WITH DEPLOYABILITY REWARD

By Stefanie Pidgeon Army ALT Magazine, Policy & Planning

MOVING ALONG A family of Medium Tactical Vehicles with shelters are loaded and chained to railcars at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. The DPE teams ensure large systems can be secured to...

Sep 02 2025

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SEPARATION FROM SERVICE

By Stefanie Pidgeon Army ALT Magazine, Policy & Planning, Program of Record

UNDERGOING DIVESTMENT EMARSS is currently undergoing divestment from the PEO IEW&S portfolio since early 2023. (Photo courtesy of PEO IEW&S) What happens after Army equipment and systems become obsolete. by...

Jul 24 2025

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ALL ROADS LEAD TO SUSTAINMENT

By Stefanie Pidgeon Army ALT Magazine, Policy & Planning

MEDICAL READINESS A Soldier conducts maintenance on a ventilator at the Medical Equipment Concentration Site for the 88th Readiness Division in Ogden, Utah, during the COVID-19 response effort in April...

Jan 02 2025

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